If being popular and loved by people is your goal, then you will be stuck in man's traditions that do not honor God, full of error and spiritual stagnation.
Proverbs 29:25-26 "25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. 26 Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.…"
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Ignore the Intimidation and Go with God
If you are in a system that intimidates you to follow their rules that are not in the Word, get out of there. When we are under bondage to the legalism of those who wish to dominate us, then we have an idol in our lives, that idol being the "church system."
We cannot grow spiritually under the domination of ungodly leadership, oppression will keep us stuck in a spiritually child like state while diminishing the gifts and abilities Christ has given us.
Those who adhere to human rules to fit in, will be stunted in their growth and often will give up their gifts for the sake of acceptance.
How do we know if we are in a group like this? Its quite simple, a domineering group will become agitated when you find something to be an unnecessary rule or unbiblical and speak about it.
The group that relies on traditions rather than the Bible will always ignore challenges to correct things according to the Bible. If they cannot ignore you, they will warn others against you so that you have no influence or friends within that gathering, even gossiping behind your back that you are a trouble maker.
If we are not free to express our thoughts in order to discern truth, then we are in a cultic system. Anyone in our gathering ought to be excited to learn our thoughts and respond to them Biblically. Even if we might disagree, there ought to be an enthusiasm to go to the Word together and find the answer or at least to prove our assertions through Bible verses that come to mind.
The domineering gatherings in which only the "pastor" is allowed to speak of the things of God will always silence anyone who brings truth. Intimidating others into silence to maintain the status quo is a favored tactic to keep the congregation under control.
God never told the elders to control the people, He told them to lead by example, preaching and teaching.
1 Peter 5:2-3 "…2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
Those who use intimidation to silence others are not leading, they are forcing, they have created their own following. We are never to follow any man, we are to follow Jesus Christ.
We cannot grow spiritually under the domination of ungodly leadership, oppression will keep us stuck in a spiritually child like state while diminishing the gifts and abilities Christ has given us.
Those who adhere to human rules to fit in, will be stunted in their growth and often will give up their gifts for the sake of acceptance.
How do we know if we are in a group like this? Its quite simple, a domineering group will become agitated when you find something to be an unnecessary rule or unbiblical and speak about it.
The group that relies on traditions rather than the Bible will always ignore challenges to correct things according to the Bible. If they cannot ignore you, they will warn others against you so that you have no influence or friends within that gathering, even gossiping behind your back that you are a trouble maker.
If we are not free to express our thoughts in order to discern truth, then we are in a cultic system. Anyone in our gathering ought to be excited to learn our thoughts and respond to them Biblically. Even if we might disagree, there ought to be an enthusiasm to go to the Word together and find the answer or at least to prove our assertions through Bible verses that come to mind.
The domineering gatherings in which only the "pastor" is allowed to speak of the things of God will always silence anyone who brings truth. Intimidating others into silence to maintain the status quo is a favored tactic to keep the congregation under control.
God never told the elders to control the people, He told them to lead by example, preaching and teaching.
1 Peter 5:2-3 "…2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
Those who use intimidation to silence others are not leading, they are forcing, they have created their own following. We are never to follow any man, we are to follow Jesus Christ.
The "Marriage License" Governments Way
It is interesting that the "marriage license" required by the state is not Biblical. I see no mandate in the Word of God to get a certificate from to the state in order to be joined in marriage.
We get that certificate in order to obey the Law and to protect the couple from illegal activity that would harm either person in the marriage.
Since this concept of the state overseeing marriages, the state also has the power to declare who can marry and who can not. At one time it was God that determined this, since God has been thrown out of everything in our government, that same government can decide which marriages are valid and which are not. Also sadly the government is now attempting to dissolve first marriages through a breaking, legally, that contract whenever it feels it is no longer useful.
We have a license for everything now, to drive a car, to own a business and much more, so that the state can keep track of our money as well as the ability to find anyone who commits crimes.
Most of us comply with these laws, so that there will not be uncomfortable consequences when the state exacts their punishment for non-compliance. We have no problem with the laws because they don't cause us to violate our own principles according to the Bible.
The marriage between two people should be celebrated with those who are dedicated to the couple in accountability. The Christian community has turned into a social club that uses the marriage ceremony as a party. Has anyone noticed that ceremonies today have become laugh fests. The joking and flippancy has infiltrated every wedding I have been to in the past 30 years. The solemnity of these occasions is lost in the revelry. Perhaps this is the reason so many young people don't take their marriages seriously.
