Power or Authority

It is easy to think of power and authority as having the same meaning. I have recently been thinking a lot about this matter as I hear people in various walks of life referring to how they have been given ‘power’ to do something or whether they have the ‘authority’ to act.

A reminder to me as to what it means to have authority is to look at my regional Mandarin that sites on my china cabinet. When I was in Shanghai, I visited an antique arts centre. It was here that they fostered the ancient Chinese crafts of embroidery, lacquer work, carving, calligraphy, etc. It was here that I purchased the ceramic face and hands of my Mandarin, reputed to be 300 years old (but no way to verify this!). Once purchased, there were artisans who could turn these elements into something. I chose a regional Mandarin, who acts as judge and government representative in remote, rural cantons. I wasn’t interested in having one with satin robes that would have been part of the Emperor’s court, but a Mandarin what served the local community. To this end, instead of satin, my Mandarin is robed in rice paper. And here he sits – yes, sits.

And the concept of sitting is a key point for those who have been given authority. We think of judges – we all must stand when a judge enters the court and can only sit, when they are seated. While the accused stands before the judge to receive the verdict, the judge issues that verdict from a seated position.

The same applies to a monarch, who sits on a throne. When seated on their throne they are exercising their authority.

The Speaker in Parliament is seated in the Speaker’s Chair – a sign of authority over the chamber.

The term ‘Chairman’ comes from the same source as ‘manager’, and means to have one’s hand upon, that is control – managing the chair. And the ‘chair’, means that the concept of seating reflecting authority continues.

What is interesting about the concept of authority is that by being seated the last thing the person has is power – from a seated position it would be impossible to draw a sword, be the aggressor in a fight or be able to look down threateningly of those coming before them.

Those who have authority are in a role or position – they have been elected, delegated, assigned, appointed by others. Their authority is limited to the constraints of these positions. The Minister for Health cannot approve expenditure under the Minister for Defense’s portfolio. Nor can a judge in the County Court sit and determine a case in the Supreme Court. Any authority therefore has limitations.

In addition, because any authority is given by others – an electorate, board, council, constitution, role description – anyone with authority is accountable and responsible to those who have so placed them in such positions.

When we look at ‘power’ we see a different picture. Usually those who consider they have ‘power’ do not see themselves responsible to anyone else or limited in their actions – they can do as they please.

The temptation for those in a position of authority is to transition to one of power. Therefore, by being reminded that they exercise their authority from a seated position, powerless and therefore with humility, this risk can be mitigated.

As a Christian, I also confess that God has given all authority ‘under heaven and earth’ to his Son, Jesus. And we confess in the creeds that “…he is seated at the right hand of God from whence he will come to judge the living and the dead.” The ultimate description of authority that comes with humility and mercy.