[All
emphasis below is mine]
Compliance
B1 Definitions
C1 Willing to comply; submissive; willing to do what someone
wants. (Source)
C2 Psychological definition:
Compliance Definition: Compliance refers to an overt, public
action performed in accordance with a request from an external
source. The request can be from another person(s) or from an object,
such as an election billboard or marketing advertisement. Thus,
compliance can occur in response to an explicit request, as in the
former example, or an implicit request, as in the latter example.
Regardless of the source of the request, if a person acts in line
with the request, he or she is said to be complying with the request.
Compliance does not refer to an inner state of acceptance of the
behavior performed nor does it refer to an attitude change; rather,
it simply refers to acting in accordance with the request. If a
person acts in accordance with a request that comes from an authority
figure, however, the person is demonstrating obedience. (Source)
B2 Usually, there is no realistic reasons, or perhaps, there is
social influence, fear, guilt, peer pressure, bullying, shaming, etc.
(narcissistic methods). There is no resistance in compliance or
easily overcome resistance. In fact, nonresistance is a similar word,
and defiance is the opposite.
B3 It is commonly used in sales and other manipulation
C1 Some techniques:
C2 It becomes dangerous in personal and political abuses
D1 Media
Manipulation (Source is Wikipedia (be cautious))
D2 Searching for “propaganda
bernays” yields a lot of information from the master of
propaganda—Edward Bernays. (Search link is from DuckDuckGo.
Biblical
Issues
B1 One of God’s character traits is truth.
C1 He is both truthful and the source of truth
D1 He cannot lie, does not lie, the non-lying God. His promises will
happen, His teachings never change, His standards are unalterable,
and His decisions just and perfect. Hebrews 6:18 GNB There
are these two things, then, that cannot change and about which God
cannot lie. So we who have found safety with him are greatly
encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us.
D2 Note that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. These are 3
traits of God and no one else. John 14:6 ESV Jesus said to
him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.
C2 What God says, teaches, communicates, etc. is truth. His message
is true. He can communicate perfectly. He does not need an
interpreter. We can trust God, so we can trust Scriptures to be read
and studied in its plain, normal sense. John 17:17 EMTV Sanctify
them by Your truth; Your word is truth.
B2 Compliance, etc. has the character trait of lying in many forms
from half-truths, deception, different definitions, etc., etc.
distort, exaggerate,
C1 These wanting compliance lives that are wicked, lawless, and
breaking God’s laws and in doing so suppress the truth. Romans 1:18
NIV The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the
godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their
wickedness,
C2 Exchanging truth for lies: Romans 1:25 NIV They exchanged the
truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things
rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
C3 God values truth in what we say and what we do. It is a delight to
Him. Proverbs 12:22 MEV Lying lips are abomination to the Lord,
but those who deal truly are His delight.
B3 A common statement of a compliant person was something like
this...was familiar with the idea of being obedient to a governing
authority that determined truth and taught authoritatively…
C1 Note this person’s statement, ...standard of truth except the
governing authority. Christianity teaches that God is the final
and highest authority.
C2 For many people riches (money, real estate, goods, stocks) are the
final authority, because it gives power. These people crave power and
money. To have power and money takes skill to get people to submit.
They have to be the final authority, and to do so, they need
compliance.
Hebrews 13:21 GW May this God of peace prepare you to do every
good thing he wants. May he work in us through Jesus Christ to do
what is pleasing to him. Glory belongs to Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
Leadership
style
B1 Shepherd
C1 There is no submission in Christianity, for we want fellowship and
love God and His ways. We want to do the will of God. We are not
forced or manipulated to do His will. This is the standard but rarely
followed.
D1 Ephesians 6:6-7 ESV not by the way of eye-service, as
people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God
from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the
Lord and not to man,
D2 God’s people want to follow Him: John 10:3-4 NRSV The
gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He
calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has
brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow
him because they know his voice.
D3 Fellowship. God doesn’t need fellowship, He enjoys it. Believers
also enjoy fellowship with God. 1 John 1:3 NIV We proclaim to you
what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship
with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son,
Jesus Christ.
C3 Note the teaching and example of the Lord Jesus:
D1 Matthew 6:9-10 EMTV Therefore pray in this manner: Our Father
in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come, Your
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
D2 Luke 22:42 EMTV saying, "Father, if You will, remove this
cup from Me—nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
D3 John 6:38 EMTV For I have come down from heaven, not that I
might do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
B2 Controller
C1 Depends on force, lies, pain, distortions, threats, etc. Some
followers may voluntarily do something for a reward of power, money,
pleasure, etc., but it comes with a price—perhaps, blackmail, etc.
Those in power demand something in return.
C2 No love involved; fake love—yes, but not genuine love.
C3 Bible examples of controlling people:
D1 Nimrod
E1 An article of Nimrod can be found here.
E2 Evidently, he was a rebel and tyrant. He enjoyed rebelling against
God and God’s worldview, lifestyle, and laws. He was mighty in
hunting, leadership, and attitude. He seems to be a person who likes
to pick a fight and win at all costs. A person who loves power and
control.