The "marriage license" tends to make the marriage appear more like a contract between two people rather than a union of the two becoming one by God's hand.
The state can break the contract of the marriage according to their laws, but they cannot dissolve the melding of two spirits into one that was accomplished by God at the time of the promise made by each person.
When the people become so selfish, determined to have their own way, they will pressure the state to modify their rules to include the sins of the culture.
Whenever a rule of the government is relaxed, deviating from the principles of God to placate some of the people, it will influence others who would not normally do the sin, to accept it and then practice it themselves.
We see this in marriage all the time. First divorce and remarriage was not allowed by the state in this country, then the rulers decided there should be exceptions. It is interesting how many use the exceptions to justify their own divorce and remarriage that were not exceptions. Mankind tends to take an exception as permission to sin.
We went from no divorce and remarriage to some exceptions, to wholesale divorce for irreconcilable differences to one party in the marriage able to get the divorce without both agreeing. Now we have moved on, to greater and more ridiculous forms of marriage, that is same sex marriage. Placating a small faction of the culture, although growing, to be able to live their abomination openly without restraint.
Immoral people are not satisfied with being able to live as they please, they must intimidate others to accept them. This was the case with the cake bakers who were ruined by immoral and selfish people who were determined to shame good people for nothing more than standing on their own ideals.
This is the nature of narcissism, those who indulge in self love are vested deeply in others validating their actions and attitudes. Those who will not validate them, will be punished and intimidated into compliance.
Yes, the new evil in our culture is expecting righteousness, when this does not work then all we want is to be able to live out our own convictions as we please, just as the immoral person is allowed to live out their abominations. The immoral person who mocks and intimidates others into compliance is enraged when anyone speaks truth to them. They have their right to ruin the businesses of others but the righteous person is not allowed to even speak their own mind.
There precious little justice in the world, God told us it would be this way and that the increase of this would be a sign that He was coming for us soon. I don't know about you, but I am excited that Christ can make us strong in spite of the attacks and that soon He will exact perfect justice. Hallelujah!
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV)
3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
We get that certificate in order to obey the Law and to protect the couple from illegal activity that would harm either person in the marriage.
Since this concept of the state overseeing marriages, the state also has the power to declare who can marry and who can not. At one time it was God that determined this, since God has been thrown out of everything in our government, that same government can decide which marriages are valid and which are not. Also sadly the government is now attempting to dissolve first marriages through a breaking, legally, that contract whenever it feels it is no longer useful.
We have a license for everything now, to drive a car, to own a business and much more, so that the state can keep track of our money as well as the ability to find anyone who commits crimes.
Most of us comply with these laws, so that there will not be uncomfortable consequences when the state exacts their punishment for non-compliance. We have no problem with the laws because they don't cause us to violate our own principles according to the Bible.
The marriage between two people should be celebrated with those who are dedicated to the couple in accountability. The Christian community has turned into a social club that uses the marriage ceremony as a party. Has anyone noticed that ceremonies today have become laugh fests. The joking and flippancy has infiltrated every wedding I have been to in the past 30 years. The solemnity of these occasions is lost in the revelry. Perhaps this is the reason so many young people don't take their marriages seriously.
The "marriage license" tends to make the marriage appear more like a contract between two people rather than a union of the two becoming one by God's hand.
The state can break the contract of the marriage according to their laws, but they cannot dissolve the melding of two spirits into one that was accomplished by God at the time of the promise made by each person.
When the people become so selfish, determined to have their own way, they will pressure the state to modify their rules to include the sins of the culture.
Whenever a rule of the government is relaxed, deviating from the principles of God to placate some of the people, it will influence others who would not normally do the sin, to accept it and then practice it themselves.
We see this in marriage all the time. First divorce and remarriage was not allowed by the state in this country, then the rulers decided there should be exceptions. It is interesting how many use the exceptions to justify their own divorce and remarriage that were not exceptions. Mankind tends to take an exception as permission to sin.
We went from no divorce and remarriage to some exceptions, to wholesale divorce for irreconcilable differences to one party in the marriage able to get the divorce without both agreeing. Now we have moved on, to greater and more ridiculous forms of marriage, that is same sex marriage. Placating a small faction of the culture, although growing, to be able to live their abomination openly without restraint.
Immoral people are not satisfied with being able to live as they please, they must intimidate others to accept them. This was the case with the cake bakers who were ruined by immoral and selfish people who were determined to shame good people for nothing more than standing on their own ideals.
This is the nature of narcissism, those who indulge in self love are vested deeply in others validating their actions and attitudes. Those who will not validate them, will be punished and intimidated into compliance.
