"To see the uncanny similarities between behaviors of sex offenders and behaviors of the Sound Doctrine cult leadership is disturbing, to say the least." Disturbing, Athena Dean, http://notafraidtotellmystory.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/disturbing/I experienced some of these descriptions first hand; but not to the extent of those actually abused. I was close enough to connect the characteristics and now see the signs as the truth is being presented by people deeply entrenched in this situation.
But time goes on. People forget. Life continues and business is normal.
I'm still appalled at the events and will risk anything to help those effected. Whatever God commissions me to do in aid of his people, I will do—without fear or hesitation. I hang the scarlet rope in my window. Too many choose to look the other way. Christians don't want to touch this.
Then there is Rahab:
But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day. — Joshua 6:24 NIV1984Why such an association with this harlot? This is the woman who became the mother of Boaz. She is the lineage of Christ. Yet she was a branded woman.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. —1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV1984Before this, Paul speaks of the foolish who proclaim their intelligence and wisdom. They sit on high, but he promises they won't remain on their cliffs forever.
And I hear his promise in Obadiah 1:3-4:
The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.Anytime, anyone believes they are above reproach or rebuttal, even by one of lowly standing, they have left the lap of our big God and father.
Hearts who fail at the truth will regret the day when Rahab and her family are outside the crumbling city, and they stand in awe of God's hand and her courage.
Visit me at http://www.cindyscinto.com
I am honored to share Rahab's courage. Some new friends who have gone through a similar spiritual abuse read Psalm 37 to me over coffee at Starbucks last Friday...what a powerful word that goes right along with your post:
ReplyDeletePsalm 37
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret —it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish: Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.
23 The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing
27 Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.
32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34 Hope in the Lord and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
Some of my favorite verses--so direct:
ReplyDelete1 Do not fret
3 Trust in the Lord
4 Take delight in the Lord
5 Commit your way to the Lord
7 Be still before the Lord
8 Refrain from anger
Good words, Athena.
True joy comes from Faith (which is a gift) After experiencing the gifts of the world and the free gift of Faith, we always choose the gift we have not paid for instead of the ones we spent our money and lives yearning for.
ReplyDeleteYour Faith is a gift to us all for you know true joy and you know who paid for your free gift. You are one awesome gal. Blessings, jim e
Thanks, Jim e. I can't stand by and watch people being hurt and their lives destroyed. So I speak out and fight with and for those who are being prosecuted. This will finally pass and the sly will be taken down. 8^)
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