Category: Words of Study & Instruction: Scribes & the Arts

Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson

(This post is primarily geared toward scribes who have asked for counsel from others concerning their scribal projects. Then, when they receive the advice released in love, they dismiss it. The purpose of this article is to encourage listening so that we can produce work that is pleasing to God in all areas.)

Proverbs 15:22 CJB says, “Without deliberation, plans go wrong; but with many advisers, they succeed.”

One of the most difficult challenges I have encountered in scribal ministry revolves around providing constructive criticism to prophetic people. It is as if there is this mindset that declares: “God told me how to do it, so I’m going to do it like this anyway.” And sometimes, that “anyway” is a very, very bad representation of their prophetic vision.

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.”)