Abusive Tactics: The Kiss of Judas

Jeff Crippen ♦ 25th July 2012 ♦ 3 Comments

UPDATE Sept 2021: I have come to believe that Jeff Crippen does not practise what he preaches. He vilely persecuted an abuse victim and spiritually abused many other people in the Tillamook congregation. Go here to read the evidence. Jeff has not gone to the people that he spiritually and emotionally abused. He has not apologised to them, let alone asked for their forgiveness.

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[October 12, 2022: There have been some changes made to this post. For more information, read the Editors’ notes at the bottom of the post. Editors.]

(Luke 22:47-48  ESV)  (47) While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him,  (48) but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

It is the nature of sin to deceive and to destroy. Satan is the father of lies and he was a murderer from the beginning. He deceives in order to destroy. These elements are really present in the heart of any sin, but we see them very clearly illustrated in the nature, mentality, and tactics of the abuser. This is why I maintain that any pastor or any Christian who desires to know the nature of sin, how we can expect it to operate, and how it thinks — we can do nothing better than to study domestic violence and abuse in depth.

This will resonate with abuse victims. The kiss of Judas. They have received it. Their abuser, claiming to love them and have their welfare at heart, professing to be a servant of Christ, kisses with his lips while holding a concealed dagger in his hand. Christians of all people should be aware of this, as Scripture plainly tells us these things. But Judas was good at his craft and so are his offspring. Jesus was never deceived by him of course, but the rest of the disciples were, and they were in rather intimate contact with him for 2 – 3 years.

(John 12:3-6  ESV)  (3) Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  (4) But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,  (5) “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”  (6) He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

I don’t know if anyone knows if Judas was married or not, but imagine being his wife! Ah, an eminent apostle of Christ! What a lucky woman!

In the end, Judas went out and hanged himself. And so it will be for all wicked, deceitful, abusive human beings who persist in their evil and refuse to repent. That great Day is coming when everything is going to be brought to light and when much that is being done in Jesus’ name today will be found out to be wood, hay, and stubble. The chaff will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous (Psalm 1). Such Judas’ can kiss all they want. It will do them no good.

[October 12, 2022: Editors’ notes:

—For some comments made prior to October 12, 2022 that quoted from the post, the text in the comment that was quoted from the post might no longer be an exact match.
—For some comments made prior to October 12, 2022 that quoted from the post, the text in the comment that was quoted from the post might no longer be found in the post.
If you would like to compare the text in the comments made prior to October 12, 2022 that quoted from the post to the post as it is now (October 12, 2022), click here [Internet Archive link] for the most recent Internet Archive copy of the post.]