📖 Biblical Definition
All authority belongs to God and is delegated to men for the purpose of serving, protecting, and governing according to His law. Abuse of power occurs when a person entrusted with authority uses it to serve Himself rather than those under His care. Scripture repeatedly condemns rulers, shepherds, and fathers who exploit their position. "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" (Jeremiah 23:1). Jesus contrasted the authority of the Gentile rulers — who lord it over their subjects — with the servant-leadership He commands: "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (Mark 10:43). Abuse of power is a perversion of the stewardship God entrusts to leaders.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
ABUSE: To use ill; to maltreat. To use or treat improperly; to misuse.
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ABUSE', v.t. [L. abutor, abusus.] 1. To use ill; to maltreat. 2. To use or treat improperly; to misuse; as, to abuse rights or privileges. 3. To violate; to defile by improper sexual intercourse. 4. To deceive; to impose on. Note: Webster understood abuse as the misuse of something entrusted — a concept rooted in stewardship and accountability, not in modern victimhood frameworks.
📖 Key Scripture
• Jeremiah 23:1-2 — "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!"
• Mark 10:42-45 — "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant."
• Ezekiel 34:2-4 — "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?"
• 1 Peter 5:2-3 — "Shepherd the flock of God... not domineering over those in your charge."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
"Abuse of power" is weaponized to delegitimize all authority, especially biblical authority.
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While genuine abuse of power is a grievous sin, the modern use of this phrase has been weaponized to attack the very concept of authority itself. In progressive frameworks, any exercise of authority — parental discipline, pastoral correction, male headship, church discipline — is labeled "abuse of power." The goal is not to reform authority but to abolish it. Scripture does not teach that authority is inherently abusive; it teaches that authority is delegated by God, must be exercised in love, and will be judged by Him. The solution to abused authority is not no authority — it is righteous authority exercised according to God's Word.
Usage
• "Scripture condemns abuse of power in the strongest terms — but it equally condemns the rebellion that uses accusations of abuse to overthrow legitimate, God-ordained authority."
• "Ezekiel 34 is God's indictment of shepherds who feed themselves instead of the flock — the biblical definition of abuse of power."