Predators
1. stake out their “territory”
2. aggressively attack others to their detriment/expense for self-serving gain of wealth,position or power
*Predators by Nature – they have no choice to be but who they are – envious, ruthless, mean-spirited, controlling, manipulative, aggressive, bitter, hateful, arrogant and with a distorted sense of entitlement to get what they want at the expense of others
*Predators by Opportunity – choose to be predatory only when some opportunities arise
*Predators by Circumstance – because of their own victimization, their manipulation by natural predators or out of ignorance of the predatory nature of their words or actions, they strike out in a predatory fashion
Pan- handlers are not predators, unless they are aggressive and threatening. The vigilantes who go after them are often the predators, because for their own gain of having a neighborhood of only people just like themselves and for their own property values and area development for personal gain, they victimize human beings who are just trying to live.
Squatters are not predators, unless they are directly victimizing others. The vigilantes who go after them are often predators, because for their own gain or position they aggressively attack these human beings who are just trying to have a roof over their heads. Absentee Landlords who do not keep their properties livable, but collect rent or labor in lieu of rent, are predators.
Undocumented aliens are not predators, unless they are victimizing others through crime. Unscrupulous employers can be predators because they pay sub-standard wages and offer horrible living and working conditions, knowing that they have no one to which to report them. Societies are predatory who reap the benefits of their underpaid labors, especially while victimizing them by using them and then deporting them.
Burglars, Car Jackers, Drug Dealers, Gangs, Muggers, Identity Thieves, Hackers and Thieves are predators. They use stealth or force to aggressively victimize others.
Loan Sharks, Title Loan Companies, Rent to Own places and some car dealers, Credit Card companies, Mortgage Loan companies and Banks are predators. They aggressively work to victimize consumers for their own gain through unscrupulous business practices, taking advantage of desperate people and charging ever increasing rates of interest.
Lawyers who push for litigation when they know they will string people along and get paid exorbitant wages while doing it with no positive results for them in the end.
Doctors who push for unnecessary or ineffective treatments and surgeries, and who gouge patients and insurance companies for more gain at the expense of everyone.
Company Executives are predators when they pay their employees as little as possible with few or no benefits, burn out their employees for their own gain, sell products that are known to be harmful while refuting the evidence (tobacco companies, modified foods, etc.) and lay off employees for their own bonuses or stature in the company.
Lobbyists, the government officials who take their bribes and the system that allows this “buying” of government for the wealthy and powerful are predators because what they do is done at the expense of the people, as well as those who would limit basic, human rights or the availability of voting.
Local government officials who use their office for personal gain, position or power or that of their cronies are predators. Those who use regulations to punish residents unnecessarily and those who do what they do to keep certain people out of their territories are predators.
Clergy are often predators, seeking wealth, power and prestige at the expense of The Gospel, the Church and individuals within the church. Using “The Law” to control people, using their position for sexual self-indulgence and manipulating others to tithe for their personal gain are all predatory practices.
Church members, congregations and denominations who viciously attack and judge others (homosexuals, single parents, non-believers, etc.) are predators.
Motorists can be predatory in their driving, riding someone’s bumper, speeding up so another motorist cannot merge in the lane, going slowly in the passing lane and zipping in and out of lanes in an aggressive manner are all at the cost of the safety of others.
Citizens and neighbors who out of their predatory nature, circumstance or opportunity seek personal gain in wealth, position or power by attacking other neighbors, unnecessarily reporting harmless, even helpful property violations and those who cannot afford to meet arbitrarily adopted standards on their property are predators.
OUR RESPONSE TO PREDATORS?
1. become a predator oneself
2. associate with or hire predators to attack the predators
3. organize non-predators to say “No” to predators and their actions
I will assertively defend the victims of predators, and not aggressively attack the predators, because I do not want to become what I hate. It is much too easy to let the predatory behavior of others to turn oneself into a predator, rather than an anti-predator. It is out of love for the predators as well as their “prey” that we must stand up to predatory behavior, because a predatory norm in society hurts all of us.
Human beings are only “prey” in the eyes of a predator.
JESUS healed on the Sabbath and picked grain for hungry followers on the Sabbath, and the Predators came after Him for it. Yes, it was against the Law of Moses. It did not harm anyone and was beneficial for some in need.
JESUS said, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” regarding a legalistic view of the Law and punishing those who break the law, rather than be predatory in the Law… JESUS warned us to beware of Wolves in Sheeps’ clothing, who appear just to be “upright, appropriate and proper”, when they are simply predators looking for an opportunity to be predatory
JESUS taught that we must be “shrewd as a snake and unmixed as a dove” – know what the score is, not naïve, and STILL not fall into these unscrupulous activities – not become what we do not or should not value
Lord, help me to follow YOUR Way when dealing with Predators.
