Where it is in us to the detriment of others AND where it is in others against us and others we care about, manipulation must be identified and cut from its root. There is no room for tolerating what is a cancer to relationships.
Whenever any of us are honest — and don’t be mistaken, honesty is the key — we all desire things and are prepared to do what it takes to get certain things. There’s nothing wrong with that if only we can identify such idols of the heart, for the heart is deceptive (Jeremiah 17:9), and repent of them BEFORE we damage our relationships; let’s not be deceived — ALL manipulations are deceptions, and those who would deceive are more self-deceived than they could know.
At every level, manipulation is evil, it is immoral, it is a coercion of fair dealing with our fellow humanity, and it is a betrayal and destruction of the building blocks of life: trust.
Manipulation cannot be tolerated in our lives, and when we’re committed to this, all our relationships are finally on a better (though not easier) footing. Truth may reign. And from this standpoint, having rooted it out of our own lives, we tolerate it less in those who would bring it into our lives when we have resolved to turn our lives in the fullness of the face of Christ, who will not abide in such perilous tyranny.
Having decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back, we swiftly move on from all forms of manipulation, deciding beforehand not to accommodate it whatsoever.
The fact is, we let a little bit in, like a little lie, and where does it end? It never ends well!
When we accommodate people in our lives that are completely won to manipulation, we are on a road to ruin, even as they embark on the full course to that destination.
When we see manipulation, and when we experience God’s conviction, we find that we must rally with the truth of it. It must be confronted where it’s safe to do so. And where it’s not safe, there’s our answer. Why do we let it flourish? Too often we let it flourish because we find we’ve been cornered in life and find we have no choice. There are too many situations in life where manipulators get away with it because they can and so they continue to do so.
First and foremost, God is looking to each and every one of us to live pure in divine sight. The only wise course of action is to re-commit each day to living true from eternal hindsight.
Photo by Farid Askerov on Unsplash
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