What
the Bible says about Threats & Intimidation
According
to the scriptures, the Pharisees and Sadducees used threats in an
effort to prevent the disciples from preaching about Jesus.
Threats were used to intimidate them because no justifiable reason
was found to keep them in jail.
In
addition, the apostle John wrote disapprovingly about an
individual who threatened to throw Christians out of the
congregation. This man was using this intimidation tactic to
prevent Christians from associating with brothers in the faith.
Unfortunately, after hundreds of years, the situation is
practically the same today in many Christian congregations. Yet,
the Scriptures state that those who have authority must be careful
how they use it. They will have to answer to Yehovah for how they
exercise leadership.
Nevertheless,
in order that it may not be spread abroad further among the
people, let us (the Sadducees) tell them with
threats not to speak
anymore upon the basis of this name (Jesus) to any man at all
(Acts:4:17).
So,
when they had further threatened them, they released them, since
they did not find any ground on which to punish them and on
account of the people, because they were all glorifying God over
what had occurred; for the man upon whom this sign of healing had
occurred was more than forty years old. (Acts 4:21-22)
And
now, Jehovah, give attention to their threats, and grant your
slaves to keep speaking your word with all boldness (Acts 4:29)
Also,
you masters, keep doing the same things to them, letting up on
the threatening, for you know that the Master of both them and
you is in the heavens, and there is no partiality with him.
(Ephesians 6:9)
But
Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of
the Lord, went to the high priest. (Acts 9:1)
That
is why, if I come, I will call to remembrance his works which he
goes on doing, chattering about us with wicked words. Also, not
being content with these things, neither does he himself receive
the brothers with respect, and those who are wanting to receive
them he tries to hinder and to throw out of the congregation. (3
John 1:10)
When
he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he
was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing
himself to the one who judges righteously. (1 Peter 2:23)
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