Influence versus Power

 [published in Muddy River News, December 15, 2025]

    There are two ways we can get other people to do what we want them to do. One way is to persuade them to do it. We call that “influence.” The other is to cause them pain if they do not do what we want. We call that “power.”

    Physical harm is an extreme kind of power. We allow police to carry guns. The gun is a symbol of power. If we do not do what police want us to do, they can hurt us. We do not want everybody threatening to hurt us, so the police are the only people we authorize to do it. It seems we can’t live together peacefully any other way. But we advise even the police to use power as little as possible. Some police live their whole lives as police without using their guns.

    Physical harm is not the only way for us to use power.  We can hurt with our words. Words can kill.

    We are moving away from power in many areas of our lives. We no longer allow teachers in our schools to punish students physically. We advise parents not to use physical punishments on their children. We think it is better to use influence rather than power to get children to do what we want. Why shouldn’t we treat adults the same way?

    I cannot recall one instance in the four gospels where Jesus deliberately caused or threatened pain to someone in order to get them to do something. Threatening or causing pain shows a lack of respect for the other person’s dignity. Jesus always showed respect, even to sinners.

    We say that Jesus is God. That means that God, just like Jesus, always shows respect, even to sinners. God does not use power, God does not punish. Jesus said “Let the weeds grow until the harvest.” That’s what we should do.