False Leaders (long article, but worth the read)

VIOLENT

Acts 14:5-7 "And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: And there they preached the gospel."

Assault is horme in Greek; meaning a violent impulse or onset.

Despitefully is hubrizo in Greek; meaning exercise violence, reproach, or entreat shamefully.

A proper response to violent opposition is to flee. The response of the disciples to the Jewish cities who did not welcome them, was to curse them and leave (See Luke 10:8-12). Paul often endured violence from false brethren in order to preach the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:26); he also knew those who willingly endured violence from false apostles. So many people are used to being abused by authority, that they expect God's representatives to be abusive; they would rather be abused then to responsibly relate to God personally. Abusive sects and cults have been around a long time.

2 Corinthians 11:20 "For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face."

Suffer is anechomai in Greek; meaning put up with, bear with, or endure.

Bring into bondage is katadouloo in Greek; meaning to enslave utterly.

Devour iskatesthio in Greek; meaning to eat up or to eat alive.

Smite is dero in Greek; meaning flay, scourge, thrash, or beat.

Christian cults often begin with unhealthy relationships in which a deceptive form of 'submission' is used to enslave people (usually to the leader through a pyramid structure of obedience). The leaders "devour" the personalities of the ones 'under' them, creating obedient automatons who will often give whatever the leaders ask in order to remain in favor. (2 Peter 2:3 refers to exploitation and making merchandise of men's souls.) Cults are notorious for being one-man shows - "if a man exalt himself", and they may degenerate into physically and sexually abusing their members.