📘 Lexicon Entry: Servant Power

A theological understanding of power exercised through service, self-giving, and empowerment of others rather than domination, control, or self-advancement

Servant power represents a theological alternative to both authoritarian power (which dominates through force) and liberal power (which competes for advantage). Drawing on Jesus’s teaching and example, this framework understands authentic power as capacity to serve others’ flourishing rather than advance one’s own interests. Servant power transforms hierarchical structures by reorienting authority toward empowerment rather than control, creating communities where leadership enables rather than dominates, and where strength is demonstrated through vulnerability rather than invulnerability. This approach directly challenges the power dynamics underlying Dominative Christianism and MAGA Christianism, offering instead a vision of divine authority expressed through kenotic self-giving rather than triumphant domination.

Theological Alternative

power, service, leadership, authority, empowerment, vulnerability, cruciform, kenosis, hierarchy transformation

Geevarghese-Uffman, Craig. “Servant Power.” *Political Theology Lexicon*. https://www.commonlifepolitics.com/p/lexicon. Accessed [date].

Divine power revealed through self-giving service rather than domination

Authority exercised for empowerment of others rather than self-advancement

Leadership understood as responsibility for community flourishing rather than personal privilege

Strength demonstrated through vulnerability and service rather than invulnerability and control

Power understood primarily as domination and control over others

Authority exercised for personal advantage rather than community service

Leadership reduced to hierarchy maintenance rather than empowerment of others

Reorients power toward service rather than domination

Emphasizes empowerment of others over self-advancement

Transforms hierarchical structures through servant leadership

Demonstrates strength through vulnerability and self-giving

Jesus’s teaching on servanthood as greatness in God’s kingdom

Christological understanding of divine power through cruciform love

Trinitarian theology of mutual self-giving within divine life

Prophetic tradition challenging abuse of power and advocating for justice

Jesus washing disciples’ feet as model of leadership (John 13:1-17)

Teaching that greatness comes through service (Mark 10:43-45)

Paul’s understanding of power perfected in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Servant leadership models in organizational development

Community organizing that empowers marginalized voices

Collaborative governance structures emphasizing shared decision-making

Non-violent resistance movements demonstrating power through moral authority

Studies of servant leadership in organizational psychology and theology

Research on power and authority in Christian ethics

Analysis of kenotic power in political and practical theology

Related Primary Concepts: Dominative Christianism, MAGA Christianism, Christianism

Key Mutations: Authoritarian Spirituality, Binary Apocalypticism

Contemporary Movements: Christian Nationalism

Theological Alternatives: Counter-Imperial, Being With

Historical Context: Civil Religion

May 22, 2025

*This entry is part of the Political Theology Lexicon, accessible exclusively to subscribers. View the complete lexicon to explore related concepts and the full theoretical framework.*