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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | anything about manipulation? | Eph 4:25 | Makarios | 163382 | ||
Greetings Smcguire3, The Bible has a lot to say about manipulating others, saying, "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." (Ephesians 4:25, ESV) People in this world manipulate others to accumulate wealth (Proverbs 21:6; Jeremiah 17:11) by exploiting the poor (Amos 5:11) and through cheating and polluting (Amos 8:5,6). But Christians are called to do good deeds without expectation of reciprocation (Luke 6:27-36), and to avoid inequity between friends (Jeremiah 9:5). Let us not dwell in political manipulation for the attaining of wealth and honor (Ecclesiastes 5:8-9). When highly competitive people are overshadowed or intimidated they often resort to ugly tactics to try to regain their superiority. An unhealthy need for importance, success, and power can bring out the worst in anyone. But by following Christ, we have a new standard of living and behavior - "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3, ESV) As community leaders saw Jesus once again gaining popularity and influence, they schemed to ensnare Him (Luke 20:9-19). They even enlisted agents for their plot (Luke 20:20). Unfortunately, there always seems to be a ready supply of help for evil designs. But Jesus refused to stoop to their methods (Luke 20:23-25). As they tried to catch Him in His words, He foiled their schemes with grace and truth. We are called to do the same. Blessings to you, Makarios |
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2 | anything about manipulation? | Eph 4:25 | Hank | 163397 | ||
Makarios, good post, little brother! Might we consider adding to your list the sordid manipulation that is used on hapless viewers by the seed-faith televangelists? Recently I heard one of these charlatans say something like this over a popular "religious" TV-cable network: "Don't expect God to bless you, don't expect Him to heal you or make you prosperous, unless you are willing to send in your seed-faith money." This was manipulation of the first water, and bad enough as it was. But this fake wasn't satisfied to let it go at that. He added something more, another twist, that was absolutely astounding. He scaled a new height of heresy when he said, "God is not authorized to give you His blessing unless you are willing to show your faith by sending in your seed-faith gift." God not authorized? I wanted to ask this TV deceiver just who was authorized to authorize God. ..... It's truly amazing and downright frightening to think how easily some people can be manipulated and how thoroughly deceived. And, of course, these manipulations and deceptions are not peculiar to the flamboyant TV preachers alone. They have found their way to many of the pulpits in the churches on Main Street all across the land -- in city and country, in metropolis and small town. Not in my lifetime has their been more dire need of using extreme caution when choosing a local church. --Hank | ||||||
3 | anything about manipulation? | Eph 4:25 | Makarios | 163425 | ||
Thank you, Hank! I was watching a TV-cable network the other day and saw something like that as well. You know, these "religious" televangelist-manipulators are doing much more harm than good, confusing people's understanding of how God really works. If that isn't a type of blasphemy, then I don't know what is. -Makarios | ||||||