YOUR DEFENCE AGAINST MANIPULATION

  by Adam Harbinson

I was invited to 'An Evening With Philip Yancey' one day last month; he's reckoned to be the most inspirational writer of our time. And I must say, the man did inspire me, but there was something he said that worried me too.

Apparently, in a conversation with his publisher, he said he would like to write a book entitled, 'Lies My Pastor Told Me'. On his website, Philip describes his early Christian life by saying; ' I was an angry, wounded person emerging from a toxic church, and I've been in recovery ever since.'

Now if you've read any of his recent books you'll agree, such a title might be a little out of character for Philip. I mean when he was a young up-and-coming writer, all fresh-faced and wet behind the ears, sure he'd have the courage - brashness might be a better word - to pen such a page-turner. But now that he's an established, respected writer? No, I think not.

He wouldn't want to ruffle feathers, that's not his style these days. And that's what inspired me, for I'm not an established writer yet, maybe never will be, but to be honest, if becoming 'established' makes writers less likely to question the status quo, I don't think I want to be an established writer. Too many established writers are 'establishment' writers.

What worried me was that he said, with a mischievous little titter, 'My publisher wouldn't agree,' at which point I almost lost restraint and shouted from the back of the room, 'Then get yourself a new publisher!' - But I didn't.

So, while I was a little worried, saddened too I suppose, I also felt inspired to write what established Yancey can't bring himself write do anymore. Having said that though, I do think the title might be a little rough, something like, 'Truths you won't hear in church' would do the same job and cause less offence. But who would accuse preachers of telling lies? Well, I can think of at least one occasion when the Gentle Apostle John made just such an allegation: ' My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear . There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world. ' (1 John 4:1 The Message).

So a couple of questions spring to mind. Firstly, is there any difference between telling a lie, and concealing the truth? I mean, if your mother had a really bad headache, and you knew there were pills in the cupboard that would take the pain away but didn't tell her, is that not the same as saying, 'Sorry mum, there are no pills in the house.'

Whether or not telling a direct lie is worse than withholding truth is in a sense irrelevant; either way it's cruel. And for a Christian leader to allow his flock to live with the constant fear of divine wrath if they do not observe every detail of the law, is, I believe, the ultimate cruelty. And the reason is, God created us because he wanted to, he enjoys human fellowship, and yet these so-called men of God place roadblocks in the way and blame it on God.

The second question is: how do you know if your pastor is withholding the truth? And why on earth would he do that? In my view, men withhold truth because it gives them illusions of grandeur. For example, read Psalm 103:7, '(God) made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel '. In an odd little religious group I was part of a few years ago, we were told that just as Moses had an 'inside track' to God, so did our leader. God showed him his ways, but the rest of us; mere plebes, could only stand by and watch the action, hoping that one day we might make it to the lofty position where we could hear and understand God.

So what's to be your defence against this type of manipulation? - for that's what it is. Remarkably simple; Jesus promised us the Spirit of Truth, whom he said would 'lead us into all truth.' In a word; learn to listen to the still small voice.

Have your say. Visit our Blog