In your life together, think the way Christ Jesus thought. He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit.
Philippians 2:5–6
Jesus Christ had every right to claim supreme authority. Scripture says He was equal with God—yet He refused to use it for His own advantage. That alone dismantles the dangerous mindset infecting too many spiritual leaders today.
Now contrast that with the kind of person who demands others treat them as God. The one who claims, “If you disobey me, you disobey God. If you question me, you question God.” This isn’t leadership. This isn’t even faith. It’s delusion wrapped in spiritual tyranny.
This kind of person hijacks divine authority and uses it for control. It’s not about God’s will—it’s about their ego. And it’s dangerous.
Religious history and headlines are littered with the wreckage of such leaders: cults, abuse, broken relationships, shattered faith. Why? Because spiritual manipulation poisons everything it touches. It replaces the grace of God with the fear of man. It silences dissent, demands submission, and masks narcissism with a cross.
But here's the truth: God is not threatened by your questions. He is not insecure. He invites us to reason, to wrestle, to seek wisdom. And He certainly doesn’t need a self-appointed spokesperson to intimidate others in His name.
If someone claims divine status—or expects divine loyalty—you’re not dealing with a prophet. You’re dealing with a counterfeit. Real spiritual authority looks like Christ: humble, sacrificial, willing to wash feet and die for truth.
So if you’ve been told that questioning a man is questioning God, let this be your wake-up call: you are not obligated to stay in a place that distorts God’s truth, no matter the sunk cost. If you’ve been told that disobeying a man is disobeying God, recognize it for what it is—manipulation, not divine authority. Walk away. God doesn’t share His throne—and He doesn’t need anyone to bully in His name. You are meant to walk in the freedom of truth, not be shackled by the oppression of control.
