Toxic Tuesday: Manifesto of the Duplicitous

For those of you who believe a Christ follower, pastor, church leader, soul winner, family values proponent, or godly leader in a high position could never abuse a child, rape a woman, murder a loved one, or steal from the church…have you read the Bible? The heart is deceitful above all things. Spiritually saved or unsaved humanity is capable of the darkest offenses.

Here is an excerpt of a letter from an individual who was previously in a position of authority, leadership and influence over, unknown to them, a toxic character. Of this corrupted personality the above mentioned leader wrote:  “He…

“…was duplicitous and deceptive, living a double life, disconnected from reality, certainly from spiritual reality.”

Here are the personal values of the Jekyll and Hyde described in the above quote. A soul in a bottomless pit of sexual addiction, a personality disorder, and mental illness.  A creature who blindly victimized the unsuspecting, the simple, the harmless and the innocent.   Who, by society’s standards, is an impostor perpetrating the vilest offenses.

This offender was hired by a church leadership which didn’t dig into the accused offender’s background. Rumors swirled but the leadership believed the offenders spin rather than doing a background check. Because of the church leadership’s lack of integrity to protect their flock innocent children were harmed.

This manifesto was penned to prove sincere devotion to God, to the ex-spouse, to the church, and to show they were healed and worthy of trust, respect, forgiveness and reconciliation.

1. The economy of this nation depends on my acceptance of personal responsibility.
2. I will seek to understand and empathize with others.
3. My family is this nation’s citizenship.
4. My family and friends are carefully selected allies with whom I have agreed to never war against.
5. My happiness is not my first goal. Meeting my responsibilities is.
6. True happiness is found in maintaining and growing in my relationships with God and others.
7. I must daily be reminded that faith, decency and honor are the highest virtues of man.
8. A poorly kept house is the first sign of danger: it is the thing most found in slums.
9. Depression is a state of mind that wrecks the economy — not the reverse.
10. Appreciation for nature and the arts are essential to maintaining health and centeredness.
11. God is my First Love; my family and friends come second; I am third.
12. I must gain independence before I can become interdependent with others.
13. My attitudes, moods, and expressions must always be a reflection of God’s grace.
14. God is Sovereign over the affairs of this and every life.
15. ln every conflict and in every war — whether found from without or from within …is a Iust for what one hasn’t. May the passion of my heart, mind, soul, and strength be to love God completely; and my neighbor as myself.
16. Faith, Hope, and Love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
17. lf I bring anything of value, and pour it into the lives of others during my lifetime, may it all be of eternal value and for the good — not of taxing pain nor hurt by telling lies, victimizing others, nor of a pursuit for my own selfish gain and ambition.
18. l am saved by Grace through Faith … my focus is not, nor can it be, on my righteousness for I have none. My focus is on Jesus Christ – the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He alone is the Righteousness of God, Who is received by Faith, reflected by Obedience, and revealed in Love.
19. Although I have inherited a sinful nature, I am not captive to it. I have died to sin, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. He is my Hope of Glory.
20. My life is a constant effort to remove idols and to tear down barriers. The television is my most visible idol and enemy.
21. My daily regiment must include physical, mental, emotional, vocational, and most of all, spiritual exercise.
22. Every meal should be eaten at the table.
23. The windows should not be covered while the master is home. Light must be allowed to pour in.
24. I will laugh and entertain with a clean sense of humor.
25. Monotone fails to inspire … l will use effective and sincere inflections to motivate, challenge, and uplift others.
26. l am committed to sexual and otherwise moral purity and excellence.
27.  l will seek revival and restoration daily through confession, repentance and recommitment.
28.  l will surrender my anger, frustrations, anxieties, and struggles to God daily.
29.  I am a living sacrifice, not conforming to the world, but being transformed by the renewing of my mind.
30.  Not a cent should be spent without giving thought to paying off every debt and investing for the future; however, it is acceptable to feed the birds on occasion.
31.  The house and grounds are to reflect excellence and beauty – the canvass for a creative mind.
32.  I am not an abuser who robs others of joy, but a gift-giver who offers all of myself to feed the souls of others consistently and in such a way that grows far beyond myself to touch lives within a darkened world in a very special, illuminating way.
33.  Early to bed and early to rise, as a flexible rule.
34.  My heart will not be allowed to grow cold, nor my conscience to be hardened. But I will maintain a sensitivity to things of beauty and a love for the Divine.
35.  l will maintain a strong defense and readiness for personal or civil action as needs demand.
36.  ‘The former ways” — even if only idealistic — are still to be desired over all others.
37.  I will speak up and take a stand, even when unpopular, for the right.
38.  I love my God, my family, His church, and the United States of America, and will honor, respect, and remember those who are older and wiser – and those who have gone before us.
39.  The Bible will be open and visible in my home.
40.  All I have is the Lord’s.
41.  Verbal prayers will proceed every meal and will be said at the beginning and end of every day.
42.  I will share my faith and the Gospel message with someone every day.
43.  I will offer tithes and offerings, as God provides, to His storehouse, the Church.
44.  l will not limit God by my unbelief but will seek to discover and fulfill His will for my life and for the lives of those entrusted to my care.
45.  I will remember that humility honors God and welcomes His blessing.
46.  I will remember that God seeks a bold, not weak faith in His ability rather than my own.
47.  I will remember that Jesus died for the sins of the entire world, not just for those in my tiny little circle.
48.  l will remember holy days – birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations.
49.  I will maintain and build upon close and distant past and present friendships.
50.  Only Jesus can erase sin and hold it no longer to my account: yet it is my responsibility to perform the ongoing ministry of reconciliation – that of healing and re-uniting broken relationships.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In light of innocent victims; numbers 15, 17, 23 and 32 are the most disturbing to me. Number 32 is off the charts unhealthy and twisted when considered in the context of predator and victim.

15.  ln every conflict and in every war — whether found from without or from within…is a Iust for what one hasn’t. May the passion of my heart, mind, soul, and strength be to love God completely; and my neighbor as myself.

17.   lf I bring anything of value, and pour it into the lives of others during my lifetime, may it all be of eternal value and for the good — not of taxing pain nor hurt by telling lies, victimizing others, nor of a pursuit for my own selfish gain and ambition.

23.  The windows should not be covered while the master is home. Light must be allowed to pour in.

32.   I am not an abuser who robs others of joy, but a gift-giver who offers all of myself to feed the souls of others consistently and in such a way that grows far beyond myself to touch lives within a darkened world in a very special, illuminating way.

I share this as a wake-up call to those in positions of leadership; especially within the church. If someone hands you a value statement similar to this; it may be time to pursue professional help for them.

The power of prayer and the courage of little ‘David’ voices against their Goliath put an end to this reign of ‘gift-giving’ and ‘illuminating’ abuse.