No one likes to be manipulated. It is rather offensive when we become aware that we are being manipulated.
However, manipulation has become a way of life in America. Salesmen are manipulators and they always have been because selling their product is the very nature of their business.
When we are out shopping we invite salesmen to manipulate us into purchases.
Ministers are manipulators. They convince the unbelieving to receive Christ Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
People who come to church or revival meeting or watch ministers online are submitting themselves to manipulation.
Now, it makes things sound pretty crass to use the term, manipulation, because it reeks of ulterior motives - in most cases the motive is money and power.
However, we need to understand that everything that we expose ourselves to affects us to some degree. In that sense, our experiences, our education and our communications manipulate us.
We can't avoid being manipulated.
The issue regarding manipulation is submission. If someone tries to sell me something I do not want or can't afford, I simply refuse to submit to their manipulation.
In the games of checkers and chess it is important to recognize that your opponent is manipulating you into a vulnerable position so that he can win the game. You take the same strategy toward him. Manipulation is an aspect of all competition.
Wisdom is the ability to process what is being heard, seen or otherwise experienced so that one is not being manipulated into an unwanted position.
Many people today are disconnected from their Creator either by choice or by manipulation. As a result, there is a scarcity of wisdom in our society. Common Sense is basic wisdom which is obviously hard to find these days.
The lack of wisdom and Common Sense results in people being easily manipulated.
Educated people were manipulated by their educators and so, in turn, manipulate others by communicating the 'facts' of their manipulation.
We see a lot of propaganda in mainstream media these days. This is a result of positions that are held by the media moguls and the agendas that flow out of them.
We see government becoming a greater and greater manipulator of the people via policy in the areas of education, the environment, energy, economy and the judiciary.
Freedom.
A wise person finds the concept of manipulation repugnant as it is in every case an attack on their freedom. Once you have moved from one position to another by manipulation, you are no longer in the previous position and it may not be possible to return to it. This is the issue with compromise.
Once you compromise, you are compromised.
By definition, compromise requires giving up something in order to gain something else. The only time compromise is a good thing is when that which one gives up is totally worthless.
It is rare to find someone willing to trade something of value in exchange for something that is worthless.
The only example of that is what we find in Christ Jesus. He takes that which is dead and dying and gives us that which is alive and eternal - Himself.
So, in the manipulation of the Gospel we go from an untenable position of hopelessness to one of stability and grandeur.
You and I have both been manipulated. As said earlier, it is impossible not to be. But it is in turning to Christ Jesus and receiving His Spirit Of Truth that we become free and wise as to the preciousness of His gift.
For those who are not In Christ, the enemy is manipulating as fast and as hard as He can. Outside of Christ no one is able to refuse him.