E3 In 1 Chronicles 1:10, it is written that he was the first to be
a mighty man. The word
mighty is גִּבּוֹר
gibbôwr. It means powerful and is related to such
words as king, lord, etc.
F1 He felt he was god and thus assumed that role (so he thought). He
would have thought this was written about him. Instead, it was
written about the Lord Jesus. Isaiah 9:6 NIV For to us a child is
born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
F2 Used of Yahweh: Deuteronomy 10:17 NLT For the LORD your God is
the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty
and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed.
F3 Used of Boaz in regards to his wealth: Ruth 2:1 MKJV And
Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty
man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech. And his name was Boaz.
F4 Skilled, strong soldiers: 2 Samuel 23:8 NLT These are the names
of David's mightiest warriors. The first was
Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the three
mightiest warriors among David's men. He once used his spear to kill
800 enemy warriors in a single battle.
F5 The lion: Proverbs 30:30 NIV a lion, mighty among
beasts, who retreats before nothing;
D2 Diotrephes
E1 3 John 1:9-11 NRSV I have written something to the church; but
Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our
authority. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is
doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with
those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends, and even prevents
those who want to do so and expels them from the church. 11 Beloved,
do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does
good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
E2 The Greek word
for put himself first/preeminence, etc. is φιλοπρωτεύω
philoprōteúō. It means love of being first (in any sense, here it
is probably in recognition, authority, and admiration. The word is
related to the Greek word in Colossians 1:18 PickNT Also, He is
the Head of the body, the Church. He is Beginning, the firstborn from
among the dead, so that He may be preeminent in
everything,
E3 The Scriptures record that this man:
F1 Loved to be preeminent in the church.
F2 Refused to recognize the authority of the Apostle John. He refused
because he thought he was first, that is, greater in authority than
the Apostle.
F3 Used bullying and condescending language against the Apostle and
his messenger/letter carrier.
F4 Refused to welcome brothers and sisters. These brothers and
sisters would be most likely those sent by the Apostle.
F5 Stopped those who wanted to welcome them.
F6 Threw those who wanted to welcome them out of the church
(excommunicates them).
F7 The Apostle wrote that this man does not know God, that is,
Diotrephes is not a Christian.
B3 Now compare these two people and many others to those who
manipulate others into compliance. It was not a short journey to get
them to comply. It was a journey of many small steps fueled by lies.
The little lies were believed and followed until freedom was gone,
and they were slaves to a controlling abusive person, church,
government, etc.
Abuse
B1 Submission—force is needed to bring compliance
C1 to give over or
yield to the power or authority of another (Source)
C2 to surrender (Compare the word visually here)
C3 Lies, distortions, exaggerations, half-truths, redefining of
words, pain, shame, force, threats, etc. are needed for compliance.
B2 God’s method is not submission but voluntary service and
obedience because of love. Jesus is THE King of all kings.
C1 Our attitude must be: John 7:17 EMTV If anyone desires
to do His will, he will know about the doctrine, whether
it is from God, or whether I am speaking on My own authority.
C2 It needs to be an attitude from our heart. It is not to be
superficial: Ephesians 6:6 WEB not in the way of service only when
eyes are on you, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing
the will of God from the heart.
Suggestions
B1 Leave
C1 We might have to flee the area.
C2 If it is in a church, it would mean to stop attending and being a
member.
D1 For the safest method to leave, see
D2 For a list of resources see Spiritual
Sounding Board Resource Page.
D3 Be very, very, very careful if you are required to sign a church
covenant. See Church
Membership Covenants – Legal Contracts that are NOT Biblical!
B2 Quit. See the resources above
B3 Avoid
C1 You don’t have to follow the first steps of compliance. Demand a
reason and investigate those reasons from multiple sources if it is
true and reasonable. If it involves giving up freedom, then it is
probably not true. If you have a gut feeling that something is not
right, then resist, wait, investigate, etc. before giving in.
C2 See the Spiritual
Sounding Board Resources for a number of articles regarding
choosing a church.
B4 Know the truth. This involves reading and studying the Bible in
its plain, normal sense. Those pushing for compliance often
misinterpret and redefine the Bible and its words. See Scripture
Twisting Methods of the Cults
B5 Be a little skeptical
C1 Proverbs 14:15 ESV The simple believes everything, but the
prudent gives thought to his steps.
C2 Proverbs 4:26 NIV Give careful thought to the paths for your
feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
C3 Proverbs 22:3 NLT A prudent person foresees danger and takes
precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the
consequences.
C4 Acts 17:11 NIV Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character
than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great
eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul
said was true.
C5 Ephesians 4:14 NLT Then we will no longer be immature like
children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new
teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with
lies so clever they sound like the truth.
C6 1 John 4:1 NLT Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims
to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they
have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
Jude
1:24-25 NLT Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from
falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious
presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is
God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty,
power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and
beyond all time! Amen.
