The abusive man or woman, liar, back-slider, drunk, heartless, and others will sometimes look to the Bible to get selfish needs met. They will also use God's holy word to further manipulate or control others while attempting to appear wise! Too often, those that are easily deceived will go along with "the programming" not knowing that the Bible is being used as a weapon to divide Christians while furthering someone's sick and twisted way of thinking or personal agenda.
There are many self-righteous believers and opportunist unbelievers who will crack open the Holy Book in search of scripture to do any number of things: feel good about his or herself, keep a partner from filing divorce, get someone or a group to give them money, play guilt trips, cause a believer to doubt his or her faith, or test Christians in the hopes that they will discredit themselves or act hypocritical. Of course, that was just a short list of the negative things some will do to benefit from the scriptures.
As much as we would like to think that some people mean well when approaching us about what we, as believers, say and do, there are those who are out of the will of God and angry at him for any number of things. Unfortunately, we are the ones who contend with all sorts of foolishness. But thanks be to God for his strength, love, grace, and more to endure!
The lost confused, reprobate, rebellious, and others, who seek to twist scripture to get what they want, unfortunately find themselves on the side of the enemy. Angry men and women, who believe they are right for past and present deeds, will not confess sin and repent. Instead, they prefer to argue and defend why they did what they did and why they are still doing what they do including being out of fellowship with God. For example, a man, who has a long history of abusing women mentally, physically, and spiritually, might listen to the words of a minister for a time in order to keep a victim/partner around. He might talk of how God hates divorce, why women should be quiet and not nag men, be submissive, etc. Therefore, the abuser uses the Bible to keep his victim enslaved. This form of spiritual abuse is deadly and for many they have gone to their graves prematurely. Rather than focus on other text in the bible related to sinful acts such as: scripture that speaks about God's wrath and curses, how those that practice certain sins will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5), and more, the focus is on the "good" scriptures and the love of God and how he hates divorce, and his forgiveness. The devilish wouldn't want to be exposed; therefore they will try to distract their targets from the truth.
A weak-minded Christian will overlook the tricks of the enemy and begin to self-doubt as well as wonder whether advice given is solid. At times, Satan will try to take the gullible down a path of self-destruction. God uses men and women to speak truth as well as test them on the knowledge he has given them. So when you have individuals around you, used by Satan, whose plans are to upset you and argue about what you know to be true, prayerfully address the issue, but avoid the argument. Those in sin look for a dispute with a Christian so that they don't feel compelled to do anything different.
Nicholl McGuire wrote the book Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate.
There are many self-righteous believers and opportunist unbelievers who will crack open the Holy Book in search of scripture to do any number of things: feel good about his or herself, keep a partner from filing divorce, get someone or a group to give them money, play guilt trips, cause a believer to doubt his or her faith, or test Christians in the hopes that they will discredit themselves or act hypocritical. Of course, that was just a short list of the negative things some will do to benefit from the scriptures.
As much as we would like to think that some people mean well when approaching us about what we, as believers, say and do, there are those who are out of the will of God and angry at him for any number of things. Unfortunately, we are the ones who contend with all sorts of foolishness. But thanks be to God for his strength, love, grace, and more to endure!
The lost confused, reprobate, rebellious, and others, who seek to twist scripture to get what they want, unfortunately find themselves on the side of the enemy. Angry men and women, who believe they are right for past and present deeds, will not confess sin and repent. Instead, they prefer to argue and defend why they did what they did and why they are still doing what they do including being out of fellowship with God. For example, a man, who has a long history of abusing women mentally, physically, and spiritually, might listen to the words of a minister for a time in order to keep a victim/partner around. He might talk of how God hates divorce, why women should be quiet and not nag men, be submissive, etc. Therefore, the abuser uses the Bible to keep his victim enslaved. This form of spiritual abuse is deadly and for many they have gone to their graves prematurely. Rather than focus on other text in the bible related to sinful acts such as: scripture that speaks about God's wrath and curses, how those that practice certain sins will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5), and more, the focus is on the "good" scriptures and the love of God and how he hates divorce, and his forgiveness. The devilish wouldn't want to be exposed; therefore they will try to distract their targets from the truth.
A weak-minded Christian will overlook the tricks of the enemy and begin to self-doubt as well as wonder whether advice given is solid. At times, Satan will try to take the gullible down a path of self-destruction. God uses men and women to speak truth as well as test them on the knowledge he has given them. So when you have individuals around you, used by Satan, whose plans are to upset you and argue about what you know to be true, prayerfully address the issue, but avoid the argument. Those in sin look for a dispute with a Christian so that they don't feel compelled to do anything different.
Nicholl McGuire wrote the book Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate.
