[John
Paul] lived simply, by deliberate choice.
He had neither a bank account nor personal funds, his needs being met by the
archdiocese. If a priest or parishioner gave him a gift of money during a
parish visitation, he wouldn’t even open the envelope, but gave it away the
same day to someone in need –George Weigel*
Zealots
on both sides of the Culture Wars believe the main way to transform culture is
to get their hands on the levers of political power, or at least to get their
hands on those who have political power. The question is, however, do you want
power or authority? Do you want power to force your vision upon culture or
authority to influence, inspire, and lead? Power is both rooted in and informed by force. Authority is
rooted in morality and informed by love. Power can be seized; authority can
only be earned and bestowed. Power can force people to “live this way,” but it
only produces slaves. As authority has no desire for slaves, only genuine
“converts,” it seeks to persuade and convince, is supported by character and
compassion, while maintaining the mindset that the right to influence others is
earned.
We
read of how John Paul was so instrumental in helping to overthrow communism in
Poland and around the world and we think, wow, what a powerful man. Yet, we
should remember that his astounding effectiveness did not come through passing
down edicts but, rather, through winning people over by the magnetism of his
character and by his vision of each human person being created in the image of
God. People listened to his teachings because they sensed that there was a man
transformed by love to be love.
In
his book, “The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement
Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries,”
sociologist Rodney Stark points out that, among other reasons, it was the care
and compassion of the early Christians toward the suffering, diseased,
displaced, and poor, that won the masses over to this new religion. These early
believers read Christ’s words that in feeding the hungry, giving drink to the
thirsty, clothing the naked, and etc, they were doing so to Him, and took Him
at His word. In other words, what helped to bring about the fall of paganism
and Emperor Constantine’s embracing of this new faith (at least politically) in
only a few centuries was the visible demonstration of God’s love through works
of charity. (A quick summary of Stark’s thesis can be found here.)
People
are far more prone to listening to and following the lead of those whom they
see genuinely caring for them and others, then to those who treat them as pawns
on a political chessboard or as mere subjects for propagandizing. This was the
how-did-it-happen behind the authority given to the words of John Paul by millions
of people around the world. He was “powerful” because he never sought to have
power over others, only to be a witness in word and deed to God’s love for the
world.
However,
not only was he an individual of great kindness and deep compassion, he also
organized the churches he led to be and do the same.
In
1950 the communist leadership in Poland banned the Church from any formal
outreach via chartable institutions.
In 1963, to get around this ban, John Paul II, had each parish establish a
Parochial Charity Team, “that included permanent members called ‘parish
guardians,’ and volunteers. Their task was to identify and care for the sick
and needy … irrespective of religious affiliation; non-Catholics and
non-believers were, [he] urged, part of the parish’s responsibility. The teams
provided food, medicine, and clothing to the needy, nursed shut-ins in their
homes, and carried out extensive home visitation programs.”
While
the communist party in Poland exercised power over the people, it was the
Christians and, more specifically, John Paul to whom the people listened and
followed. Of course, had the impetuous behind the charity been the equivalent
of getting-out-the-vote then such authority would never have been bestowed. Acts
of charity as a means for attaining or maintaining political power is not
“charity”: it is manipulation for the sake of power. Charity has nothing to do
with power or propaganda. If true charity does have an agenda, it is only to
become love in action.
Next
Post: Lessons From a Combatant in the
Culture Wars: John Paul II, T Power to Persuade
*
All quotes from Witness to Hope: The
Biography of Pope John Paul II, by George Weigel, Cliff Street Books, 1999
Copyright, Monte E Wilson,
2015
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