The churches have crossed over to the dark side of the devils' enticements to maintain this personal gratification in every life experience. When pleasure is the desired outcome of everything then lies develop to avoid reality.
People only matter to most if they offer praise and adulation for those who are elevated in their own eyes.
Open and honest conversation is rare because this kind of communication involves all aspects of one's life, good, bad and confusing.
Because of the mentality based on happy stress-free lives very few people want to share in the trials of their friends and families and worse they deny in the pretense that they have no flaws or need growth themselves.
There is also an insecure people who fear not being special because their focus is always on themselves. Secure people who have the fruit of the Spirit do not feel a need to be superior or special, their joy is full even when no one else is paying any attention.
When someone comes along with honest talk and the unwavering desire to be helpful, those who do not want to face their authentic selves shrink from conviction which leads them to become jealous of those who can look at things in reality.
We only grow and change into strong believers when we can name our flaws and ask for God to make needed changes in us. We know we are not special only Christ is superior to everyone and all things.
We are living in a culture that loves the pleasure and feelings associated with happiness so much that they are willing to avoid anyone who has tribulation that would interrupt their enjoyment and personal satisfaction. These people also pretend a lot to maintain an appearance of the perfect life they believe impresses others.
Born-again believers live authentic lives able to tell the truth no matter where it leads without insecure feelings about it. We can see life as it really is without pretense because we see purpose in all things even if we don't understand, we know God's promises and trust in Him.
Insecure people often cannot look at things in truth, and are just short of growing emotionally and Spiritually for having learned from all that happens to them. We do not avoid difficulties because we know Christ in us goes through with us and everything has a life lesson even an eternal one in it.
Without seeing life in truth we cannot grow stronger in the Lord. It is the difficulties that teach us things, without them, we remain emotional and spiritual infants. This is why it is so disturbing to me when I see parents coddling children indulging them while bailing them out of every difficulty that might bring them to a place of maturity. It is also frightening that so many churches are treating their attendees with kid gloves to avoid any hurt feelings. People, everyone now are hypersensitive to any correction or criticism no matter how helpful it might be.
James 1:2-12 "2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
10 But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits."
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."
Proverbs 9:7-8
"Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you."
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 29:9
"If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet."
There is nothing more freeing than knowing we don't have to hide or pretend and that Christ in us always has our backs. The more we can see ourselves in truth and admit our flaws the more we grow and mature.
May each of us learn to walk more in honesty and truth to be able to progress in holiness and wisdom.
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