by George A. Boyd ©2002
People may seek out a savior when:
- They feel powerless and ineffectual in their lives, and cannot make
progress towards their dreams. They seek someone to empower them.
- They feel oppressed or persecuted, and they seek a hero to rescue
them and vanquish their oppressors.
- They are in a dysfunctional relationship with a lover, spouse or their
family, and they seek a way out of the relationships difficulties.
- They feel they are at a dead end in their career or are bored with
their marriage. They seek something more from life; they seek fulfillment
and actualization.
- They are overwhelmed by stress, illness or emotional pain. They ask
to be delivered from pain and stress.
- They feel they have sinned against the moral law and they seek to
be forgiven or exonerated.
- They feel that they have wasted their lives, the opportunities offered
them, and have no hope for the future. They seek someone to offer them
hope and a way to redeem themselves.
- They have a spiritual yearning to know and be with God. They seek
a Guide to show them the way back to their spiritual Home.
There are those who perceive these yearnings and exploit these seekers
for their own profit and pleasure:
- They promise empowerment, but dont provide it.
- They portray themselves as a hero, only to abandon the seeker before
the battle is won.
- They promise a way out, but only enmesh the seeker more deeply in dysfunction.
- They promise fulfillment and actualization, but deliver only disillusionment.
- They promise to assuage pain and suffering, but leave addiction,
abuse and abandonment in their wake.
- They offer absolution, but only deepen the seeker's guilt and shame.
- They promise to offer hope and a better life, then leave them
with the bitter wine of betrayal. They promise them spiritual salvation,
but offer only bondage, deception and spiritual slavery.
If we are not to follow in the footsteps of those who deceive and abuse
those seeking answers to their problems, fulfillment or their yearnings,
then we must find ways that empower, free, and give the keys to fulfillment.
For example,
- Teach others the keys to self-empowerment and self-initiative.
- Teach others skill to deal with those who persecute or oppress
them; give them tools to escape persecution.
- Teach them communication and assertiveness skills.
- Help them identify what brings them joy and what activates their
sense of adventure.
- Teach them ways to control stress, overcome illness and promote
health, and ways to work through and resolve emotional pain.
- Teach them the laws of forgiveness and atonement, so they may resolve
their past errors and move on.
- Help them find effective ways to reach their dreams.
- Teach them how to commune with God in their innate spiritual context
so that they truly know Him/Her/It/Them and not merely believe.
Our helping must be based on integrity, on genuine compassion and caring
for others.
It should not be founded on our own needs for sensual gratification,
covetousness for wealth, or desire for recognition and self-aggrandizement.
If we are to be of service to others, then let us meditate upon these
principles and practice them in our ministry, in our counseling and in
our teaching.
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