}

_Lead._{To guide something or someone along a way...especially by going in advance.}_{(Merriam-Webster)}

_{Manipulation.} _{Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the behavior or perception of others through indirect, deceptive, or underhanded tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at another's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative and devious.}_(Wikipedia
)

_Trust._{Assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.}_{(Merriam-Webster)}

For healthy fellowship in the Church, the discernment between leadership and manipulation is key. In a previous post, I went over two different forms of Communism ― the Church's way, and the way of the world ― explaining their differences and why it's so important to have their core principles figured out to work well and to everyone's benefit. This post is going to go deeper into the roots of that, starting with the question: where does every group's goal, mission or theme come from?

They come from their leadership.

The ideals and values of a leader will determine how their followers will act. Through directives a leader connects in teaching, and the followers receive this in learning. Just like living beings: the head dictates how the body will function, and through directives the head connects in sending signals for the rest of the body to follow.

There are different types of directives. Some of these directives are conscious decisions, made in a space where thoughts turn into clear choices. Other directives, known commonly as subconscious decisions, are less clear to us. Instead of a manually made choice, these other directives are automatic, running in the background somewhat enigmatically and without notice. Further still, there are directives that could be known as "absent-minded", which are a combination of the conscious and subconscious. These are manual decisions done over and over and over again, until we don't think about that choice anymore because it has become automatic.

Good leaders will encourage your decision making toward a healthy direction. Bad leaders will not encourage healthy decision making.

Manipulators will attempt to make your decisions for you .

_{But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachings among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who brought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality , and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned ; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgement form long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.}_{2 Peter 2:1-3}

The worldly Communism spoken of before is just one of the many places perversion can exist. Any good thing can be targeted and defiled, including the church. This is why we are warned of these things, so that we may watch out for them.

_{Be on alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.}_{1 Corinthians 16:13 (NASB)}

Jesus spoke of identifying someone as one would identify the goodness of a tree: by their fruit. (See Matthew 7:15-23 and Matthew 12:33-37) We must practice to train our senses to discern good and evil, proving ourselves matured and able to receive wisdom, sharpening iron with iron so that we do not become dull in hearing.* In this way, we guard ourselves against manipulators who would send discreet directives, even tapping into our own and recode us to fit their schemes.

Another way is simply directing ourselves to the source, not only counting on the words of others concerning the Bible (though faith does come by hearing) but also reading it too. Don't just listen to your pastor; if he is a good leader, they should encourage this. If you have a bad leader, then don't be afraid to speak up; perhaps they will be open to wisdom and encouragement towards that direction; pastors are people, and people aren't perfect, and could all be helped by prayer (even the good ones).

If your leader is a manipulator, also do not fear speaking up, for there is all the more necessity to do so. In my unprofessional opinion, first step in speaking up looks like asking questions, rather than making statements. It is both simple and easy to misread a situation, so proceed with caution in humility. However, the truth has this way of speaking for itself. Maintaining humility, watch for what kind of answers you receive for your questions. Often if there's something that someone doesn't want you to know about, your questions will be deflected, derailed, and/or discouraged. This should come across as strange if good, honest questions concerning leadership are not met with good, honest answers, as there ought to be if there is a good, honest leader involved.

So on the one hand, I warn you against jumping to conclusions; yet on the other, you shouldn't have to press too hard for clarity. Either way, pushback from fellow followers is to be expected. Those who are receptive to wisdom will quickly come to the same page (or will correct you and sharpen your iron ― maintain that humility, search for truth first).

_{Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.} _{Proverbs 9:8 (NASB)}

To conclude this article, I can find no better words than those of the apostle Paul:

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
_{2 Timothy 3:17 (NASB)}

And to the leaders reading:

...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn to their own myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of the evangelist, fulfill you ministry.
_{2 Timothy 4:2-5 (NASB)}

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:11) Let us as a whole look to the roots of our faith, the first church, and return to the way of fellowship. Thanks for coming.

*_{(See Hebrews 5:11-14; Proverbs 27:17)}