Yes, the new evil in our culture is expecting righteousness, when this does not work then all we want is to be able to live out our own convictions as we please, just as the immoral person is allowed to live out their abominations. The immoral person who mocks and intimidates others into compliance is enraged when anyone speaks truth to them. They have their right to ruin the businesses of others but the righteous person is not allowed to even speak their own mind.
There precious little justice in the world, God told us it would be this way and that the increase of this would be a sign that He was coming for us soon. I don't know about you, but I am excited that Christ can make us strong in spite of the attacks and that soon He will exact perfect justice. Hallelujah!
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV)
3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
God's God This!
So often we see wicked people and wonder why they think the way they do. Partly it is their flesh, the are responding to feelings and desires without concern about others.
However, I have seen people respond and act in ways that make no sense at all, even using "word salad" to justify themselves. I believe these instances are the influence of demonic patterns as the devil works in the minds of people.
Have you ever sat at your desk or on your couch and all of a sudden for no reason you begin to feel slightly fearful or sad, when nothing has happened? This has happened to me, I would begin to pray and the feelings lifted, returning me to a sense of joy and calm.
When someone is not walking with Christ, their feelings rule their life. If they "feel" bad momentarily, they must assign that bad feeling to someone else or something else, even though those things or people had nothing to do with the feelings.
Notice too that we have a rise in people on depression meds, teen suicides and man more seemingly irrational actions over the smallest matters. I am convinced these are demonically inspired feelings and thoughts to cause people to sin.
1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
We are living in the end times when there is precious little righteousness in the world and far more people given to following their feelings rather than rational thinking.
When we understand this we don't have to be drawn in, we can fight the feelings with prayer as we learn how to respond to the attacks God's way. The most important thing to remember when we are drawn into drama, is that our conscience is far more important than winning or revenge.
Romans 12:19 "19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
We don't have to train others, we can leave it to God, He really does have this, even without our help.
However, I have seen people respond and act in ways that make no sense at all, even using "word salad" to justify themselves. I believe these instances are the influence of demonic patterns as the devil works in the minds of people.
Have you ever sat at your desk or on your couch and all of a sudden for no reason you begin to feel slightly fearful or sad, when nothing has happened? This has happened to me, I would begin to pray and the feelings lifted, returning me to a sense of joy and calm.
When someone is not walking with Christ, their feelings rule their life. If they "feel" bad momentarily, they must assign that bad feeling to someone else or something else, even though those things or people had nothing to do with the feelings.
Notice too that we have a rise in people on depression meds, teen suicides and man more seemingly irrational actions over the smallest matters. I am convinced these are demonically inspired feelings and thoughts to cause people to sin.
1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
We are living in the end times when there is precious little righteousness in the world and far more people given to following their feelings rather than rational thinking.
When we understand this we don't have to be drawn in, we can fight the feelings with prayer as we learn how to respond to the attacks God's way. The most important thing to remember when we are drawn into drama, is that our conscience is far more important than winning or revenge.
Romans 12:19 "19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
We don't have to train others, we can leave it to God, He really does have this, even without our help.
Projection of the Narcissist!
When a narcissist shouts "you think your better", what they are really saying is "I think your better."
When a narcissists shouts, "you hate me", they are saying "I hate you."
When a narcissists says "you won't listen", they are saying "I am not going to listen to you."
When a narcissist says to you, "your judgmental", they are really saying "I judge people all the time. "
Narcissists accuse others of what the narcissist is and those they accuse are not, for the purpose of frustrating those they accuse. They want to cause you to react in an ungodly way so they can bring you to a place in which you sin.
It is a natural human response to defend ourselves and even feel angry when we are accused of something that is not true. If we are walking in the Spirit we will recognize these tactics and refuse to allow our emotions to rule us. This is what the devil wants, using a person to poke and prod at us until something ungodly emerges.
We see this all the time in family dynamics, the narcissist will attempt to drag you into conflict by accusing you of things that are not true. If they can get you to respond badly in anger they have proven, in their mind, that you are bad after all.
God tells us not to engage with fools whose only purpose is to bring out the worst in you, those who love it when you fail God, will not stop until you have blown up or spoken rashly.
1 Peter 5:8-9 " 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…"
These verses are telling us to resist the devil, not the person. The devil will use the person to cause fights and arguments, when we resist the devil we will not allow the person to push our buttons that cause the fighting. Our tactics of warfare are prayer and leaving the presence of those who attempt to engage us in sin.
When a narcissists shouts, "you hate me", they are saying "I hate you."
