MATTHEW 23:3
My mentor and spiritual father (name withheld) is a very patient man. He loves unconditionally. My father doesn’t believe in vengeance, and he believes everybody deserves more than a second chance.
My father is a well organised person, in terms of church structures and family life. He is an architect by profession, and worked in the construction industry before responding to the call to ministry about 30 years ago. My association with him about ten years ago thought me a lot, both as a pastor and a family man. Some of the things I am sharing with you today are things I have observed and learned from him as lessons in ministry. He once told me; “my son, I am not moved by the tears of a manipulator”.
One day, a man came to meet my wife about the problems his wife was giving him, in their marriage, and that there was no need to continue coming to church. He said his wife was disrespectful, arrogant and a manipulator. What he didn’t add though was that, after 12 years of their marriage, they never had a child until they started coming to Liberty House Christian Centre where the Lord graciously blessed them with a son. He didn’t also add that, he lied to the wife before their marriage. He lied that he was working with the ministry of foreign affairs. In addition, he didn’t also tell us about how the family life department was working on saving their marriage, because his wife doesn’t want the divorce. My wife and some seasoned counsellors were helping the wife, though he wasn’t coming for counselling. My father (name withheld) is a serious believer of the family unit, he doesn’t believe in divorce. I wanted to go by some of the marriage principles he thought me over the years.
There are many people like that, they cover their manipulative tendencies with sugar quoted words and try to play the victim game by shedding “crocodile” tears to win sympathy. At first sight, manipulators are very charming. It is very easy for them to deceive you because they are very delightful, polite and enchanting. Many people, have a difficult time believing that, such people could be manipulators, nasty, abusive, cruel or because they have practiced and perfected the craft of portraying just the opposite. If people become suspicious of their sinister moves, they either quickly make friends with you, or they destroy your reputation publicly or in the church making it difficult or impossible for people to believe your story. Don’t forget, manipulation is not just a social or psychological vice, it is also spiritual. They are very deceptive. They are sheep in wolf clothes, masquerading themselves as holy, dutiful, committed and serviceable. They laugh at church leadership and brand them as naive and gullible. Manipulators in the church believe in receiving, but never believe in giving. They will quote all kinds of scriptures to defend why church members must not give, yet they want the church to do everything for them. From light bills to rent, to transportation etc.
Have you checked the attitude of our political elite? I guess you are recollecting some of such people around you, in the church or your place of work?
To be cont..
Stay blessed always and remember to love someone and mean it.
#sociallysignificant #Lukebarson #Libertybreakfast
Rev. Prophet Luke Luki Barson is the Senior Pastor at Liberty House Christian Centre at Tema Community 25.
He has studied at the University of Ghana, the Methodist University College and the Christian Service University College.
He is currently a PhD student at the University of South Africa.
Source: BestNewsGH.com
