Spiritual Bullying

 

 

Spiritual bullying!

Where can this be found?

In the church of course,

There is much around.

 

Mostly senior members,

Not necessarily in age

But with responsibility and clout

Re pulpit and stage.

 

They follow the Spirit,

At least, that’s what they say

And it matters not who’s in charge

They will have their way.

 

They alter the plan

Feigning the Spirit’s leadership

And they bully the congregants

And church membership.

 

Urging an emotive display

Of shouting and raised hands

And even the person in charge

Must heed their command.

 

 

The time is ignored,

Time consciousness is rebuked,

All had better fall into line,

Don’t dare refute.

 

Refusing to comply

Is being disobedient to God

Thus, therein lies the fear factor

When such a one calls.

 

It may be an apostle

A bishop or a pastor,

Or it could even be a worship leader

Or a prayer intercessor.

 

The Chair is ignored,

The programme is put on hold

And I wonder how such persons

Can be so bold.

 

You are forced to stand

As worship leaders lead

For sometimes close to an hour

While your feet plead.

 

Whether the old or the young,

It does not really matter

For if the seniors decide to sit down

They are blocked by the latter.

 

And if there is prayer

Immediately after this session

Depending on the intercessor

There could be more oppression.

 

O how I wish

We would do as assigned

Rather than take over the service

As if by design!

 

The people who planned,

Planned with the Holy Spirit,

Who gives spiritual bullies the right

To just come and change it?

 

I know things can change

But this need not be the norm,

The exception is enough,

Please be warned.

 

Follow the Spirit’s lead,

Don’t get me wrong

But don’t ignore the chairperson

And put him down.

 

You would not like it

If you were the chair person,

So, to claim the Spirit’s unction

Is not a genuine reason.

 

 

Of spiritual bullies

You had better beware

But don’t be intimidated by them

And be driven by fear.

 

Spiritual bullying!

There is much around

And in virtually every assembly

It may be found.

 

Stewart Russell © April 30, 2024

 

A Mystery to Me

 

 

 

His head resisted my hand

Pretty nigh a dozen times,

How dare he be so impertinent

Kept nagging at my mind.

 

This made me more determined

To knock his head clean off

But his neck was so strong

It kept his head aloft.

 

I cannot at present recall

The reason for my obsession

But to obliterate his head

Was my consuming passion.

 

And so, time and time again

His head would but up on my hand

And every time it resisted

The more I revised my plan.

 

This was a mystery to me

For he was much smaller than I

And what made it even worse,

He would always cry.

 

They viewed him as the victim

But the victim was really me,

How they miss this obvious fact

Increased my mystery.

 

 

Every time I slapped his head

My hand would actually sting

And the harder that I struck him

The more pain it would bring.

 

My aim was to change all this

And solve my mystery

But to my more sore displeasure

I was labeled a bully.

 

However I viewed this matter,

I saw me as the victim

But those unaware of my discomfort

Viewed me as the villain.

 

How very unfortunate for me!

My mystery only grew

And my desire to de-mystify it

Was determinedly renewed.

 

 

Call me Russia, if you will,

It is Ukraine that stings my hand,

I want it to be a satellite

And I must get on with my plan.

 

 

Does it not know its benefactor?

And the mutual things we share?

And the more it resists my chastening

The more I will have to bear?

 

Please see my side of the fracas:

I am really the victim,

It is truly a mystery to me

That you see me as the villain.

 

Hence, the analogy I brought:

Ukraine’s head and my hand,

I should feel nothing when I slap her,

To de-mystify this is my plan.

 

Her resistance is my pain,

You’d have to experience it to know,

So, back, off all you ignorant allies!

On with my plan I go!

 

Stewart Russell © February 26, 2022

 

Scrap the Strap Crap

 

Which is it?  Scrap the strap

Or is it scrap the strap crap?

Maybe it’s the latter

For with the former it was better.

Many complaints about tarring

Yet no evidence for scarring

But many are calling for the barring

Of the strap; blaming it for societal marring.

If the truth be told

By them that are bold

The lesser the strap’s use

The higher the abuse.

Note the ones who received the strap

These are the ones who talk the crap

They hold prominent places in society

Yet are trying to confuse the community.

Suddenly the strap is the enemy

Driving fear in society

Causing students to resort to bullying

And weaker students they controlling.

Clearly this is an untruth

Having no established proof

Absolutely no empirical evidence

Just talk that makes no sense.

Scrapping the strap

May be encouraging crap

Instead educate regarding its use

And so eliminate any abuse.

Isn’t it any wonder

To all who would ponder

That the nation is becoming worse

And clearly under some curse?

It does appear to me

As I take a look at the society

That we are losing our civility

For lack of fear of criminality.

Some say while in their emotive hype

Fear as motivation is a poor type

Yet it’s responsible for their success

And causes them to produce their best.

Healthy fear breeds respect

Unhealthy fear produces rejects

Please recognize the difference,

It’s not the same in every instance.

The administering of a lash

Oft prevents a more painful crash,

It’s like the stitch in time

And the garment remained fine.

When closest to the offence

It removes all pretense;

Just a little tickle with the strap

Gets the erring pupil back on track.

Sometimes a timely injection

After thorough investigation

Halts undesirable germination

And redirects one’s determination.

  

No strap means more guns

No strap will create more bums

No fear to stabilize

No need to rationalize.

It’s not a cure for all

It’s not a judgment call

Just a timely reminder

To the constant offender.

A little painful affliction

That prevents a bad addiction

Encourages introspection

And maps out a clear direction.

No need for abolition

Just apply with strict discretion

Coupled with love and affection

And avoidance of rejection.

Use the strap as the last resort

Never ever the first retort

Help the student himself comport

And with much discussion exhort.

As an option keep the strap

Don’t fall for the injudicious crap,

Retain it as a little used discipline tap

But please don’t scrap the strap.

Stewart Russell © 2015