Spiritual Serial Killers

 "In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t."- Romans 12:4-6 THE MESSAGE 

    I had a dream the other day about "Spiritual Serial Killers". We can see in the Bible that it's God's desire for us to be connected as a people, to live in unity, as a functioning body. In my dream the serial killer was cutting up bodies and hanging parts on trees to rot. Gross! But that's what spiritual serial killers do. They, "cut you off form the body, and hang you out to dry."

      We often miss the warnings God tries to give us. These warnings are meant to help bring unity and health; it's not a form of condemnation. I believe if more people saw these warnings as a form of loving wisdom instead of condemnation, they'd be more willing to listen.

    There is power when we're connected. Spiritual serial killers understand the importance of being connected more than many people understand it. It just depends if they are killing on purpose or as self-preservation. The one killing for self-preservation may feel threatened by someone's superiority, gifting, skills, looks etc. They don't see their destructive actions clearly. They justify it as protecting their  turf.

     However, in my dream the spiritual serial killers knew what they were doing. Their goal was to cut off any person who had a true gift to bless others, because as the Bible says, "But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we?" If spiritual serial killers can get us alone, they can limit our gifts, they instinctively know in order to expand we need connection. When a body part is cut off from the body, it will bleed to death and rot. Our gift and contribution to society is handicapped without connection. Once we are cut off, the spiritual serial killer simply has to wait it out - it's only a matter of time.

     I've learned to never put anything past anyone. I've seen and experienced some crazy things, nothing surprises me anymore. We need to stop protecting the people that insist on carrying out division. Our agendas and favoritism will always cloud our ability to spot a spiritual serial killer.

      The spiritual serial killer's goal is to get people to leave the community their in, break fellowship, and hang out alone, cut off until they've bled to death. If you notice one person at the center of countless people disconnecting it may be wise to investigate the situation further. Send out an email or letter. Ask people why they've left or pushed away. Give them freedom to be blatantly honest without fear of hurting your feelings. That's the only way to reconnected with someone who has been cut off. 

     God's gifted people in many ways. Each of us is important. We are all on the same team. It's when we faithfully do our part that the world changes.