Your bond with God is intimately personal and sacred, known only between you and the divine. So why do countless individuals rely on others to define and dictate their connection with God? Growing up in a strict Pentecostal sect, my early life was shaped by a culture of judgment and overly critical spirituality. Like many others, our church encouraged even new converts to pass judgment on fellow congregation members, determining who was truly “saved.”
Our mission was not to reach out to the lost or guide those searching for God but rather to condemn and judge those who fell short of our church’s spiritual standards. Ingrained in me from an early age, this practice felt inherently wrong. But as a child, I had few options for protest. I learned to be judgmental towards every Christian I encountered, as it was what we were taught and expected to do. This mindset was reinforced by my family and other like-minded churches we affiliated with.
In a peculiar way, we felt entitled to define another person’s relationship with the Creator. Unbeknownst to us, we lacked the capacity to comprehend how others connected with God. This union was not only supernatural, but it also varied from person to person. As a child, I was unaware of how destructive this behavior truly was. It wasn’t until I became an adult, completed Bible school, and delved into deeper spiritual studies that I realized this behavior was not only inappropriate but also perilous.
What many fail to grasp is that what we define, we essentially limit. When I named my children, I asserted a measure of control over them. I provided for their physical needs and dictated their actions, movements, and social circles. It was my responsibility as their parent. However, now that they have grown into adults, that responsibility is no longer mine to bear but theirs. They must govern themselves as independent beings, intimately tied to the Divine.
“And out of the ground, the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field.” – Genesis 2:19-20
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'” – Genesis 1:26
Adam was given dominion over animals and nature but not over fellow humans. God had already named every person who would exist on Earth. It is each individual’s responsibility to govern themselves. The name given to you at birth, bestowed by your parents or another family member, is not your original name; it is merely a familial identifier. You are bound by this name until you discover the name God has given you.
My birth name is Aaron, but God sees me as much more. I am more than Aaron. I am greater, more sufficient, and far more powerful. Sadly, many of my family members can only see me as far as Aaron, limited and shortsighted in their perception. Those who don’t truly know themselves often work tirelessly to diminish those around them. They may have a superficial image of God but no clear vision. The clearer their revelation of God, the better they can discern the divine presence in others.
If I genuinely know God, I will only seek the divine in others, overlooking their faults and shortcomings. Regardless of the extent to which someone is affected by the world or life circumstances, I can only see the best in them, emulating the nature and character of God. True holiness entails seeking what is right within others, just as God does.
Beware of the Imposter
Allowing others to define your relationship with God is perilous indeed. It suffocates your potential and undermines your purpose in life. The purpose of the thief, often masquerading as religion, is to steal, kill, and destroy. The thief of “religion” is an imposter. Jesus himself faced attacks not from ordinary individuals but from religious leaders of his time. Though he knew he was the Son of God, the Christ, and the Messiah, these religious authorities attempted to redefine him to exert control over him. They sought to confine Jesus to their limited understanding, an impossible task.
Emancipating Yourself from Illicit Control
In the realm of spiritual leadership, there are unfortunate instances where pastors and other guides abuse their authority, steering individuals away from the true purpose of their role. Yet, let us not overlook the fact that the pastor’s biblical calling has never entailed dictating one’s actions, condemning the person, or condemning them to eternal damnation. These manipulative tactics are glaring signs of enchantment, of unwarranted control that verges on the boundaries of slavery.
The genuine purpose of the pastor is to assist in forging a deeper connection with God—nothing more, nothing less. By nourishing our souls with life-giving words, they guide us on a path of discovering our divine purpose, enabling us to wholeheartedly live out that purpose for the glory of Him who created us.
Many years ago, I resolved to liberate myself from the shackles of human manipulation. I made the choice to embark on a journey to spiritual emancipation, bidding farewell to numerous individuals from my past in pursuit of true freedom. My deepest desire was to fathom the experience of living out the life that God had intricately designed and predetermined for me. What would that existence look like? Could it be plausible to live unburdened by the dictates and condemnations of others? Indeed, it is possible.
Nevertheless, the inaugural step is often the most arduous. It entails relinquishing religious dogma. Please note that I do not advocate forsaking God or the church for which Jesus laid down His life. Rather, relinquish the clutches of religiosity and the dogmas that invariably prove unattainable, for you were never designed to conform to such rigid paradigms in the first place.
If you yearn to discern whether you are genuinely aligned with God, simply ask yourself, “Do I experience absolute freedom?” If this sense of total emancipation eludes you, then not only must you break free from those who have bound you, but you must promptly reassess your connection. Being united with God should never feel like bondage but rather a state of untainted liberty.
Therefore, as the Son liberates you, you shall truly be emancipated indeed (John 8:36).
Dr. Aaron Lewis July 7, 2023