What are the different ways in which the devil uses people to accuse you. Some are blindingly obvious – like a direct allegation, others are a lot more subtle and you may not even realize that they are an accusation.
Here are seven ways in which the devil manipulates people to accuse you:
- A Direct Allegation
- This is the kind of accusation we all recognize as accusation. Someone makes a statement against you: you are arrogant, you are rude, you are a gambler
- A Criticism
- Criticism is basically expressing your opinion about someone’s work or abilities or qualities. It is a statement expressing disapproval, and is generally a form of accusation.
- Don’t go around looking for bad qualities to point out. It is accusing. You are working for the devil.
- Pray for people, don’t accuse them!
- Grumbling
- Grumbling is not making a direct allegation, but making undertones that everyone else will hear. It is a form of accusation. It is the devil’s work.
- No wonder Scripture says “Do everything without grumbling!”
- Accusation by Absence
- The absence of certain people is a message. By boycotting a meeting, you send a louder message than if you actually come in person!
- Sarcasm
- Sarcasm is using the words that are the opposite of what you mean, to be unpleasant to someone.
- With sarcasm, you can make “please” and “thank you” sound like “I hate you!”
- It can easily become a form of accusation to someone.
- Insinuation
- An insinuation is an indirect allegation. It is still accusing. In fact often it can be more powerful than a direct allegation.
- Gaslighting
- Gaslighting is when you re-tell a story but you put everything in a different light. You highlight some things and you ignore other things, and tell a different story.
- That’s what they did to Jesus, they re-told his stories to make him look like someone who wants to destroy the temple.
- Be very careful around people who re-tell events to make things dark.
Inspiring and Challenging Dreamers 