Image by Guren-The-Thirdeye from Pixabay

Intimidation comes at us on a variety of fronts, sometimes in subtle ways. It might come from the political arena or even religious groups. Sometimes we can be intimidated even by family or work associates. Most of the time it is destructive, of course, but in some rare cases, it might be a good thing. Good? Under what circumstances can intimidation be at all good? Well, if both parties are powerful, this mutual intimidation could help keep the peace between them. During the Cold War era, the U.S. and Russia instituted MAD, or Mutually Assured Destruction. It was a way for each side to intimidate the other enough to prevent a world-devastating nuclear attack. The essential idea was that if one side launched an attack, the other would retaliate before the nuclear bombs landed, and both sides would suffer maximum damage and casualties. So, although there was great tension in the air periodically, there was a reasonably solid peace between the superpowers for a very long time.

If a school bully is confronted with the idea that a more powerful foe may intercede on behalf of their intended victim, the intimidating bully thinks twice before acting on his nasty plan. Generally speaking however, we all know intimidation is far from “good.” It is a way to threaten or manipulate others into bowing to their will.

“Hands up. Don’t shoot” became the mantra after the August 9, 2014, police shooting in Ferguson, MO, of the cause célèbre, one Michael Brown. It was based on the idea that a nice, innocent, unassuming youth was heartlessly gunned down by an overbearing, racist police officer while the young man had his hands up trying to surrender. Was this true? It simply did not matter in this case because if someone dared question the narrative, they were immediately labeled a racist and intimidated into silence. A more recent and popular tool for intimidation is known as “Cancel Culture.” The Abstract for “The Psychological Impact of Cancel Culture: Anxiety, Social Isolation, and Self-Censorship” describes it:

People who are the targets of cancel culture experience severe emotional suffering as a result of cyberbullying, reputational harm, and public humiliation. These experiences subsequently foster a vicious cycle of fear and repression of free speech.

We have all seen how effective that nasty tool can be. It surely does seem to “work” to silence people who might otherwise speak out.

The intimidators these days also regularly use a nasty tool called “Doxing,” which is a form of cyberbullying. They pick a target and find out and release to the public his or her personal data, such as an address, phone number and other private information, so that others can perhaps show up right at their front door to threaten “the doxed.”

According to Fortinet, which “is a cybersecurity company that offers a wide range of security solutions,” and as we all can attest,

Doxing has taken a prominent role in modern culture wars, which involve people targeting those who support a cause or hold a belief that is in opposition to one they are trying to push forward.

It certainly takes a lot of the “freedom” out of the concept of “free speech.”

Sadly, intimidation is a useful tool in many religious groups as well. David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen provided an excellent resource with their book The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse: Recognizing and Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority Within the Church.

Word Faith teachers, Bill Gothard and his Institute in Basic Life Principles, and other authoritarian leaders within the church use what we call the “God stick.” The threat of a God stick is important, especially when the one who is doing the intimidating is not all that scary in and of themselves. God is a really big stick to wield. It is a weapon most often used against any followers who dare to question things just a little too much. These people see themselves as God’s chosen leader, and verbally suggesting otherwise results in threats of God’s retribution against such dubious and obviously rebellious thoughts. “Touch Not God’s Anointed,” we are told. Ron Henzel’s article ”Trapped in the Shadow of God’s Anointed” has been very helpful to many who have been successfully intimidated with this particular stick.

Intimidation is very prevalent in cults and New Religious Movements. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the Bible is only written to a small group of people they call the “anointed class.” Anyone not in that limited class supposedly cannot understand the Bible without the official explanation from “the Governing Body” who formerly handed their words from Brooklyn, NY but now the “truth” originates in Warwick, New York. The JWs are taught to avoid “independent thinking” and not to “run ahead” of the organization. JWs are instructed to shun former JWs (apostates) and to avoid any part of the Internet where they might unwittingly make contact with an “apostate” or “apostate literature.” Why? What they might learn may, as a result, cause them to engage in “independent thinking,” which is taught to be extremely dangerous, and they may even leave “God’s organization”, causing God to destroy the independent thinker and the people he has led astray at the great battle of Armageddon. The Mormons, Remnant Fellowship, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and many other groups use similar techniques. Only organizationally approved thinking is acceptable and permitted; anything else will be punished severely. The great “God stick” comes in quite handy.

We find a real difference when we turn to Scripture. When we read Isaiah 1:18 we are encouraged:

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

We have come to realize that most who use intimidation are themselves fearful. They are in many ways like the Wizard of Oz. They use bluster and smoke and mirrors, but once exposed, they often turn out to be very fearful people themselves. We will never forget years ago when a couple had left a Gothard affiliate church, and they were quite afraid of “God’s retribution” for leaving the group.  The woman called for our help to figure out what to do when she runs into the pastor in the grocery store or somewhere else in town. We told her that as she grows in her relationship with God, the cultic pastor will begin to look different to her. He will be less terrifying. Several months later, she called in amazement as she relayed having run into him at a local store, and when he saw her, he turned and headed in the opposite direction.

God on the other hand, is not fearful or intimidated. He promotes asking questions and gaining understanding. “Come, let us reason together” is an invitation from the One Who owes us nothing but gives us everything. As Hebrews 4:15 points out:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

God desires our hearts to be His, and He extends the invitation:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

So, whether the intimidation is politically motivated, as was the case in Ferguson, MO, or religious intimidation or something else, as we spend time with God and focus on our Lord Jesus, we gain new confidence and need not fear the intimidating bullies. Why is that? Well, we will let the Apostle Paul answer that:

If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

For Paul, this was not just a fine-sounding cliché, but he went on to explain why God is for us and why it matters that it is Him:

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8:32-35)

The all-powerful One Who is with us, whether we are aware of His presence or not, deserves our trust, and HE is for us. The one who may be against us is powerless in comparison to the one Who loves us and is with us all the time.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. We think this cut from the 1988 film, ”The Bear” is a powerful image of our common plight, and Who, though we may not see Him, protects us from the enemy who often seems overpowering.Ω

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