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People tend to lose their faith in their spiritualty and leaders in the Christian faith based on experiences of manipulation. We are going to discuss the signs of a manipulative leader and the importance of having an individual relationship with God and not depending on man for salvation.

Let’s break down the word manipulate and what it means according to Webster dictionary; to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one’s own advantage.

There are so many instances in the church where the pastor will quote a scripture or preach a message that is personally beneficial to them in a way to control the congregation; that’s why it’s so important for you to know the word of God.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

You hear all the time if you don’t do this you are going to Hell. The truth of the matter is that God is love. Now, that doesn’t mean that there is no accountability for your actions that result to consequences here on earth.

When you develop a true relationship with God and not man you will make changes to your life because you are in love with Jesus. It’s important for you to read the word and pray daily so that you will know firsthand if it’s God or man. Even John speaks directly about trying the spirit and that there are false prophets.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world,” 1 John 4:1.

A Christian leader who is manipulative will

• Never truly be accessible to their congregation by sharing past experiences where they had personally failed, experienced a shortcoming or questioned the word of God. They will speak on how blessed and strong they were prior to being saved.

• Will use things that you personally spoke to them about in their message as if it was the word of God, and twist and turn the Bible to fit their own agenda.

• A manipulative leader or pastor will never let you experience true deliverance and the love of Christ; you will always have something wrong with you.

• One of the biggest signs of manipulative pastors is that they will violate you to get what they want. You will be able to sense this intuitively; it will make you question God but God is not the problem it’s those manipulative pastors and their demons. We forget that pastors are people just like me and you and deal with their own shortcomings and it’s important that you don’t put your faith in them but in the word and God.

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man,” Psalm 118:8

I have seen so many times when people have been hurt in church that instead of facing the problem head on they leave God. I will tell you first hand it’s not God, it was that person and you have to face what happened and forgive. That means letting go, because most importantly you don’t want your experience to hinder you from what God has for you because of man.

Written by: Louanna Faine