All in the name of Christian Manipulation.

We've all encountered them, the immature Christians with a spiritual bravado (er, I mean humility?) to match the state of Texas and a vocabulary that is hard to argue with; at least once in any conversation with them you'll hear "God told me..." and whether you're dumbfounded, flabbergasted, annoyed, doubtful, or trying to be kind you're usually left speechless enough for them to assume you agree with them, even look up to them. If you do manage to speak a contrary word the look on their faces (if they don't tell you outright) is a sad "I'll pray for you and your lack of faith" look. These are the baby manipulators who will one day grow their wings and fly into pure manipulation so maturely nothing save a lightening bolt from the heavens will open their eyes to what it really is.

Example, have you ever been approached by a more "mature" christian, or at least a much more "active" one, who asks you if you can serve in such and such ministry? You say no, you have a job or that is family night, etc. and then they'll start the manipulation, I mean, they'll try to convince you by saying something like, have you prayed about it or are you automatically answering? Looks like your job and family are keeping you from ministry and serving God in the church, how bout I get back to you later.

OR how about this (which was recently broached to our family)- we'd like to draw attention to you so that people can remember to pray for you. In my case I do not think there is anything really Godly about being put in a prominent position so people can "remember to pray for you", usually they just remember you and think they'll pray later, but then the question was put forth, "well, don't you like to be prayed for?"

This interaction did not annoy or flabbergast me, it made me incensed, enraged and furious.

I sat thinking about it for a few hours, wondering if there were any such examples in the new testament where I could find a reason for my anger and a reason why I felt it so very wrong.
I thought of Ananias and Sapphira who lied to look spiritual, but that's not exactly what these people do... they think themselves doing the right thing by "encouraging" you to be more spiritual.
So then I thought of Peter who was often misguided in his attempts to be spiritual and who often jumped the gun because of immaturity, but then again what these people do is a little more than that... it has less to do with personal growth and more to do with what they want from you and how it'll make them look.

Then it hit me, the perfect example of exactly what they do: Satan tempting Jesus in the desert. Manipulation in a Bible based discussion and argument or spiritual truth twisted just a little to make a point or convince you to do/be what you're not currently doing or being. Truly this is a plank verses speck kind of issue, when you're acting more like Satan than Jesus in the name of church ministry something is terribly wrong!

Also, it must be said, I think any Christians first ministry (except the very few who are called to be pastors, but even then...) is to their family, place of vocation, and neighbors. WHERE GOD HAS YOU! Do you think there are many unbelievers who are ministered to because you over exert yourself in church? Much more would your unbelieving neighbor be ministered to if you took the time to clean up your yard and take care of your belongings in a Godly fashion, offer to help them, and kindly deal with them beyond what kindness they deserve.

I wonder that so many Christians are deceived in these matters.

I wonder even more, with prayer, tears and a heavy heart, how to deal with them in a Godly fashion. I want to be kind, but kindness is taken for acquiescence. I want to confront them, but they are so blind and I can not gain the courage without anger. So for now I do the only thing I can do; I anguish over it, blog to get it out so I don't talk (or talk less, gossip is something I struggle with too!), and PRAY.

Oh Lord, please send the lightening!