I Am Tired of the Slavery and Abuse!

Before you read this post, please know that I have taken this opportunity to speak from my heart. This is a solicitation for all of us to pray and repent... and be FREE!!!


John 8:31-36 (AMP)

31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.
32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.
33 They answered Him, We are Abraham's offspring (descendants) and have never been in bondage to anybody. What do You mean by saying, You will be set free?
34 Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin.
35 Now a slave does not remain in a household permanently (forever); the son [of the house] does remain forever.
36 So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.



I have found myself fixated in prayer as I grow more and more tired. I’m not tired of serving God… Not tired of ministry… Not even tired of my late nights and busy schedule. I’m just tired of seeing God’s people bound. I’m tired of seeing people enslaved to religion when God has made us free.

Over the last few days, our prayer line has been inundated with calls from people who are confused and abused, all in the name of “obedience and humility.” Many of them are being abused by those of us who should be setting them free. If I may simply share how I feel for one moment…

The thing that hurts and angers me most is that people are being abused in the name of God. There are literally church leaders lying on God week after week, watching people die. I am sick and tired of the abuse.

Many of us understand and know too well what church abuse feels like. “Church hurt”, as I’ve so often heard it called, is one of the deepest hurts a person can experience. Yet, there is an epidemic in the church of today – too many hurt people who have heard lies are now hurting others with those same lies. We have created doctrines and teachings that enslave people, when Jesus died for our freedom. We have become more obsessed with pleasing our leaders than we are with pleasing God. Allow me to share some examples…


-- I spoke with a minister who was told to pray for three topics and submit them to the pastor so the pastor could decide “which was really from God.”
-- I heard from a young lady who was turned away from prayer and communion because she didn’t have time to change before church, and wore slacks instead of a skirt.
-- I spoke with a woman who was told she had a spirit of witchcraft just because the prophet who was speaking could not “see anything good for her”


About a year ago, I received a call from a young lady who was in a church. She was a leader in the church, but she was caught up in an adulterous relationship. Surprisingly enough, her leaders knew of her affair (she was married), but never spoke out against it. In fact, they encouraged the couple to date. One day, I had a conversation with the young lady about her situation, and she was told by her leaders to ignore that conversation. As they stated, she was grown and they saw nothing wrong with the relationship. Surprisingly enough, just a few weeks after that conversation, the young lady called sobbing. She was upset because she was working hard as an armorbearer, but felt unappreciated. I remember very clearly that she stated, “Joy, I serve my leaders. I am faithful to them and I am careful to keep them covered, to make sure they have everything they need. I also pay my tithes, so why is God deserting me like this?”

I could hardly believe my ears. Here was a woman who became angry at God, because she was kept in bondage by her leaders. Now, I also understand that as a grown woman, she should have sought out the truth. Why didn’t she? Comfort.

Comfort can be a dangerous thing. When slavery was abolished in the United States, many freed slaves refused to leave their masters. Why? They were comfortable. They would rather stay in bondage than face an uncertain freedom. When someone is free, they have to make their own way. They can no longer depend on someone else. Freedom, for many, causes fear because it requires responsibility.

The same is so true in the Kingdom of God. Many of us listen to false doctrine and sit under crooked and misguided leaders because it’s comfortable. Who will confront you about your sin as long as you’re a good armorbearer? Who will make sure you know the word and have a relationship with God as long as you tithe and give great financial gifts? Who will expect you to live a holy lifestyle as long as you support the pastor and leaders? It’s so much easier to accept the false sense of security than it is to seek freedom in Christ. After all, freedom in God requires sacrifice. You will have to be holy, as God is holy. You will need to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. You will have to believe and maintain a solid relationship with the Father. You will have to stand for truth, even in the face of adversity. Perhaps these are some of the reasons that the way to eternal life is straight and narrow. Jesus said, “few there be that find it!”

As leaders, let’s stop demanding anniversaries and birthday parties when everyone in the church is told to give $50 or face a rebuke. Instead, let’s teach good stewardship, and teach people to pay their bills. Better yet, since the greatest among us are servants, according to Jesus Christ himself, let’s try to serve instead of always being served!

Let’s just do what the word of God says. Jesus said that we who are His disciples will know the truth, and the truth will make us free. We are bound, because we don’t know the word of God! We are trying to live by man’s law – tradition and religion. Jesus said that when He sets us free, we are free indeed! Let’s just do this thing God’s way.

I’ve heard some great atrocities during this week alone. I’m speaking of things that we all know to be false, yet we continue to sit under the doctrine, in bondage. Some of us continue teaching the things we know are not from the Word of God. Now is the time to stand up and be free! Now is the time to let God be true, but every man a liar!