Thursday, October 12, 2017
Liberty Law professor leads bold convocation on Differential of Power
Thu, 12 Oct 2017Asa Keimig | LUCOM Marketing
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) welcomed Basyle J. Tchividjian, JD, professor at Liberty University School of Law, to convocation on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
Professor Tchividjian spoke to faculty and student-doctors on the importance of power and how it gets distorted. He shared this subject with great importance in hopes to challenge LUCOM students as they prepare to be osteopathic physicians.
“Everyone either is or will be in a position of authority over someone at some point,” said Tchividjian. “Because of man’s sinful nature, power when exploited and when used in the wrong way, destroys and the most dangerous power is one that is abused and exploited by those in positions where others are subjected to them under their authority or care.”
He focused on the differential of power and what happens when power gets distorted and when those in power use that power to exploit and hurt the vulnerable.
“The victimization of children and adults always involves an imbalance of power,” he said.
As a Florida prosecutor, he shared examples of vulnerable children and adults that had been taken advantage of by those in power, often through physical force or trust, using notoriety and charm.
Tchividjian split the distortion of power into three categories
- Power of the Perpetrator
- Power of the Institution
- Power of the Bystander
Tchividjian discussed various situations in which abuse had occurred in a doctor’s office, in a business, and also in church, and how the institution tried to protect their own. “When institutions silence victims by ignoring, shaming, and blaming them, you marginalize and dehumanize them and ultimately empower the abuser,” he said. “In reality, the head of the church is Jesus and Jesus doesn’t need anyone to protect his reputation or institutional leaders, because what hurts the reputation of the church is when you live in opposition to it in secret and in darkness.”
He showed them how Jesus treated the vulnerable and shared with them scripture found in Matthew 18.
“At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 18:1-4
Tchividjian placed strong emphasis on Jesus’ value of children and how it only took one person to say something in order to defend the vulnerable. “God uplifts the vulnerable and exploits the powerful,” he added. “Be the good Samaritan on the road, both in your professional and personal lives, it is going to be messy and exhausting, but you are helping someone to safety.”
He encouraged student-doctors with one final closing thought. “Because of your position, you can be the greatest advocate for the vulnerable,” he said.
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