Power and Control comes in many forms, it is the need to dominate – be in charge and rule other humans to get their way. It is the need to hide their insecurities with self-exaltation, recognition, status or greed. However, it is clear from God’s original design in Genesis, before sin entered the earth, that humans, male and female were, to govern together. They were not to have authority over one another but together, have authority over the enemy (Luke 10:19)!
We will start by looking at some definitions:
Oppression: unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power
Abuse: when a person gains and maintains power and control over another person in order to subject that victim to psychological, emotional physical, sexual, financial abuse.
Racism: The belief that different races are inferior or superior to another.
Narcissist: an extremely self-centered person who has an exaggerated sense of self-importance. A Narcissist believes they are superior while others are inferior. (see my blog The Narcissist Check List)
Sexist: Prejudice, discrimination, or to have preconceived judgments or opinions against women. Attitudes that foster stereotype of social roles based on sex.
Misogynist: a person who hates or discriminates against women. To be strongly prejudice against women, having a disregard for their rights.
Arrogant: An attitude of superiority manifested by an overbearing manner or in claims or assumptions.
Haughty: Blatantly and disdainfully proud. Disdainful is being full of or expressing contempt (to despise – to look down on and disrespect) for someone regarded as unworthy or inferior.
Prideful: Haughty and Disdainful.
It is interesting to note that it is all about the perceptions, “judgements”, “opinions”, and “assumptions” of those with power and control issues towards others, especially women.
Racists, sexists/misogynists, and narcissists all believe that some humans are inferior to them and that they are superior. One of Satan’s tactics is to oppress others with power and control, while Jesus came to set the oppressed free.
Let’s look at what the Bible says about thinking yourself superior to others.
Proverbs 16:5 – Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured he will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 6: 16 TPT – God hates and considers an abomination “putting others down while considering yourself superior”
Proverbs 8:13 - I hate pride and arrogance
(see my blog Scriptures Against Attitudes of Superiority for many more scriptures)
Do we really believe God who is love, created some humans to be inferior and some to be superior to others?
Definition of inferior:
“of little of less importance, value, or merit, of poor quality”
What an affront to God as Creator! When we call any human inferior, we are calling God inferior (Matthew 25:40). When we put any human down, it is called emotional abuse. Attitudes of Superiority / inferiority and division, is hateful, it is all from the dominion of darkness, not from God.
It was the pagan Greco-Roman belief that since women are weaker physically, they should be subordinate to man. In his book “What Paul Really Said About Women”, John Temple Bristow writes:
“It was Socrates (c. 470-399 BC) who immortalized the Athenian disdain towards women. Often referring to women as “the weaker sex” he argued that being born a woman is a divine punishment, since a woman is halfway between a man and an animal.”
The pagan Grecko-Roman mindset was all about men using their physical stature to have superiority and gain control. In their narcissistic, prideful, mindset, if anyone was not obedient to their satisfaction, they could “make them” obey by using any form of abuse. Notice that these philosophers lived before Jesus was born. They never heard the teaching of Paul that there is no male or female for we are all one in Christ Jesus (see Galatians 3:28-29).
Many of the Bible translations and interpretations, were filtered through that pagan (non-Christian) mindset of patriarchy / superiority. Satan can manipulate and deceive anything that comes from human thought and hands, even translations. As we know, he likes to use people’s weaknesses to do his will on earth. As pastor Kris Vallotton explains in His book Fashioned to Reign:
“When applying scripture in a way that is unredemptive, disempowering, oppressive, or dishonoring, it violates the nature of God. It undermines the purpose of the cross and it results in slavery and gender prejudice against women. The Bible was never written to use against one another or to manipulate someone into doing your will. The Word of God is not a list of rules to control someone it is a set of values for wholeness. How did marriage get to be all about fulfilling the dreams of the husband while the wife keeps the house clean? The Bible is not about demanding husbands who reduce the daughters of God to sex slaves and housemaids”
The Kingdom Way is Love, Humility, Unity, and Servanthood:
· Luke 12:13 - the person that is least among you is great
· Matthew 18:4 - The greatest in the Kingdom are the humble
· Prov 11:12 - True wisdom is always seeking to humble ourselves
· Philippians 2:3 – count others more significant than yourselves
· Galatians 3:28 – there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Matthew 20:25-28 - “Kings and those with great authority in the world rule oppressively over their subjects, like tyrants. But this is not your calling. You will lead by a completely different model. The greatest one amount you will live as the one who is called to serve others, because the greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one with the heart of a servant. For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and give His life in exchange for the salvation of many”.