Pastor Jamie
2. aggressively attack others to their detriment/expense for self-serving gain of wealth,position or power
*Predators by Nature – they have no choice to be but who they are – envious, ruthless, mean-spirited, controlling, manipulative, aggressive, bitter, hateful, arrogant and with a distorted sense of entitlement to get what they want at the expense of others
*Predators by Opportunity – choose to be predatory only when some opportunities arise
*Predators by Circumstance – because of their own victimization, their manipulation by natural predators or out of ignorance of the predatory nature of their words or actions, they strike out in a predatory fashion
Pan- handlers are not predators, unless they are aggressive and threatening. The vigilantes who go after them are often the predators, because for their own gain of having a neighborhood of only people just like themselves and for their own property values and area development for personal gain, they victimize human beings who are just trying to live.
Squatters are not predators, unless they are directly victimizing others. The vigilantes who go after them are often predators, because for their own gain or position they aggressively attack these human beings who are just trying to have a roof over their heads. Absentee Landlords who do not keep their properties livable, but collect rent or labor in lieu of rent, are predators.
Undocumented aliens are not predators, unless they are victimizing others through crime. Unscrupulous employers can be predators because they pay sub-standard wages and offer horrible living and working conditions, knowing that they have no one to which to report them. Societies are predatory who reap the benefits of their underpaid labors, especially while victimizing them by using them and then deporting them.
Burglars, Car Jackers, Drug Dealers, Gangs, Muggers, Identity Thieves, Hackers and Thieves are predators. They use stealth or force to aggressively victimize others.
Loan Sharks, Title Loan Companies, Rent to Own places and some car dealers, Credit Card companies, Mortgage Loan companies and Banks are predators. They aggressively work to victimize consumers for their own gain through unscrupulous business practices, taking advantage of desperate people and charging ever increasing rates of interest.
Lawyers who push for litigation when they know they will string people along and get paid exorbitant wages while doing it with no positive results for them in the end.
Doctors who push for unnecessary or ineffective treatments and surgeries, and who gouge patients and insurance companies for more gain at the expense of everyone.
Company Executives are predators when they pay their employees as little as possible with few or no benefits, burn out their employees for their own gain, sell products that are known to be harmful while refuting the evidence (tobacco companies, modified foods, etc.) and lay off employees for their own bonuses or stature in the company.
Lobbyists, the government officials who take their bribes and the system that allows this “buying” of government for the wealthy and powerful are predators because what they do is done at the expense of the people, as well as those who would limit basic, human rights or the availability of voting.
Local government officials who use their office for personal gain, position or power or that of their cronies are predators. Those who use regulations to punish residents unnecessarily and those who do what they do to keep certain people out of their territories are predators.
Clergy are often predators, seeking wealth, power and prestige at the expense of The Gospel, the Church and individuals within the church. Using “The Law” to control people, using their position for sexual self-indulgence and manipulating others to tithe for their personal gain are all predatory practices.
Church members, congregations and denominations who viciously attack and judge others (homosexuals, single parents, non-believers, etc.) are predators.
Motorists can be predatory in their driving, riding someone’s bumper, speeding up so another motorist cannot merge in the lane, going slowly in the passing lane and zipping in and out of lanes in an aggressive manner are all at the cost of the safety of others.
Citizens and neighbors who out of their predatory nature, circumstance or opportunity seek personal gain in wealth, position or power by attacking other neighbors, unnecessarily reporting harmless, even helpful property violations and those who cannot afford to meet arbitrarily adopted standards on their property are predators.
OUR RESPONSE TO PREDATORS?
1. become a predator oneself
2. associate with or hire predators to attack the predators
3. organize non-predators to say “No” to predators and their actions
I will assertively defend the victims of predators, and not aggressively attack the predators, because I do not want to become what I hate. It is much too easy to let the predatory behavior of others to turn oneself into a predator, rather than an anti-predator. It is out of love for the predators as well as their “prey” that we must stand up to predatory behavior, because a predatory norm in society hurts all of us.
Human beings are only “prey” in the eyes of a predator.
JESUS healed on the Sabbath and picked grain for hungry followers on the Sabbath, and the Predators came after Him for it. Yes, it was against the Law of Moses. It did not harm anyone and was beneficial for some in need.
JESUS said, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” regarding a legalistic view of the Law and punishing those who break the law, rather than be predatory in the Law… JESUS warned us to beware of Wolves in Sheeps’ clothing, who appear just to be “upright, appropriate and proper”, when they are simply predators looking for an opportunity to be predatory
JESUS taught that we must be “shrewd as a snake and unmixed as a dove” – know what the score is, not naïve, and STILL not fall into these unscrupulous activities – not become what we do not or should not value
Lord, help me to follow YOUR Way when dealing with Predators.
Pastor Jamie
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