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first, let's take a look at what manipulation is. we have probably all heard the expression 'guilt trip', meaning someone makes you feel guilty about yourself whether it be what you say, do or even think.
a manipulator will try to twist things around, turn the tables and is very skillful at dodging straight forward questions
if you are not aware or have not been around a manipulator, you will not know what hit you until you find yourself feeling guilty over something you did not do and apologizing to the manipulator and in so doing, you expose yourself further and make yourself even more vulnerable to their unapologetic scheming to put you right where they want you, which is under their control
we see people attempting this in the Bible forums on a regular basis.
an example is, you ask a question or have a contradictory response to something someone posts. they come back at you with a Bible verse they are using to attempt to become 'god' in your life. the verse will be designed as a rebuff or a rebuke and and they use this verse in a way never intended by God and this is not something anyone has to fear
there are pastors who will give an entire sermon intended to manipulate the congregation; an example is a pastor who wants to build some big extension to the church. I have literally heard a pastor say 'God has put it on my heart that some of you will take out a second mortgage on your house to help out with the project. God bless you. God will greatly reward you. This is not God and people fall for it and want to please God but they are not pleasing God at all; they are allowing themselves to be manipulated by the human being standing in front of them.
thousands of examples of manipulation could be given as it occurs through all spectrums of life. even children manipulate.
but this thread is about the manipulation of Christians by other Christians and how harmful it is to place yourself under false authority. it will wreck havoc in your life.
I don't know. maybe this thread will pass into obscurity like so many do, but I just wanted to bring this into the light and talk about it if anyone wants to
I'm not pointing anyone out. I don't have to do that. Quite a few people on here use this tactic and I don't want to argue with any of you. But if you recognize yourself, perhaps you will stop. You are hurting others and yourself as well.
this is a behavior that is sadly very often tolerated in church and called 'authority' but it is a false authority. we are not to be ruled over by people. every single Christian is supposed to be under authority and that includes the person at the top. no one should be god in your life and the reason Christians should submit to one another and take counsel from each other is to disallow the sad fact of sinful behavior (and the human desire to be god in their own life and the lives of others), to be active as any sort of power play over others
thanks
a manipulator will try to twist things around, turn the tables and is very skillful at dodging straight forward questions
if you are not aware or have not been around a manipulator, you will not know what hit you until you find yourself feeling guilty over something you did not do and apologizing to the manipulator and in so doing, you expose yourself further and make yourself even more vulnerable to their unapologetic scheming to put you right where they want you, which is under their control
we see people attempting this in the Bible forums on a regular basis.
an example is, you ask a question or have a contradictory response to something someone posts. they come back at you with a Bible verse they are using to attempt to become 'god' in your life. the verse will be designed as a rebuff or a rebuke and and they use this verse in a way never intended by God and this is not something anyone has to fear
there are pastors who will give an entire sermon intended to manipulate the congregation; an example is a pastor who wants to build some big extension to the church. I have literally heard a pastor say 'God has put it on my heart that some of you will take out a second mortgage on your house to help out with the project. God bless you. God will greatly reward you. This is not God and people fall for it and want to please God but they are not pleasing God at all; they are allowing themselves to be manipulated by the human being standing in front of them.
thousands of examples of manipulation could be given as it occurs through all spectrums of life. even children manipulate.
but this thread is about the manipulation of Christians by other Christians and how harmful it is to place yourself under false authority. it will wreck havoc in your life.
I don't know. maybe this thread will pass into obscurity like so many do, but I just wanted to bring this into the light and talk about it if anyone wants to
I'm not pointing anyone out. I don't have to do that. Quite a few people on here use this tactic and I don't want to argue with any of you. But if you recognize yourself, perhaps you will stop. You are hurting others and yourself as well.
this is a behavior that is sadly very often tolerated in church and called 'authority' but it is a false authority. we are not to be ruled over by people. every single Christian is supposed to be under authority and that includes the person at the top. no one should be god in your life and the reason Christians should submit to one another and take counsel from each other is to disallow the sad fact of sinful behavior (and the human desire to be god in their own life and the lives of others), to be active as any sort of power play over others
thanks