When used as a verb leverage means “to gain an advantage through the use of a tool.” The sort of leverage I am talking about isn’t about using a tool, unless you consider badgering and legalism a tool (which I do).
Liberty is freedom. Legalism is bondage.
How does it work? Easy. Watch Jesus as He confronts the religious leaders of His day who used the rigid keeping of the Law as a leverage against the people. You want to know why they got miffed at Jesus? Just check out how He challenged their power grab using the Law as leverage.
I used to do this (and am ashamed to admit it). For example: tithing. I believe the Bible teaches giving as a way to show grace. But for years I “controlled” people with the threat of withheld blessings if they didn’t tithe. I questioned their commitment to Christ. Shoot, I even questioned their salvation. Stupid…I see it now. But back then it was my leverage. It was my means of control to make sure enough money came in. (I suspect it would have whether I preached tithing or not).
There are other areas of control/leverage pastors/teachers use:
Daily Bible reading
Church attendance- weekly and more when the doors are open
Clothing
Music
Movies/TV
Cards
The list seems endless. Now…on some of those there definitely needs discernment, but people certainly don’t need me to be their “line drawer.”
Don’t let anyone draw your line. Don’t let any person have that type of control. Your thoughts?
I definitely would never let someone in the church try to “leverage” me. I have stated that here before. I will not let the “church” manipulate me.
I don’t know if I have asked you this before, but have you ever gone back to those whose minds you messed with and tried to set things straight? If I had systematically steered people wrong it would definitely eat at me.
I think you have a good approach Daniel. Perhaps a good button would be “No Manipulation.” To answer your question: I have often thought or wished I could. The churches were many, the people even more, the opportunity never presented itself. I preached on the blog topic yesterday and confessed to them about my legalistic attitude. That has to be my redemption (as well as the grace of God).
I actually appreciate your openness on this. So many folks tend to bury the past and not think too much about the gardens they have uprooted.
Thanks Daniel. I’m not sure I know how to be any different. 🙂
I agree. Unfortunately there are a large number of vulnerable and weak people that succumb to that sort of thing. I am sure there are still a large number of preachers and Christian denominations that find plenty of Biblical support for that approach.
Tragically you are right Jeff. Too many pastors find it controlling to badger and threaten the people. At the same time they don’t have enough Daniel’s who will say, “Not on my watch. No manipulation here.”
I’m curious. Why did you begin thinking that legalism was the way the truth and the right course? Did your wife support that approach? Did she question it? What made you change the approach?
Those are all good questions Jeff. I grew up in a church that had 2 Baptist preachers, the latter was willing to spend time with me. He was from Moody,which at the time was very what I would call legalistic. Dresses only. No “secular” music. Other things. But I also know he loved me. When I was a Junior in high school he left and so did my faith. The next pastor got me to go to the college I attended and it was there I was indoctrinated with my “legalism.” I took it to the extreme. It was probably in the mid to late 70s when I really hit the legalistic bent and that lasted until the mid 90s. Jo is not a student so she was pretty much silent when it comes to discussing things about the Bible. So she neither challenged me nor herself to learn. The change started in the early 80s when i went through burnout but I didn’t concern myself a lot with it. I preached around subjects instead of dealing with them. In the mid 90s I read Wisdom Hunter and that opened my eyes in a huge way and the “conversion” was complete. it took me just over 10 years to close the book on my legalism. That is a short version. 🙂 But maybe that gives you an idea. After my sermon Sunday I had someone text me and say, “I’m so glad you are not the same as you used to be.” I am too.
The mature Christ follower will let the Holy Spirit work on those folks. Maybe one day I’ll be there.
maybe one day I will join you in that maturity. I’m still not there.
In 17 years as a member of our congregation, not once has the pastor ever told us ‘what to do’.
He rips into us with the perfect demand of God’s law…and then when we are all laying there bloodied, cut off at the knees, unable to measure up…he hands over Christ to us. The complete forgiveness of sin for the ungodly (everyone there, including the pastor).
That’s the gospel.
Nice post, Bill!
Thanks.
Your pastor is unique, especially staying that long and not having to resort to those kinds of tactics. I will most certainly agree with you on the complete forgiveness of sin through Christ. Thanks Stephen.
I think Larry the Deuce is right on! We should be praying for the Holy Spirit to guide us, not led around by the nose by one who claims to know more than we do. Like you, Bill, I’m still a work in progress. Maybe one day . . .
Blessings!
I agree Martha. Too many man-led instead of Spirit-led churches.
Unfortunately, I think preachers/teachers pull back on explaining the benefits of many of these practices out of fear of sounding controlling and exercising leverage. In other words, we can too easily not encourage some of them at least (or not doing as the case may be) because it’s uncomfortable for many to hear. On the other side of that, we cannot dismiss them as important habits to adopt or avoid either simply because they have so often been misused and pushed as a “must” either. I’ve been on both sides of this, and neither extreme really helps. What I know for sure is that as I spend time with Christ, my heart conforms to his will in every area.
You bring up an interesting point Kari. We do tend to shy away sometimes from hard topics. But there is a way to deal with them and the ones mentioned without being legalistic and judgmental and demanding.
I agree. And there needs to be teaching on these topics that truly gives Biblical instruction in a way that encourages others.
Glad you have been able to His will in every area.
I pretty do my will, in every area, almost all of the time.
And I have been in Christ a very long time.
Not sure where this fits Stephen.
Just read this today at SacredSpace.ie and thought about your post.
“‘The Sabbath was made for humankind.’ Whenever blind authoritarianism confronts common sense, this word of Jesus holds us. It is not easy to apply, and the Pharisees thought it revolutionary. They had extended the two great commandments: Love God and love your neighbor, into 612 regulations, a spider’s web of constraints that stunted the spirit.
Lord, you speak freedom to my spirit. You do not call me to a soft or uncontrolled existence, but to the law of love, which should suffuse my life.”
Good stuff. Thanks Pam. i totally agree with that.