“You have such admirable tolerance for impostors who rob your freedom, rip you off, steal you blind, put you down—even slap your face! I shouldn’t admit it to you, but our stomachs aren’t strong enough to tolerate that kind of stuff.” (2 Corinthians 11:20-21 MSG)
On a first date, a man slips a drug into a woman’s drink and takes advantage of her. Most of us recognize this as wrong behavior. If the same woman knowingly continues to tolerate this treatment, we conclude that there is something wrong with her, too.
Someone invites you to their home and mixes laxatives in your food just to mock you in front of others. You continue socializing with them, because you convince yourself that it’s no big deal. If this were to happen to your children, you would warn them not to associate with this kind of people.
Imposters and emotional abusers repeatedly target the same kind of people. Their victims are often impressionable, congenial, and gentle. These are wonderful qualities, not weaknesses. However, manipulators take advantage of those who are kind, convincing them that all is well while controlling them. In our desire to be included and accepted, we tolerate those who rob our freedom and put us down. And because it is so common--in politics, work places, social and family gatherings--we accept it as inevitable, BUT it isn’t. Those who choose to leave this environment are not doomed to loneliness and rejection. The energy that was once used to prop up imposters can now be invested in sincere relationships. Kindness can now be expressed to those who will not abuse generosity. Where virtue is nurtured and truth thrives, goodness will flourish.
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