Most of the time we want great things for people and it can be tempting to influence kindness in order to get something from them…but that is not LOVING someone – that’s manipulation and may eventually lead to spiritual abuse if we are not aware of it.
Spiritual abuse occurs when someone uses their religious beliefs and influence to intimidate others into doing actions and making decisions which are of personal and selfish interests of the abuser. It is when someone uses spiritual authority or religious belief to humiliate, intimidate, manipulate, influence, or exploit others.
People are to be genuinely loved and cared for, not because we need something FROM them but because we want great things FOR them.
Matthew 20:20-28 Jesus warns his disciples against proud, arrogant, self-centered leadership that reflects more of the world’s “lording it over” than of the Lord’s servant leadership.
1 Peter 5:1-6 Peter exhorts elders to be shepherds of the flock, to eagerly serve, not lording it over, but being examples.
#SpiritualAbuse #Manipulation #ShepherdsOfTheFlock #DailyDevotion
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Wendell and Jennifer Schultz
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