He is our Father and Friend
We often have a wrong view of who God is.
We are raised to have certain views. We are taught in church to have a certain view. We can listen to demons and thoughts that blame God for what we are dealing with in life. Those thoughts that beat us down.
I worked as a custodian for a church who used to tell me that I don’t work for them. I really work for God.
Then, they would use this truth to beat me down and shame me.
If I made a mistake or failed in a task it was always that I failed God.
I wasn’t praying enough. I wasn’t giving enough of myself.
I wasn’t obeying the authority enough.
I was accused of being unmanageable If I questioned the spiritual abuse, and workplace harassment.
If I wanted to take a day off or go on a vacation and use my vacation days or sick days, I was guilted and shamed that I didn’t love Jesus enough.
It’s one thing to have a bad boss, who worships money or work for people who worship money more than caring about others. But, it’s a whole different level when the boss, also seems to be a narcissist who uses God as a hammer to beat you with. When you are involved in church work with leaders who practice spiritual abuse, it hits at a different level. You expect these people to love you and treat you like a brother, not a slave or second class citizen.
But…
Sometimes when we go through trials and tribulations, if we turn to God we can learn great spiritual truth in the midst of torment.
One day it was revealed to me that God is not a slave driver.
Oppressors like to twist a few verses to their use and then drive them into your skull.
But, when you look at the entire scripture you see that God Himself came to Earth to set the slaves free from Sin and Satan.
He brought the people out of bondage in Egypt to a place of freedom in Him.
He walks with us and leads us into green pastures.
He hides us in the cleft of the Rock.
He gathers us under His wings.
He gives us days of rest and feasts of celebration.
He gives us the same promise no matter how many hours we work.
He cares for those who go forth and those who stay behind.
He is our friend, he knows our frame. He knows our weakness and our needs before we even ask.
He gives without asking return.
He is not a slave driver to help earn profit for oppressors.
He has no fellowship with the demons who push this world system of money loving slavery.
He says ” Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.” —James 5:1-6
God is not a slave driver. He is your friend. Turn to Him and let Him guide you in your life. Let Him show you the truth of who He really is.
Why do I write this?
Because I’m sure I’m not the only Christian who has been betrayed by a church? I’m not the only one who thought the pastor and leaders were friends.
I want you to know that there is a temptation in these betrayals to get us to reject God. It’s the same trials Job faced.
I want the reader to know, that the behaviors of a church or church people are not a real reflection of God.
The scriptures are clear that there will be false brethren in the church. People who have never known God.
Do not let them drive you away from God. Use it to spur you into a deeper relationship with Him.
Don’t fall into the trap.
Use it for your growth in Him.
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
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