The Modern Cultic System

In the modern church system, there are certain expectations that are not Biblical or are not clear enough to make a rule about, but that oppress those who adhere to the pressure of the group in the system.

If a group is coming together to worship God and fellowship with one another there can be a wonderful experience, but when the group system operates from an expected enmeshment it becomes a burden and a trial.

I am not talking about sin or true Biblical principles to be followed, I am talking about personalities and the lack of encouragement for each individual to follow their gifts of the Spirit.

1 Peter 4:9-11 "…9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining. 10 As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 11 anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.…"

1 Corinthians 12:14-26

"14 For the body is not one part, but many.

15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.

16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired.

19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?

20 But now there are many parts, but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;

23 and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable,

24 whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked,

25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another.

26 And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it."

Each part of the body is needed but if some parts are not recognized and even discouraged from using their gift then, as God said, the body suffers. The body of Christ is suffering today for lack of wisdom because not everyone in the body is recognized for their gifts. Often when someone demonstrates a gift that the body thinks is not important then a part of the functioning of the body is thwarted even rejected at times.

When one or two people are seen as those with gifts and all others are seen as pew sitters without any gifts to offer we have moved into the realm of enmeshment and even cult-like oppression.

The gifts are given by God not man and man does not train anyone to have a gift.

If we cannot be loved by the group unless we say what they say, do what they do, and elevate the leader as special above others, we are seen as troublemakers.

The modern church system operates more like a cult and a clique than it does like the authentic body of Christ.

Enmeshment (What it is and why it is a problem)

An Argument or a Discussion?

In our culture, the definition of an argument might be two people attempting to win the other to their side.

A discussion is more likely when two people begin to share their point of view while listening to the point of view of the other. The purpose is to learn something about the other person while they learn something about us.

In an argument, there is no intent to learn new things to validate the other person as our friend. When winning is the only goal it divides people rather than bringing them closer together.

In a reasonable rational discussion respectfully shared we are able to learn something about ourselves as well as the other person. Both parties walk away with a greater understanding and more of a connection to the other person.

In an argument the mentality of winning leaves out kindness, love, compassion, and reasonableness. Usually, these encounters are useless and only cause division. No one learns and everyone walks away feeling like they have been hit by a train full of borders.

If we know someone is staunch about a particular belief it makes no sense to engage with them on that topic. We can love them and treat them respectfully even if we disagree. However, if the one in the discussion we are having is merely arguing to win then we are foolish to continue. Arguing to win shows an attitude of refusal to learn as well as using the other person as a sounding board instead of a human being to be loved and respected.

If we listen to the verbiage and facial expressions of others we can discern their intent, whether it is to share and learn or to fight and win.

Proverbs 29:9-10 "9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raging and laughing with no resolution. 10 Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.…"

Proverbs 26:4

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him"

It is important not to engage with a foolish arguer all that happens is we begin angry responses to try to be heard. It is better to leave the presence of a fool before they are able to poke us into a fight. Our flesh will become agitated into angst if we remain.

Ecclesiastes 10:13

"The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness."

Matthew 7:6

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

It is foolish of us to attempt to make a fool understand anything.

10 Questions That Expose A Narcissist's Gaslighting

Why Do They Do It

I have asked the question many times; "what does the narcissist get out of being rude and mean."

The answer God gave me is this:

Because they live in the moment and must act superior when in the presence of others they disrespect, they are only focused on that momentary feeling of supremacy when they cause someone else to be upset.

From my observations, they live moment to moment instead of day to day. Each moment must bring them a sense of advantage over others as king of their relationships.

Narcissists never feel badly when they have been rude causing others to be hurt by their angst. They justify their nastiness with excuses why the other person deserved what they did to them.

Those who wish to control those around them has a perverted view of their own life, believing they are the gatekeepers of how everyone else is suppose to act and even how they should dress.

The narcissist treats their target as though they are inept underlings who have no idea about what is good or what should be done. In other words the narcissistic daughter will treat her mother like a child and the narcissistic son will treat his father like a child.

There is no thought deeper than what is in front of them in the moment and their thoughts are all based on what they want, nothing about the needs or desires of the other person.

Narcissist are threatened by our confidence and that we make our own decisions.

We see these mentalities in the Pharisees of Jesus' day. The religious leaders were threatened by Christ because He was better than they and it caused fear that they would lose power over the people who followed Christ.

The Pharisees were jealous of Christ. Even though most of the people did not follow Christ, the fact that any followed Him at all was alarming to them. Their fear of loss of control over the people brought about a conspiracy to destroy Christ and return fear of the Pharisees back in the minds of the people.

Another reason the Pharisees hated Jesus was because He exposed what they were, their hypocrisy and self-righteousness.

Christ exposed that the Pharisees (Matthew 23) would win a convert to them while making that convert as superficial and ritual-oriented as the Pharisees were, without depth and without love of God.

The mentality of the Pharisees has returned in our day. The religious leaders act superior to born-again believers as though the Holy Spirit can't lead and teach anyone who didn't attend one of their cultural man-centered schools.

Many of the new convert to Christianity are not born-again but think they are going to heaven.

Matthew 23:25-36 "25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,

30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?

34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,

35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah,6 whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation."

Many churchgoers wish they could flog the authentic believer who attempts to bring back the Bible as the Word of God to be obeyed. The modern apostate Christian uses other methods to demean and ignore the one who wishes to speak the truth of the Bible. In their hearts they want us to disappear just as the Pharisees attempted to make Jesus Christ disappear.

Matthew 10:22-30

"22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[a] above his master.

25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

Have No Fear

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered."

Jesus Christ is the very essence of His Own Word

Today's generation treats God's Word as a book of suggestions instead of the very essence of Who Jesus Christ is, He is God!!!