When a narcissists says "you won't listen", they are saying "I am not going to listen to you."
When a narcissist says to you, "your judgmental", they are really saying "I judge people all the time. "
Narcissists accuse others of what the narcissist is and those they accuse are not, for the purpose of frustrating those they accuse. They want to cause you to react in an ungodly way so they can bring you to a place in which you sin.
It is a natural human response to defend ourselves and even feel angry when we are accused of something that is not true. If we are walking in the Spirit we will recognize these tactics and refuse to allow our emotions to rule us. This is what the devil wants, using a person to poke and prod at us until something ungodly emerges.
We see this all the time in family dynamics, the narcissist will attempt to drag you into conflict by accusing you of things that are not true. If they can get you to respond badly in anger they have proven, in their mind, that you are bad after all.
God tells us not to engage with fools whose only purpose is to bring out the worst in you, those who love it when you fail God, will not stop until you have blown up or spoken rashly.
1 Peter 5:8-9 " 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…"
These verses are telling us to resist the devil, not the person. The devil will use the person to cause fights and arguments, when we resist the devil we will not allow the person to push our buttons that cause the fighting. Our tactics of warfare are prayer and leaving the presence of those who attempt to engage us in sin.
Cognitive Dissonance the Elephant in the Room
"Cognitive dissonance" a term I heard recently that spurred some thoughts in me about the condition of the apostate church as well as my past experience in family gatherings.
The term describes someone acting in a way that is not consistent with their own moral code or beliefs.
I never heard the term until recently in connection with narcissism.
Sometimes when we are intimidated by others, desiring to be accepted by them, we begin to take on their ways and their thinking even though we don't really believe that way.
How often have we found ourselves being manipulated to remain silent or agree with people we know will become agitated or will not like us unless we agree with them?
In the past when I was much younger I withheld my true belief in family gatherings just to avoid the anger that I believed would ensue if I dared to disagree with the group think.
The more I allowed others to dictate the conversation, only those who agreed were allowed to speak their mind, then there would be no trouble. As soon as someone would disagree there would be rage and hatred emerging to intimidate the odd man out to remain silent or agree.
When we obey God we will not be allowing the fool to manipulate our actions or reactions. If we are controlled by the Spirit we will respond in the opposite ways that the narcissist wants us to respond.
The tactics of the fool as described in the Bible:
Proverbs 18:2
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 18:6
A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.
Proverbs 29:9
If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
Our reactions to the fool that honor God as we are controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 26:4-5
"4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.
5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes."
The two verses in Proverbs seem to be contradictory, but they are not. Often we do best to refuse to engage in discourse with a fool knowing that he is attempting to cause trouble. However, there are times when we expose the tactics of the fool to show them their foolishness. Each action must be led by the Holy Spirit.
Being drawn into a conversation with someone whose only purpose is to cause a fight, would be foolish of us. When the fool is merely trying to win in an argument, we might point out their purpose and the silliness of their argument and then walk away from them. God will know which and when.
The term describes someone acting in a way that is not consistent with their own moral code or beliefs.
I never heard the term until recently in connection with narcissism.
Sometimes when we are intimidated by others, desiring to be accepted by them, we begin to take on their ways and their thinking even though we don't really believe that way.
How often have we found ourselves being manipulated to remain silent or agree with people we know will become agitated or will not like us unless we agree with them?
In the past when I was much younger I withheld my true belief in family gatherings just to avoid the anger that I believed would ensue if I dared to disagree with the group think.
The more I allowed others to dictate the conversation, only those who agreed were allowed to speak their mind, then there would be no trouble. As soon as someone would disagree there would be rage and hatred emerging to intimidate the odd man out to remain silent or agree.
When we obey God we will not be allowing the fool to manipulate our actions or reactions. If we are controlled by the Spirit we will respond in the opposite ways that the narcissist wants us to respond.
The tactics of the fool as described in the Bible:
Proverbs 18:2
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 18:6
A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.
Proverbs 29:9
If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
Our reactions to the fool that honor God as we are controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 26:4-5
"4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.
5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes."
The two verses in Proverbs seem to be contradictory, but they are not. Often we do best to refuse to engage in discourse with a fool knowing that he is attempting to cause trouble. However, there are times when we expose the tactics of the fool to show them their foolishness. Each action must be led by the Holy Spirit.
Being drawn into a conversation with someone whose only purpose is to cause a fight, would be foolish of us. When the fool is merely trying to win in an argument, we might point out their purpose and the silliness of their argument and then walk away from them. God will know which and when.
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