Manipulative, Controlling Leadership

 It hurts when you see Christians in leadership and they use the same dishonest political tactics as unbelievers. I've often felt like I was being manipulated by Christian leaders, and I wasn't wrong to feel that way.

It hurts to be pressured into supporting Christian leaders who promote themselves and their party, faction or ministry more than justice and mercy.

Every time an election comes up, I feel stressed about the twisting and manipulation that goes on around me.

When I asked God about this, I believe the Holy Spirit gave me a very clear answer.
Politics is mostly about manipulation. It is what it is.

What does the Bible say about that?

There are leaders who want to hide their mistakes, or the sins of their colleagues.

For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. Mk 4:22 NKJV

There are leaders who demand unconditional submission.

The apostle Paul was a true and faithful leader. Paul himself condemned the practice of dictatorial leadership.

In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 2 Cor 11:20 NIV

Paul defines the basis for true Christian fellowship.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Eph 5:21 NIV

Some Christians might argue that this mutual submission should only apply to Christians of the same rank. But how did Jesus understand this truth?

The first Christian woman chosen by God to witness the resurrection was not an apostle, but Mary Magdalene. When she and other women told the fearful apostles that they had seen Jesus, they did not believe. How did Jesus react?

Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. Mk 16:14 NIV

When a leader goes wrong, some Christians claim he was not chosen by God, but King Saul was chosen by God.

There are Christians who claim that you should never publicly criticise a chosen leader, but David openly accused Saul.

Suppose you have been abused, bullied and shunned by Christian leaders, pastors or politicians.

What does Jesus think about this?

In John 9, Jesus healed a blind man. When the man testified that Jesus had healed him, he was excommunicated by the religious leaders.

Jesus didn't just heal the man. He sought him out to help him when he had become a persecuted outcast.

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshipped him. Jn 9:35–38 NIV

Are you being bullied or ostracised by religious leaders? Please don't blame Jesus. He wants to help you personally. The same religious leaders crucified Jesus, but he returned from the grave.

As a young Christian, I was excommunicated, but I learned that the cruel leaders were not the source of my salvation, but Jesus Himself.

The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Ps 147:2–3 NIV

Jesus gathered the outcasts of Israel and he also gathers the Christian outcasts today.

Healing from Spiritual Abuse

 I was 24 years old and I was a lost soul. I somehow believed in Jesus, but I was torn by so many doubts. I sought help for my depression with a good therapist, but he couldn't eliminate my existential fears.  

I attended a church where I learnt a humanistic worldview, but I wasn't convinced in my heart.

I attended a yoga class, but I didn't find an eternal reality there.
I visited a fanatical sect and my confusion only got worse.

Traumatised, I finally sought help from my cousin, a loving, Bible-believing Christian.
I attended a church with her where I heard a powerful testimony from a preacher who had been persecuted for years in a communist prison and had remained faithful.

I was determined to believe in Jesus and the Bible. That was the beginning of my new life with God.

But not everything went smoothly. The leaders of this church were seemingly flawless like the apostle Paul, but unfortunately that was not the case.

The pastors wanted to tightly control everyone. I wasn't supposed to see my therapist anymore. I was supposed to fast and pray and fast and pray.

It was all too much for me and I broke down.

I was cast out as an unreconstructed sinner and I had a complete nervous breakdown.

But Jesus never rejected or condemned me. Jesus loves the weak and wounded sheep that some preachers despise and cast out.

If you want to understand this, you can find similar stories in the New Testament.

Jesus healed a man who was blind from birth. He gave his testimony but the Pharisees did not want to believe that Jesus had healed him, but the healed man would not give in. He dared to contradict the Pharisees and they excommunicated him from the Jewish community.

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshipped him. Jn 9:35–38 NIV

In the following chapter, Jesus explains that he is the Good Shepherd who wants to save the misunderstood and rejected sheep.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Jn 10:10–11 NASB95

No matter how people have abused you, you are no less loved by Jesus.

Jesus is speaking to you now.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB95