{"id":7926,"date":"2020-11-09T08:00:25","date_gmt":"2020-11-09T13:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/?p=7926"},"modified":"2025-12-02T15:46:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T20:46:55","slug":"power-focus-in-policymaking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/power-focus-in-policymaking.htm","title":{"rendered":"Power to Maintain the Proper Focus in Policymaking"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether it’s about safety or any other issue in the Church, we often find ourselves needing to make policies to ensure we do what’s right and proper. In a previous post<\/a> we established that our that our purpose to love God with all of who we are and to love others (Matt. 22:37-40) should be the driving force behind policy-making. It’s shouldn’t just be about adhering to CDC guidelines or best business practices. It’s not just about guarding or stewarding the resources God has given us or maintaining order. Rather, the primary reason behind any policy should be that we love God and that we love people. For example, we do what is necessary to keep people safe because we love them.<\/p>\n

How to Maintain Such Focus in Policymaking<\/h2>\n

\"Power
\nAs in any of our leadership responsibilities it can be difficult to keep our focus where it belongs. But, we aren’t left alone to strive on our own.<\/p>\n

We have the Holy Spirit who is not only with us but in us.<\/p>\n

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord\u2019s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:16-19)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Notice what we can learn from these verses as they could relate to policymaking:<\/p>\n

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  1. God strengthens us with His power through the Spirit so we’re able to keep the focus on God’s purpose to love even in the establishment and enforcement of policies.<\/li>\n
  2. The Spirit works in our inner being so what we do, including policymaking, comes from proper motivation and heart attitudes.<\/li>\n
  3. His Spirit strengthens us so we’re able to better grasp the extent of Christ’s love which in turn causes us to rely on it more (1 Jn. 4:16). As we do, we become more and more filled with the fullness of God, meaning that we too will function in and because of love.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Hence, we have power to maintain the proper focus in our policymaking.<\/p>\n

    Be Strengthened with Power Through His Spirit to Maintain the Proper Focus in Making & Enforcing Policies<\/h2>\n

    To be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18), we must yield control to the Spirit. When we take over, policymaking tends to be more self-serving, political, and manipulative but when the Spirit has full reign it becomes more God-honoring and edifying for people following the way of love.<\/p>\n

    To walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:13-26), we must take one step at a time, relying on Him to hold us up, help us keep our balance, and keep going as He leads us. When we do, He’ll take us in the way of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control — all qualities that need to go into the making and keeping of policies. When we don’t, our policies can do more to divide and destroy than to build up and unify us.<\/p>\n

    We grieve the Spirit when we fail to do that which is “helpful for building others up according to their needs” and when we demonstrate a lack of love (Eph. 4:29-31). God has strengthened us “with power through his Spirit” (Eph. 3:16) so we can do better, so we don’t have to be focused on our own needs, biases, and agendas but rather make policies that lead to and are guided by love.<\/p>\n

    For More on These Topics, Go To:<\/strong><\/p>\n