I have been thinking about the difference between authority and power. We all know that Jesus exercised authority. Authority itself is not a bad thing; in fact, it is necessary. Jesus had authority, and He used it rightly. The problem begins when authority is changed into power.
This is not an easy issue to deal with, regardless of the organization. Whether it is a company, a church, or a school, there will always be authority, positions, and different levels of responsibility. There will always be someone who is ultimately responsible—the CEO, president, pastor, or leader.
Authority is necessary when something needs to be changed or when a decision needs to be made. But when authority is exercised as power, problems arise. People begin to resist, not necessarily because they disagree with the purpose, but because they feel that someone is using a position to control them.
For example, Melvin University has an organizational structure with positions such as president, vice president, and director of school affairs. Sometimes there can be an uncomfortable situation when a person in a higher position is younger than someone in a lower position. The older person may naturally feel uncomfortable being directed by someone younger. This can easily create tension if we focus more on age than on the responsibility attached to the position.
Authority is given with a position. But that does not mean the person who receives authority should turn it into personal power.
This is where leadership becomes important. If we try to use authority simply to establish ourselves, people may misunderstand it as an exercise of power. Eventually, they may resist that authority or even try to remove it. On the other hand, Jesus did not hesitate to exercise His authority because He knew that His authority had been given to Him by the Father. Properly exercised authority is not a problem.
The real question is how we use the authority that has been given to us.
When authority is given, our focus should not be ourselves but the shared purpose and the people who are working with us. Leadership means caring about people. It means taking responsibility for one another’s growth, which is essential to a healthy team.
No matter how legitimate our authority may be, it will not be perceived as good leadership if we use it only for ourselves. Authority is not a privilege to be abused; it is a responsibility to be exercised properly. The CEO, president, pastor, or director has a particular responsibility because authority has been entrusted to that person.
But there is another important question: What should we do when authority has not been given?
Sometimes a person may say, “I am the captain,” even though nobody has recognized that authority. In an organization or workplace, someone may try to control others without having been given the responsibility to do so. Or a person may constantly give orders, criticize others, or refuse to trust them simply because he wants to establish himself as the leader.
This needs serious consideration.
Therefore, I believe our own understanding of authority is very important. We should not try to “win” authority for ourselves. When authority is given, we should use it. But when it is given, we should use it humbly.
We should never use authority while ignoring the person in front of us.
A person who does not have authority may already feel discouraged or even experience a sense of inferiority. There is no reason for a leader to make that person feel smaller. Instead, we should give sufficient consideration to those who do not have authority.
Perhaps this is one of the most important differences between authority and power:
Power asks, “How can I make people follow me?“
Authority asks, “How can I help people fulfill our shared purpose?“
Power seeks control. Authority accepts responsibility.
And when authority is exercised with humility, responsibility, and genuine care for people, it becomes not a burden to others but a blessing to the whole organization.