A Sure Sign of an Abuser
Abuse of any sort is evil.
Psalms 7:1-6 WEB A meditation by David, which he sang to Yahweh, concerning the words of Cush, the Benjamite. Yahweh, my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me, 2 lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver. 3 Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands, 4 if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary), 5 let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah. 6 Arise, Yahweh, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgment.
Abuse can come from pastors, government, teachers, parents, spouses, and many others. Abuse is wrong.
One of the best things to do is be aware. After being aware, one must challenge.
Here is an important article about fleshing out an abuser.
Recently I was reminded still once more of how the wicked react when their evil is exposed, and they are called to account. The fangs come out. The bullying begins. They are like vicious, wild animals snapping at their prey. In this account here in Acts 7, Stephen has just confronted the Jews with their sins:
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered.” (Acts 7:51-52)
It sets them off like a pack of wolves and of course, as we know, they murdered Stephen right there. Remember pastors can be abusers. We need to know. We need to be informed. Do not fall for an abuser.
Other articles on identifying abusers can be found here.
Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour 1 Peter 5:8
Since the devil is prowling around, we need to be alert for those who are like him.