Recently,
someone was sharing about spiritual wounding they had received at the hands of
the church family they grew up in. When
I first heard them say it, it was very familiar. I had heard similar stories to this from
various others in this group. They
shared that shaming people for not having faith if they were not healed after
prayer was something that was done. And,
that someone who had bad things happen to them was blamed for it as if their
thinking had somehow caused it. Some
even had their salvation questioned if they did not display speaking in
tongues. I have never seen this type of spiritual abuse myself or been abused in
such a way, but I’m recognizing the effects of it in many places.
I was woken
up really early about this with a download of many aspects of it. I had not
realized it, but this is much bigger than just some individuals it is in many denominations
as well. In response to real abuses by
some individuals and some groups there has developed a “hyper-sensitivity” and
misperception about faith. The word
faith, as a result, has come to more or less represent outrageous presumption,
arrogance and the default suspicion that people exercising it must view and be treating
God as their personal puppet who they can manipulate for anything they want. This has been a case where an actual real
wrong, done by people in the church, has been used by the enemy to deceive a
whole populace of people in the church and has created such a fear that
distorted notions have come to replace a true and real understanding of, value
for and exercise of faith. As a result,
there are church faith families who never really even talk about faith and are
fearful of the entire topic. They don’t
see any value, they see danger and it actually prevents them from living into all
that God has for them.
Just as there is a counterfeit faith marked by
manipulation, judgment and shame there is also an authentic faith that is
marked by love, power, hope, and the truth of God’s promises, word and
nature. The enemy has stolen (through a
hyper response) the inheritance of many faith families.
I always
have to laugh; God brings in so much to help me see things clearly (He knows I need it). Another big piece of this entire question
came to me through a daily devotional I read.
The passage in Exodus 19:19 "When the sound of the trumpet grew
louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder." The devotional author talks about how the scholars
struggled and worked their way through dealing with the idea that Moses could somehow
command God in this scenario. What the scholars
concluded is that God used Moses mouth - so in effect it was God speaking to
God. That is a key piece that is poorly
understood and warped. That this is even
possible or God’s intention is in question in many faith families. Part of it is because many were taught and do
not believe they actually hear or can be guided in real ways by God! We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Jesus lives in us now and we have received
His gift of new life. We are no longer
our old nature - all things have been made new.
We are, in line with our design, one with God. I am in no way saying we are perfect at
it. We are still making a lifelong
learning of how to walk that out (putting off old/putting on new) ignoring the
old nature habits and living into the fullness of our new nature (this is
sanctification). True faith, is always
in line with our new nature - operating from God to God. It's not from our old nature - from
ourselves alone - so it's not presumptuous or using or puppeting God. It's only ever (when true) from our humility
to be submitted to step out into His agenda in reverence for and partnership
with Christ. So, when we pray with
confidence - it's not us praying, it's us and Christ praying (from God to
God). We are His vessels for this. And –
HE chose this. We did not choose
it. We get to trust Him and learn to
participate and grow in His agenda, His leading.
I
acknowledge there are abuses, where people are operating from either their own
flesh or failing to operate from partnership with God. Just as there are abuses and wrong understandings in some faith
families about faith – there are wrong understandings in every faith family
about something. But, God's design is that we would operate in Him and when
it's from Him to Him – in humility, it is good and right. My part is to believe God and the faith part
is where there is nothing in evidence that my human eyes would look to for
trust – but that my eyes in God’s Spirit see the potential, the opportunity –
speak out and move from that which He sees.
It's amazing, and many times overwhelming how God does that. It’s always humbling. I'm always surprised anew at God’s willingness
to work through humans for this! And, I love how He is healing these wounds and wrong understandings in such beautiful ways. And, it's not just about faith - it's so much more. I see this about His Body - His Bride! I
certainly never feel adequate to the task – but I know He actually receives all
the more credit because I’m not adequate. I want to just remain, willing.
.jpg)