There's a difference....

ma·nip·u·late
1. To move, arrange, operate, or control by the hands or by mechanical means, especially in a skillful manner: She manipulated the lights to get just the effect she wanted.
2. To influence or manage shrewdly or deviously: He manipulated public opinion in his favor.
3. To tamper with or falsify for personal gain: tried to manipulate stock prices.
4. Medicine To handle and move in an examination or for therapeutic purposes: manipulate a joint; manipulate the position of a fetus during delivery

teach
1. To impart knowledge or skill to: teaches children.
2. To provide knowledge of; instruct in: teaches French.
3. To condition to a certain action or frame of mind: teaching youngsters to be self-reliant.
4. To cause to learn by example or experience: an accident that taught me a valuable lesson.
5. To advocate or preach: teaches racial and religious tolerance.
6. To carry on instruction on a regular basis in: taught high school for many years.


I’ve seen both and been on the receiving end of each. My mother practiced what I call “open manipulation”. She would go through the motions of manipulating someone but she could never “go for the kill”. She would always stop and fully explain the situation then make the choice clear. I think I’m guilty of that at times.

To manipulate someone is to enslave them. To teach someone is to liberate them. Manipulation reduces a person to a specific use. Teaching strengthens a person and builds them up. Manipulation is an easy way to force someone to cooperate where teaching requires understanding and agreement. Teaching usually requires that one be clearly shown everything where manipulation usually requires that very little, if anything, be clearly shown.

People act on what they believe. Their actions determine how they feel. As a person learns about God they are able to alter their beliefs concerning Him so that their actions result in feelings of contentment and peace with God. This reinforces their beliefs and they grow in the faith. One of the cruelest methods of manipulation is practiced by every religion of the world. This is the way that seems right unto man. Feelings are provoked through associative means for the purpose of reinforcing a proposed belief. The belief, once accepted, is acted on and positive feedback reinforces the belief even though it may well be to the detriment of the person being manipulated.

I pray God will help us to always be instruments of His Spirit and teach others, not manipulate them.