A Splash of Love….

Why does Spiritual Abuse make the enemy happy?

When our beliefs become the primary focus, religion produces lifeless, emasculated and sterilized Christians. Caught up in a system, content to live to the letter of the law, and denying the power of the Spirit of God, they wander, spiritual zombies, going through the motions, doing good things, but without passion for Jesus Christ. They would tell you that they are saved through Jesus, and they most likely are, as long as they acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God and Saviour of the world. Daily lives, however, are spent making sure this is ‘just so’ and that is ‘just right’.

And that is precisely what the enemy wants—for our best intentions and ‘good living’ to become our focus so that we deny the Atonement of Christ. Sad to say, he has the church exactly where he needs us, if that is the path we choose, because there is no life in it. Only when Jesus is acknowledged as The Only Way to relationship with God is there any power at all in religion. The instant another qualifier is added, the letter of the law comes into play. Immediately we are oppressed and the Spirit is suppressed. We end up with a form of godliness but deny the power of Christ in it. (2 Timothy 3:5)

This is not to say that we are not saved.  It is quite possible to be saved and apathetically wander through the pearly gates at the end of life, if we believe in Jesus as God’s Son and the atonement for our sin. Even if religion has received more than enough of our attention.

It does, however, render us ineffective for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. We are spiritually emasculated eunuchs and sterilized maids, serving religion and, unable to reproduce life in others. The best we can do is instruct others on how to be emasculated and sterilized, and offer them the drug of religion to numb the mind.

The enemy would rather have a thousand snoozing, lifeless Christians—content to look right on the outside and chattering ‘Christianese’ or denominational lingo—than to have one who is like Peter, cussing in a weak moment but quick to repent, and living dynamic Christocentric faith. The latter is a threat to his agenda, because it advances the Kingdom of God and radically revolutionizes the world—taking away his power. The other is, at best, an inconvenience that does little to threaten him. If anything, it becomes a tool he uses to his own advantage.

I sit across the table from more religious people, struggling with suicide and hopelessness, than those who don’t believe in Christ. Why? Because people are looking for something deeper than enslavement to a system. The system has enough truth that it promises freedom but, when it fails to deliver, people become hopeless, angry and desperate. There is just enough life left in them to make them aware that things are not as they should be, but if religion and ‘good living’ cannot satisfy, then what?

This hopelessness, while a terrible thing, is still a sign of life. I do not wish it on anyone—because I wish for all to know freedom through Jesus Christ—but it is, quite frankly, better than the alternative—to be a spiritual zombie. The very hopelessness is a testimony that religion, in and of itself, is not enough. It makes the spirit cry out for something more. It forces us out of that deep slumber and into the arms of Jesus, if only we are willing to be set free.

If you find yourself caught in empty religious experience and lifeless Christianity, searching for deeper meaning to life, invite Jesus to come alive, not only in your heart but, in your culture. Ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Get close to Him. Reach up and touch His face and look into His eyes. Discover who He really is and what He really thinks of you. It will transform you.

If you are in a dark place and need a listening ear, a counsellor, a mentor or pastor, and don’t know where to turn, I am blessed to have many connections to great leaders! If you are in USA or Canada, send a private message to:  https://www.facebook.com/Trudy.Metzger.Speaker.Coach.Trainer and I will do my best to find someone in your area.

© Trudy Metzger 2012

Go to First Post In This Series: http://trudymetzger.com/2012/05/22/spiritual-abuse-introduction/