McMusing: How Power Works
Why would someone refuse to back down when power arrives at the door with a bulldozer?
Adapted from Facebook thoughts written in 2021.
I have been in situations where both a pastor and a lawyer said, "You can continue to fight this, but they will destroy you. They will drag your name through the mud and ruin you."
I backed down.Â
Who they were is not as important as the destructive force of power against the less powerful. The worst thing a woman (or man) can ever do is call the powerful out.
Many years ago, I sat in a room for hours surrounded by those whose only goal was to make me recant my own truth. When I would not do so, the powerful told their version of my story—a version that wasn't true. Sadly, the loudest, most powerful voice in the room is generally viewed as the one telling the truth. This is true no matter how many times those voices have been proven wrong. The crowd believes the powerful.
Remember when Jesus walked into the middle of the power structures and called them out? The powerful began plotting and the people followed. It didn't matter that Jesus had healed and spread hope. When the powerful turned against Jesus, only the remnant (who mostly feared to speak) stood beside him. That is the way it works.
While I was being destroyed, some believed me, but they had their own fears (rightly so) and could not speak. I have come to accept this and appreciate the words of encouragement that they whispered to me. From this, I learned to listen to the whisperers.
Whenever the powerful mount an attack against someone who refuses to back down, I am transported to that day when I was interrogated and did not back down. I was destroyed because of that day and then a lawyer said I had a case, but should go live my life. So, I did.
We all need to whisper when powerful vengeance is being displayed.
It doesn't matter what your political background is—this is about being decent human beings. Just like Beth Moore was taken down by the powerful within the church when she spoke, Liz Cheney faced the same fate in the political arena. I probably noticed these two more because they are women, but power attacks all genders.
The key is to look at the power differential. Who is holding the power? The powerful will always proclaim they are right and the powerless are wrong. They have everything to gain by doing this. When the powerless dig in and refuse to capitulate to the pressure, they have everything to lose. I have lived this story.
Why would someone risk everything they have worked hard to gain? Why would someone refuse to back down when power arrives at the door with a bulldozer?
Jesus is probably the best one to answer that question. Truth is important but it can also be costly.