The Rules of Engagement

Weapons of Mass Destruction

I nhibitions Intrinsic, extrinsic, conscious, or unconscious things that prevent, restrain, block, or suppress. (See Luke 18:35–39.) I niquity Iniquity is to sin as the root of a tree is to the fruit. Iniquity comes from the Hebrew word avon and literally means “to make crooked, perverse, twisted, corrupt, and immoral.” In many religious circles, it is recognized as the bedrock of generational curses. (See Numbers 14:18–19; Jeremiah 36:3.) I nsecurity Insecurities create a condition that is physically or psychologically unstable, emotionally uncertain, and is marked by a lacking in confidence in one’s ability, purpose, and potential. Insecurities often show up, for example, when we are in the midst of someone we perceive to be better, more capable, talented, educated, or attractive than we perceive ourselves to be. (See Exodus 3:9–12.) I nsults An insult can be defined as the abasement, belittlement, degradation, and verbalization of a low opinion of something or someone. The power of an insult should not be underestimated because it has the innate ability of having a long-term effect long after it has been experienced, such as fear, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, poor self-image, and erosion of confidence. (See Proverbs 18:14.) They can take on the form of swearing, stereotyping, prejudice, racial slurs, off-color jokes, generalizations, accusations, negative personal assessments, blasphemy, inappropriate behavior, or unintentional or intentional breach of protocol. There are four types of insults: pragmatic (methodically delivered so as to offend, humiliate, provoke, scapegoat, or hurt deeply), cathartic (hostile venting of emotions), overt (opinions, feel ings, perceptions, or verbal confrontations intended and perceived by both parties), and covert/passive-aggressive (insults that “sink in” later).

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