Family Mobbings?

An amusing thought entered my mind this morning. Tell me if you have encountered this:

Have you been invited to family gatherings but left out of others things the family is planning, only to be told later about them so you can know you were left out?

Then there are those lovely gatherings in which no one acts like a Christian but they all go to church.

There is a mentality that wants the scapegoat to show up at the yearly gathering so they can see the bullies ignoring them. When you decide not to go anymore you are questioned by phone why you didn't go.

There are those who want us to want them but they don't want us. There is some sort of perverted desire to make sure we see them as special while they make sure we know that we are not.

This is becoming a common petty and silly manipulation for no other reason than to elevate the status of the narcissists in the family. Sadly the narcissists are the ones people perceive to be above everyone else but their character is more like that of a bratty six year old.

This is the reason God told us to "come out from among them", and "to hate your family members" to follow Christ. We must have more love for Christ than we do for family members. This will put us at odds with family, not because we did anything wrong but because family loves their worldliness and elevated status in their own minds.

Luke 14:25-27 "25 Large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.…"

We love our families but we cannot love the way they act when they dishonor Christ. Just as Christ's love falls to the ground when offered to a stubborn person, so does our love when we have offered it to stubborn and prideful family.

When family does not love Christ then they cannot be our companions.

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 "…16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” 17 “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18 And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”…"

The best way to visit with rebellious family is one on one. Attempting to visit with anyone in a crowd is not very productive.

The crowd intimidates people to accept the ways of the crowd. This is the reason I don't go to family "gatherings" anymore. I prefer to visit with family members individually, then there is greater possibility of a conversation that is not tainted by the intimidation of others in the room.

It is really true that most families these days become a "pack of wolves" using family mobbings to intimidate that one person who wants to converse on a deeper level and who loves God.

When we love Christ we want pure truth, not superficial cliches that have very little meaning or significance. When I hear a cliche my first thought is " is that Biblical?" Then I proceed to evaluate the saying to decide if it is based on truth.

The modern Christian love their cliches, their mantras and happy feelings. The more superficial the better to those who care more about a happy life than they do about truth and a holy life.

Proverbs 12:15-25
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
16 A fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
17 He who speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a good word makes it glad."

What is the "good word", that is a scriptural word authored by Christ. Not a human idea that sounds good.