Category: Ministry Integrity

Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson

Introduction

Gaslighting is a sophisticated manipulation tactic that certain types of personalities use to create doubt in the minds of others.[1] It is classified by psychologists as a form of mental abuse “in which false information is presented with the intent of making a victim doubt his or her own memory, perception and sanity.[2]

In my personal ministry experiences, I have found it to be the most common tactic of spiritual abuse and emotional warfare used among the congregation. It walks hand in hand with “The Spirit of Rebecca: Master Manipulator.” Even the most mature believer can be affected by this demonic influence.

Skilled and experienced gaslighters are masters in passive aggressive behavior. Perhaps their greatest area of mastery is their ability to twist actual events, words and situations into well spun lies. The truth is so intertwined that their victim completely misses the “underlining” lie. (Read this excellent article on “Passive Aggressive Behavior.”)

Copyright 2009 Theresa Harvard Johnson

 

For years, I’ve been fascinated with this statement that the Apostle Paul made at the beginning of his letters.

He said: “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.” This statement also appears in: 1 Corinthians 16:21, Galatians 6:11; Colossians 4:18; and 2 Thessalonians 3:17.

Why? Well, it reminds us that while the letters of the New Covenant are indeed inspired, they started out as simple letters written to specific people and groups among the Body. If God is indeed the same yesterday today and every, then this certainty speaks volumes concerning the seriousness of the inspired books that we pen. Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying we are writing “scripture.” I am, however, saying that God gives weight to the inspired pen of the scribe.

Why do Christians chase prophecies?
Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson

I love checking the keywords and phrases that lead people to my website. The topic of this post is actually the result of one of them, and I think the searcher had an awesome question: Why do Christians chase prophecies? After following the search string to see what kind of answers this person received, I landed on a website called chasingprophecy.com. It’s a Christian rock band and their slogan is: “Chasing prophesy, pursuing destiny.” In a way, I thought to myself, they answered this question hot on the spot.

You see, believers pursue prophecy primarily for one primary reason: To know what is the perfect will of God for their lives – whether personal, corporate or global. There are people who abuse this and become prophecy-junkies – yep, I said it; but that is a topic for another time. (See the blog post, Prayer Addiction)

Proverbs 18:16 CJB says, “Without a prophetic vision, the people throw off all restraint; but he who keeps Torah is happy.”

Copyright 2013 Theresa Harvard Johnson

 

1 John 4:9-12 CJB: “Here is how God showed his love among us: God sent his only Son into the world, so that through him we might have life. Here is what love is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the kapparah for our sins. Beloved friends, if this is how God loved us, we likewise ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains united with us, and our love for him has been brought to its goal in us.”

 

What gives the soul rest from this earthbound journey? It’s the spiritual assurance and innate power of God’s love for us. The kind that only intimacy with Him can release. Our rest from the cares of this world comes in living in Him — knowing that our lives are not useless, futile, worthless or meaningless. So, if no one has told you today that they love you, please know that God does. If noone has told you that they care, please know that there are people whom you do not know who wake up in the night season and/or dedicate their days to praying for whomever God places in their hearts. He wants to show you, right here in this moment, that He loves you and that you are not alone.

Copyright 2013 Theresa Harvard Johnson

We can celebrate the lives of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight. As they move through an intense journey of healing, we can have a hand in helping them heal, to fully recover.

How? Well, those reading this can make sure that these young women do not remain a news headline with spectators waiting for “what happens next” or regurgitating every gory detail from their ordeal that the news media feeds us or pours out. Every one of us can celebrate them by doing our part in making sure that children, our most precious cargo, are protected from the sick minds of child sexual predators.

According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention here in Atlanta, one in four girls and one is six boys are sexually abused by the age of 17, and only one in 10 will ever tell. In an article published in the Journal of Pediatric Health written by Gail Hornor, 80,000 cases of child sexual abuse were reported in 2008 alone. Officials, however, believe that this number is far greater because children are afraid to tell.  

SIDEBAR: I am blessed to serve with the fabulous organization, VOICE Today Inc., which exists to end child sexual abuse. For quality and excellent tools, resources and information on child sexual abuse prevention for your organization, faith-based institution or outreach initiative, please do not hesitate to contact me directly or reach out to VOICE so that I can tell you more. Watch this powerful video on the left. In addition, Angela Williams, the founder and my sear sister, shares her personal testimony in the book, From Sorrows To Sapphires. Read the latest book review here.

If you had the opportunity to prevent the type of heinous crime that engulfed the lives of Berry, DeJesus and Knight from happening to your child, your neighbor or the child of a co-worker would you take it? Most of us would like to think that we would. But the truth is this:

• The news headlines will dissipate.
• The perpetrator, Ariel Castro, will be sentenced.
• Berry, DeJesus and Knight will spend years healing from this unimaginable tragedy, and those reading this article and following the story;
• Will remember it only as a moment in history when these women were found.