Set Free from False Submission

 There are Christians who think they must fulfil all expectations and instructions from their family, their church and their boss at work, as if everyone around them were an officer in God's army.

When Jesus preached and ministered in his earthly life, he saw how so many Jews had to carry heavy burdens.

God had given the Jews more than 600 laws and rules in the Old Testament. It was almost impossible for a flawed human being to obey everything perfectly. Only the sinless Son of God was able to do this.

But for the Jews in those generations it was even worse. The rabbis and Pharisees had laid down countless additional rules.

For example, it was forbidden to work on the Sabbath, but the Pharisees had invented detailed rules whereby it was forbidden to minister to the sick through prayer on the Sabbath.

Jesus confronted the religious leaders directly by healing the sick on the Sabbath, in public services. There are still some Christians who are indignant when miraculous healings take place in church services.

The rabbis also required women to be extremely submissive, just like many strict Christian fundamentalists today.

Then came the Roman occupation. A Roman soldier was allowed to order a Jew to carry his luggage. If Jews resisted the Roman occupation, they were often crucified.
Most Jews were heavily burdened and many were traumatised.

Jesus did not abolish the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament by any means, but he wanted to open the way so that everyone could come directly to God, so that everyone would receive God's loving help.

One woman shared her story on Facebook. She was mercilessly harassed by her husband, but in her church she was told to just obey, submit, fast and pray.

She obeyed for years until she could bear no more. She was just about to kill herself when her mobile phone rang. God had moved a friend to save her.

She could finally understand that Jesus did not want to enslave her, but to save and free her.
She left her husband and her church and now lives as a liberated Christian woman. 

Jesus has a simple solution to our problems.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Mt 11:28–30 NASB95

Jesus does not mean that we should live our lives like lazy people in a rocking chair without any problems, but Jesus wants to accompany you as a friend in the midst of your problems.

There may be some in your church, family or workplace who want to dominate or manipulate you, but Jesus wants your trust so that you can follow his loving guidance.

Many of us are enslaved to a spirit of submission that is not from God, the spirit of false submission.

Church: Caring or self destructing?

 Two years ago I needed urgent surgery to clean out a blocked carotid artery. It was a matter of life and death.

There are health freaks who don't fancy medication or surgery. Some thrive on a healthy diet, regular relaxation and exercise. Nevertheless, even healthy people are sometimes attacked by life-threatening diseases.

You don't need surgery until you need surgery.

But imagine having a family doctor who has one solution for every problem, surgery!

Many of his patients would die.

Once I was in a church where almost every sermon was judgemental and intimidating. 

Anyone who had problems was to receive intensive pastoral care with two pastors. One absolutely had to obey the directions of these pastors.

Anyone who expressed a different opinion from the pastor was excommunicated. The pastors claimed to be holy men of God. What they said was supposedly from God Himself.

We sometimes need a surgeon. We also sometimes need evangelists and guest preachers who speak strongly of holiness and obedience. When many Christians are involved in pornography, sometimes we need a warning.

The word pastor means shepherd. But pastors and elders need to be like good family doctors who encourage and help. A good shepherd does not punish his sheep with harsh blows.

A preacher or leader who rules with intimidation has no right to exercise authority.

Paul founded the church in Corinth, but later self-appointed authoritarian preachers emerged who bullied the believers. Paul said that such preachers should not be obeyed.

You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. 2 Corinthians 11:20 NLT

Are we then to despise all authority and all leadership, as some headstrong Christians do?

Paul taught mutual submission.

Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21 NRSV

Christians should respect and take pastors seriously, but pastors must also respect and take all Christians seriously.

What did Jesus say about this?

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.
And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
The greatest among you will be your servant. Matthew 23:8–11 NIV84

Churches are often corrupted by arrogant leadership, but strife, rebellion and stubbornness are not the answer. When leaders rule with intimidation and bullying, you may leave. Just leave if you can.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:15–16 NIV84

Jesus warns not only against heretics with unbiblical doctrines, but also against preachers who rule without love and humility, even if their doctrine is correct.

Christian communities need order and respect, but where there is bullying and strife, the Body of Christ becomes like a sick person with an autoimmune disease. The body consumes itself.

As Christians and as congregations we are called to reach out to hurting and needy people, both inside the church and in the world outside. 

When our love grows cold and we just strive to build and maintain our ministries or congregations, we are in danger of developing spiritual autoimmune disease.

What is Forgiveness? It is not ...

One of the biggest problems with forgiveness is this. People don’t understand what forgiveness really is. 

• If someone terrorises you, rapes you, steals your wife or husband or children, you read the Bible and you see that God expects you to forgive the person who ruined your life. 

• You are a woman in hospital because your husband beat you up and not for the first time. You go to the funeral of your son who killed himself because a priest or pastor raped him.

You go to a pastor for counselling and he says: “Just forgive.”Of course that is at least half right. The Lord’s Prayer says:And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us...Luke 11:4 (NRSV)

It is true that if you do not forgive, you will not be able to fully enjoy the mercy of God, the peace of God, the comfort of God or perhaps the healing power of God.

• So what is wrong with the advice to “Just forgive?”

The word “JUST” is an insult, a slap in the face, a kick in the stomach. It is the arrogance of a Pharisaical priesthood.

When a father, a mother, a wife, a husband, a priest or pastor destroys your life by condemnation, rejection, adultery, slander, violence or rape and your life is in ruins, you feel violent indignation. You are burning with a sense of injustice. 

• Supposing the injustice is ongoing and not just something that happened in the past. If you “just” forgive, you feel you are submitting to evil and excusing or even condoning evil. 

It is wrong to excuse evil or condone sin and you are right to feel this.

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He said: 

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." ... Luke 23:34 (NKJV)

Jesus was not excusing their sin. He was not trivialising the sin of murder. He was releasing them from the judgement of God, so they would be able to seek forgiveness and receive mercy from the Father.

When you counsel a person who has been terribly abused, never tell them to “just forgive.” A terrible injustice has been done. 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 (NKJV) 

We could perhaps add, “Rage with those who rage.” 

When a man abuses, rapes or bashes his children, the mother of the children should be angry. There is something wrong if she is not angry. Do you imagine God Himself does not feel angry about this?

If you counsel such a woman, the first priority is to help her to protect her children and herself, often by leaving her husband and taking her children away.

It is also essential to minister to her broken heart by entering into her trauma and taking her side.

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; 

He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18 (NKJV) 

Then you must help the woman to forgive. This does not mean she must go back to her husband or allow him to continue beating, raping or abusing.

• Many Christians are wrongly taught that forgiveness must include excusing the sin. Wrong!
• Many Christians are taught that forgiveness requires them to continue in fellowship with a violent or dangerous partner or parent. Wrong!
• Many Christians are taught to believe forgiveness requires them to forget that their daughter committed suicide because she was seduced by her father or her pastor. Wrong!
• Many Christians are taught that if they are still traumatised, they have not forgiven. Wrong!

When Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of His tormentors on the cross, did He then not feel tormented any more? What a ridiculous idea!

If Christian woman is raped, and she forgives her attacker, does that mean she should not then report the crime and cooperate with the police and the courts? That would expose other women to danger. 

To be continued.