· 1 Corinthians 12:12-25 ESV - “so that there may be no division in the Body, but that the members may have the same care for one another”
Do the above scriptures make it sound like some are superior and some are inferior? The whole subordination of women has already been disproved by many humble male theologians, but people refuse to do the research. Nowhere in the Greek texts of the Bible or the English translations does it say that husbands have “the” authority or leadership. The more accurate translation for the word “kephale” in the Greek is the word “source”, NOT “head”. King Jesus is “THE” authority in His Kingdom which includes inside a kingdom marriage. Even Jesus shares His authority with His bride and wants to partner with her to advance His Kingdom in the earth. Taking God’s place is the definition of blasphemy and a sin of idolatry – to put anyone before or above God.
The narcissistic, prideful, misogynistic, controlling, abusive men will still use the inaccurate translations and interpretations of the Bible regarding women and wives to JUSTIFY why it’s ok to self-exalt and “punish” /abuse their wives.
When we think of others as more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2:3), we eliminate self-centeredness and the need to control and abuse. What if we started looking at the Father’s heart towards His daughters instead of the demonic spirits of religious legalism, pride and arrogance, that tries to use inaccurate translation to oppress and abuse others, especially wives?
The thought that other humans are created to be inferior, insignificant, excluded, or somehow lacking in any way can only come from evil. Satan’s 3 major temptations that he used on Jesus and still uses on us today:
· Satan tested Jesus at least three times in the desert. The first temptation of turning the stones into bread was the test of the flesh. The lesson is to crucify the desires of the flesh, meaning master it so it doesn’t master us, and walk by the Spirit. The test of the flesh doesn’t just include food, it could also include sexual lust and perversion or the lust (intense longing) for control.
· The second, was the temptation of pride, to do a miracle independent of the Father’s will, to be god without God. – putting yourself in God’s place – the definition of blasphemy in the dictionary.
· The third time, Satan tempted Him with power and control. He offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he bowed down to worship him.
As previously stated, power and control is the need to self-exalt or we could say be worshipped. When people think or say they are superior, they have a need to be worshiped. Demons target the insecure, the prideful, and those with unhealed wounds, to control and abuse others so they can have their way. (see my blog Love vs Evil to see the list of Jesus character vs Satan’s)
The enemy wants to steal our freedom and cause division:
· Is there any freedom when someone rules over you?
· Is there freedom when your opinions and knowledge mean nothing?
· Is there freedom when your rights are taken away?
· Is there freedom when you are told to keep silent or have no say?
· Is there freedom when you are constantly excluded?
· Is there freedom when you can’t use your God given authority and spiritual gifts?
Attitudes of superiority which are rooted in power and control issues, puts down women and destroys marriages. No one wants to be captive to another. The dictionary defines captive as “held under control of another but having the appearance of independence”. When women disagree, these men who think they are in charge feel justified to “punish” / abuse their wives either physically and or emotionally – yelling at her, putting her down, intimidating her, etc. (see my book Let My Women Go! Setting Women Free from Oppression in the Church and in Marriage, for the emotional abuse list).
Both husbands and wives are created to lead (Genisis 28:13). We all have the same standing and worth in Christ and His body, the Church. We are both heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (see Romans 8:17). We are both made in His image. Therefore, men and husbands do not have more authority, power, or say because of their gender or title as husbands. A ring on a finger does not create a slave or a ruler. Since there is no need for gender in the spirit realm, men and women are included as the Bride of Christ, and women can be spiritual kings and priests. Our job in the Kingdom is to empower others, not take away their worth and spiritual authority.
Jesus never supported power and control – domination over others. The whole Bible consists of God’s heart to liberate those who are oppressed or in bondage. Love uplifts those who are weary and broken by injustice. He has always been on the side of the vulnerable and those who were treated poorly by others. Power and control issues are sins or strongholds that need to be uprooted not something to be worshiped.
You have every right Biblically and lawfully, to walk away and stay away from unrepented, toxic, controlling, abusive men. Get my book “Before the Ring and Beyond, The Ultimate Key to a Healthy Marriage” to get a better understanding. Get my book “Let My Women Go! Setting Women Free from Oppression in the Church and in Marriage” to recognize all the red flags of an emotional abuser. Both books have the more accurate translations regarding women and wives in the Bible. My newest book Life in God’s Kingdom, will show you how to succeed spiritually, physically, financially, and emotionally, teaching you how to live Heaven on earth.
Be free to be mighty for Jesus
In freedom and might,
Jeannette
(Some excerpts from this blog were taken from a combination of my books)
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