Ok, we all know one, don’t we? a DC – dominant Christian. You know, the ones who hog all the prayer time, speak out prophecy at every opportunity, can talk for hours on the subject of faith and what it means to them. To be fair, some of them are truly inspiring (and I know a few of them too), others just get up everyones noses, even though we try not to let it, because ‘that would not be very Christian of us, would it?’
I have been struggling with some things that have been spoken to me and about me, prayed over me, or revealed to me, in prayer by a DC. I have felt pressured, condemned, have lost belief in myself in some areas. Last weekend I had a revelation (and I don’t use that word lightly), when I realised through a series of events, that these things are just not true.
I actually felt like someone had lifted a weight off me when I realised what had happened. These things had been spoken over me and I had believed them, I had taken them in and accepted them.
I was reminded of the scriptures:
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat it’s fruit.
Proverbs 18:21
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Mathew 12:36
When we are children we proudly chant ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me’. The thing is, that’s just crap. Words really do have power, and when we speak them over someone, they really can cause damage. Particularly to the vulnerable. And especially if spoken by someone who seems to have authority. It’s hard to disagree with a DC isn’t it!?
We have to be so careful what we say to people. If one really feels they have a word that could be negative, then we have to weigh up so carefully how and if we should share it, not speak out all over the place, regardless of what damage may be done.
2 Comments
Anita
October 19, 2011 at 6:43 pmI would be very careful about who you accept as a mentor. The line between a mentor and a tormentor can be a slim one.
Some DC seek vulnerable people to mentor so as to have power over them, and inflate their own egos. I have been sought out by a woman like that in times of crisis, and her intention, possibly, was to feel better about her self and boost her ego by belittling me.
I have also found that its hard to shake off a DC who has attached herself to you.
Sometimes you just have to be blunt! :)
Look forward to meeting you in November :)
Jules
October 19, 2011 at 8:05 pmhow very true! thankfully mine wasn't a mentor, was at least spared that!
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