Jesus, please save me, my family, and my people, so I can stop imagining, that I can also save the world. I feel empathy for mankind, and it hurts my mind to see my brothers’ pain and suffering.

But, I don’t want to be like the cultists, tyrants, and devils—those who seek to manipulate, control, and force free men into subversion—believing that their own ideology or influence can bring them salvation. Their desire to dominate and reshape others stems from a misguided sense of purpose that ultimately leads them away from Your Truth.

Please remove from my core the fallen angel Lucifer’s ambition—the desire to be a savior—so that I do not fall into the same trap of pride. Help me to surrender my ego and trust fully in Your Divine Plan. I acknowledge that True Salvation only comes from You, and I humbly ask for Your Forgiveness for my innate desire to take away their free agency and to act on my own accord.

Grant me Your Grace, so I can remain humble, patient, and centered in Your Love. Fill me with Your Wisdom and Strength, so that I may serve others with empathy and humility, without manipulation or control. Teach me to rely on Your Power, not my own, and to trust in Your Timing and Purpose.

In these times of turmoil and uncertainty, help me remember that Redemption is ultimately in Your Hands. Grant me peace in knowing that You are the True Healer and Redeemer of all creation. Amen.

Edited by: ElRoyPoet

How Can Jesus Be the Only Way?

The Problem of Those Who Have Never Heard of Christ

Prayer Analysis: Navigating Empathy Without Subverting Humanity

Human empathy—the capacity to understand and share the feelings of others—is widely regarded as a fundamental aspect of moral development and social cohesion. Psychologists such as Daniel Goleman have emphasized empathy’s role in fostering compassion, prosocial behavior, and emotional intelligence. However, like any powerful tool, empathy can become a double-edged sword when misapplied or taken to extremes, potentially leading to destructive outcomes such as manipulation, control, and tyranny.

In the context of spiritual reflection, the plea “Jesus, please save me, my family, and my people, so I can stop imagining that I can also save the world,” encapsulates the recognition of human limitations and the importance of humility. The speaker feels genuine empathy for mankind, which causes emotional pain at witnessing suffering. Yet, they also express a critical awareness: the desire to help others must be balanced with humility, to avoid becoming like the “cultists, tyrants, and devils”—those who manipulate and control in their misguided pursuit of salvation.

Empathy and Its Dark Side

Psychological research reveals that empathy can sometimes lead to harmful behaviors if misdirected. For instance, Batson distinguishes between “empathic concern”—a genuine desire to help—and “personal distress,” which can lead to self-focused reactions of avoidance or aggression. When empathy becomes overwhelming or unbalanced, it can foster emotional exhaustion, burnout, or a desire to exert control, as individuals seek to alleviate their own distress by dominating others.

Moreover, empathy can be exploited by those with manipulative motives. Psychologist Robert Cialdini discusses how manipulators often use empathy as a tool to create bonds of trust, only to leverage that trust for control or exploitation. This dynamic can be observed in cult leaders or tyrannical figures who appeal to followers’ emotional needs to justify coercive behaviors—believing, erroneously, that their influence can “save” or reshape others.

Empathy as a Pathway to Tyranny

Historically, some leaders have justified oppressive regimes by claiming to act out of concern for the “greater good.” The perceived need to “save” the community or nation can morph into attempts to reshape individuals according to a specific ideology, often leading to loss of personal autonomy. Psychologist Philip Zimbardo, in his analysis of the Stanford Prison Experiment, demonstrated how situational factors and authority can drive ordinary individuals to commit acts of cruelty, especially when they believe they are acting for a higher purpose.

Similarly, the desire to control or reshape others—fueled by an overstated sense of empathy—can be rooted in a misguided sense of purpose or moral superiority. When individuals or groups believe they possess the moral authority to “save” others, they may resort to manipulation, coercion, or subversion, which ultimately diverges from genuine compassion and truth.

Humility and Spiritual Guidance

The spiritual plea “Please remove from my core the fallen angel Lucifer’s ambition—the desire to be a savior—so that I do not fall into the trap of pride,” reflects the importance of humility in leadership and service. Psychologically, humility is associated with openness, self-awareness, and a balanced sense of self. It guards against the arrogance that can lead to tyranny.

In this light, spiritual humility aligns with psychological insights: recognizing one’s limitations and trusting in a higher divine plan prevents the ego from overreaching. As the speaker seeks forgiveness for the desire to override human free will, they acknowledge the importance of respecting individual agency—a core principle in both spiritual teaching and psychological health.

Balancing Empathy with Wisdom

The key to avoiding the pitfalls of empathy lies in integrating it with wisdom and discernment. Psychologists like Goleman advocate for “emotional intelligence,” which includes empathy paired with self-regulation and ethical judgment. Serving others with humility, patience, and compassion—rather than control—aligns with this approach.

The prayer’s request for divine guidance to serve with empathy and humility echoes this psychological principle: relying on divine strength and wisdom provides a safeguard against the ego-driven misuse of compassion. It fosters genuine service rather than manipulation, helping prevent the descent into tyranny.

