USGN June 2003 article
TERRY& BARBI FRANKLIN
Written by Barbi Franklin

A Bleeding Heart

Have any of you ever thought about what it means to shed innocent blood?  Yes, I agree that abortion is just that.  But I’m not talking about a physical assault.  I’m talking about another type of cruelty that can bring just as deep and hidden damage to the human heart.

The word “shed” actually means to discard, throw away, abandon, or reject.  In the last few years of ministry and counseling others, we have come to know many who have experienced what I have come to term Spiritual Rape.  And, yes, it’s happening in some of our very own churches across America.

Many are the victims of some type of leadership abuse.  It’s the age-old mishandling of power for control coming back to wreak havoc on innocent parishioners all in the name of God’s authority.  Many that we have prayed with and counseled have been manipulated, misused, and then discarded to augment some leader’s selfish, hidden plans and motives.  Many times these schemes are hidden by lies and accompanied by a divide and conquer mentality.  Some Christians never return to the church or recover from this type of exploitation that operates in the name of Jesus. 

                  Proverbs 6:16-19 says:  There are six things which the Lord hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination ^to Him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that ^shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil,
A false witness who utters lies, and one who ^spreads strife among brothers.”

                  Saul was a King in the Old Testament that walked in an abusive style of leadership.  Though God allowed him to continue to rule for years, and he even kept masses of loyal followers before David actually became King, he brought great devastation into David’s life by his unsuspected jealousy and malice.  Saul’s goals were not God’s goals, and he certainly didn’t have God’s heart or mind.  The need for approval, position, and power can turn a person toward jealousy, hatred, and even murder (remember Cain and Able?)     

Proverbs 27:4 says… “Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,
but who can stand before jealousy?”

Sometimes it’s hard to understand why God allows ungodly men and women to rise into leadership positions.  But it’s comforting to know by the teachings of God’s Word that God vindicates the godly… even if it’s later than we’d like it to be.  If we can have the faith enough to trust in God’s timing like David did, and walk in forgiveness, righteousness, and holiness, God will fight our battles for us!

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