Controlling Other People: This is a Heart Issue

A major problem in human life has always been the desire of people to attempt to control other people. This problem is pervasive in all aspects of life. Here are only a few examples. 1. Parents and Grandparents. Many parents and grandparents try to control their children and grandchildren. They do this overtly and covertly, openly and subtly. We use several terms to describe people like this: one example is "helicopter parents or grandparents." This problem is that parents and grandparents are very insecure and do not really trust their children and grandchildren. A great example in the Bible is Abraham. God commanded Abram to leave Ur of the Chaldees to go into the land of Canaan. Abram started and went as far as Haran, but he stopped there, and lived in Haran many years ONLY BECAUSE his father Terah WAS IN CONTROL. Genesis 11:27-32; Acts 7:2-4 emphasize this truth. Godly people feel very sorry for parents and grandparents who are so weak spiritually that they feel that they must control their children and grandchildren. 2. Elders of churches. There is a long history of churches who have elders who try to control their church. Such elders are insecure and do not trust the other members of the church. They require everyone in the church to "get the approval" of the elders. What a travesty and abuse of the message of the Bible and the heart of God. God trusts in people. Why do elders require members of the church to be submissive to the elders? Elders have an important function in the church, but God through Christ is in control. No text in scripture warrants elders to rule over the church. In fact, 1 Peter 5:3 and 3 John 9 specifically condemn this activity. 3. Administrators. Many CEOs and administrators of all types, such a presidents in various organizations like universities and agencies and companies, demand that their employees submit to all of their beliefs and desires. Such people threaten to fire their employees. Many of us have faced this reality. These types of people are VERY INSECURE and contain the Adolf Hitler picture. All administrators are human beings, and are not superior to others in any way, shape or form. Good administrators work beautifully with their people in harmony, compassion, and understanding. For all who wish to be true Christians, Philippians 2:3-4 is very important. Put this on YOUR fridge and read it every day. "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others." To follow God's guidelines in such texts, God will change the world from the inside out. Share YOUR insights and shortcomings and beliefs and experiences and desires with others. Let me hear from YOU. John Willis