While empathy is a vital human trait that fosters connection and moral action, its potential for misuse must be acknowledged and guarded against. Psychological research underscores that unchecked empathy can lead to emotional exhaustion, manipulation, and authoritarian control. Spiritual humility, recognition of human limitations, and reliance on divine guidance serve as vital safeguards. As the speaker prays for divine grace and wisdom, they embody a balanced approach—empathy rooted in humility, trusting in divine sovereignty, and committed to serving others without manipulation or control.

In times of turmoil and uncertainty, this balance becomes essential. Remembering that ultimate salvation and healing come from divine sources allows us to serve others with compassion, humility, and genuine love, without risking the tyranny that can stem from misguided empathy.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next. Amen.

Is It Possible to Know God?

Analogy: Before we were born, there was a rebellion in Heaven. God’s firstborn said, “I will help all those who choose to go to Earth to return to Heaven by bringing them the gospel. Then they can decide for themselves if they will believe.” However, Lucifer countered, “Let me be their leader, and I will make sure that they all return to Heaven. I will force them to obey, and none will be lost.”

Since then, this disagreement has echoed on Earth. Many liberal leaders argue, “We were all born with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In order for that to transpire, we must also be free men.” However, evangelicals contend, “Wouldn’t it be easier to make the citizens obey the law, by taking away their freedom? Even though we will not allow them to exercise their First Amendment rights, we will trick them into believing that they do. And if any protest, we will punish their insubordination.”

Then, God said, “I will send the Firstborn because they already have their free agency, and no one should be allowed to take away, what I have already given to them.” He sent Jesus to earth to encourage individuals to choose their own path and reject those who sought to limit their liberty.

Jesus wants to help those who chose to come to Earth by providing them with the gospel and allowing them to choose their own path towards redemption. He wants us to exercise our free will because God has given us sovereignty, so that we can choose for ourselves.

Satan, on the other hand, seeks dominion over us. He wants to lead us back to heaven by force, without regard to our free agency. He believes that people should be made to obey, and this is the only way to ensure that none will be lost.

The moral of the story is that any demagogue who aims to take away the people’s autonomy is obviously in league with the devil. True leaders understand that sovereignty is a gift from God and should be defended at all costs.

“Satanic panics exists for the same reason that the vast majority of conspiracy theories and hate-driven hoaxes exist. They revolve around scapegoating those seen as having lifestyles and social mores regarded as abhorrent to the perceived majority. They turn outsiders into enemies, unexplainable events into smaller pieces of a vast plot, and make their believers feel they have secret and special knowledge that separates them from the masses. Those who see Satan in the gyrations of Rihanna or the lighting in a speech by Biden believe they can divine information that others can’t, and they take that information and wrap it into the worldview they already have. And that worldview often puts them at the center of a vast battle between good and evil, one that doesn’t require understanding or empathizing with the views and actions of others, only destroying them, because they are bad and out to harm you and innocent children. Despite the differences in speed and technology between the 1980s and now, the motivation ends up being the same: concern for children and decaying morality that curdles into obsession, paranoia, and scapegoating. And in both the 1980s panic and the more recent hysteria, no children are actually saved.” Excerpt from Welcome to America’s new, digital Satanic Panic

“Unity requires effort. We are united by our common primary identity as children of God and our commitment to the truths of the restored gospel. In turn, our love of God and our discipleship of Jesus Christ generate genuine concern for others. We value the kaleidoscope of others’ characteristics, perspectives, and talents. If we are unable to place our discipleship to Jesus Christ above personal interests and viewpoints, we should re-examine our priorities and change. We might be inclined to say, “Of course we can have unity—if only you would agree with me!” A better approach is to ask, “What can I do to foster unity? How can I respond to help this person draw closer to Christ? What can I do to lessen contention and to build a compassionate and caring Church community?”
When love of Christ envelops our lives, we approach disagreements with meekness, patience, and kindness. We worry less about our own sensitivities and more about our neighbor’s. We seek to moderate and unify. We do not engage in “doubtful disputations,” judge those with whom we disagree, or try to cause them to stumble. Instead, we assume that those with whom we disagree are doing the best they can with the life experiences they have.” By: Dale G. Renlund

“It is we who nourish the ‘Soul Of The World’, and the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse.” By: Paulo Coelho

“In order for a government to become a christo-fascist regime, the church must allow itself to be swallowed by the state. In order for a government to remain democratic, the state must be kept separated from the church—so that they’re not tempted to swallow each other.” By: A. Freeman

“How can I expect my religion to change you; If it hasn’t fixed my anxiety yet? I guess—deep down in my heart I was hoping—that your faith would be the exception!” By: B. Bondman

“The devil will remind you over and over again, of your past. Because he knows, that the day you stop feeling sorry for yourself, he has no future with you. Holding on to old grudges will not remove the pain in your brain. Only Jesus can transform your life, if you allow him into your heart.” By: ElRoyPoet

God didn’t create Satan. Satan is a byproduct of free will. God created Lucifer, perfect—as it says in Ezekiel and Isaiah—in all his ways. He created Lucifer to worship and to be perfect. But Lucifer rejected Jesus, rejected God, and became Satan. So, the question is not why a loving God would create a devil, a hateful being like Satan. Evil is not something that God created; it is a byproduct of the absence of God’s Will.