Monday, September 24, 2012
Where Did The Love Go!
Narcissism is an epidemic these days fascilitated by the "Self Esteem" teaching. Many years ago I remember "Christians" who argued with me, believing that self esteem was a necessary element to a stable child, so they liberally administered their doses of this poison to their children.
Unfortunately those who did not believe in self esteem were at the mercy of the entire culture, extended family, schools and even churches who practiced this evil and ruined many children of Christian parents.
Does anyone else see the devastation from this teaching? There has been an explosion of selfishness and lack of empathy from so many in our children's generation. Loving hospitality is nearly non-existent everywhere we go. I am reminded of the scripture that describes these very days.
2 Timothy 3:1-6
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.
"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, "proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, "unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal "despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure "rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying "its power. And from such people turn away!"
It is worth noting that in the passage in 2 Timothy we see that these self esteemites will have a form of religion, but it is not the faith of the Bible, they may say it is, but their brand of religion is based solely on self exhaultation.
Self esteem has caused the next generation to be unteachable and arrogant. They depend on their knowledge and fleshly works to approve them.
One of the elements of narcissism is lack of empathy, lack of sense of humor, unless someone is harmed in some way and then there is laughter over the pratfalls of others.
Another element of narcissism is the inability to encourage others in their walk, mainly because there is a sense of needing to be superior to others. To encourage others, is a subordinate position and is unthinkable for the narcissist.
God commanded us many times in the Word to place ourselves last, deferring to others, considering others with a deep concern for their welfare.
Proverbs 15:17 "Better [is] a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred."
Proverbs 27:5 "Open rebuke [is] better Than love carefully concealed."
1 Corinthians 13:5 "does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;"
Psalms 10:4 "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek [God]; God [is] in none of his thoughts."
When we encounter a person who claims to be saved but is ashamed at the mention of the name of Christ alone or in a crowd, then we know there are problems, and perhaps we should begin praying for their salvation.
When Christ saves us He places in us His principles and when those principles are absent then there may not be salvation.
Proverbs 15:9 "The way of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness."
We can hide to some degree from one another, for a time, then the clues will give us away, but we cannot hide from the Lord, He sees all and judges all.
Unfortunately those who did not believe in self esteem were at the mercy of the entire culture, extended family, schools and even churches who practiced this evil and ruined many children of Christian parents.
Does anyone else see the devastation from this teaching? There has been an explosion of selfishness and lack of empathy from so many in our children's generation. Loving hospitality is nearly non-existent everywhere we go. I am reminded of the scripture that describes these very days.
2 Timothy 3:1-6
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.
"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, "proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, "unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal "despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure "rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying "its power. And from such people turn away!"
It is worth noting that in the passage in 2 Timothy we see that these self esteemites will have a form of religion, but it is not the faith of the Bible, they may say it is, but their brand of religion is based solely on self exhaultation.
Self esteem has caused the next generation to be unteachable and arrogant. They depend on their knowledge and fleshly works to approve them.
One of the elements of narcissism is lack of empathy, lack of sense of humor, unless someone is harmed in some way and then there is laughter over the pratfalls of others.
Another element of narcissism is the inability to encourage others in their walk, mainly because there is a sense of needing to be superior to others. To encourage others, is a subordinate position and is unthinkable for the narcissist.
God commanded us many times in the Word to place ourselves last, deferring to others, considering others with a deep concern for their welfare.
Proverbs 15:17 "Better [is] a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred."
Proverbs 27:5 "Open rebuke [is] better Than love carefully concealed."
1 Corinthians 13:5 "does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;"
Psalms 10:4 "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek [God]; God [is] in none of his thoughts."
When we encounter a person who claims to be saved but is ashamed at the mention of the name of Christ alone or in a crowd, then we know there are problems, and perhaps we should begin praying for their salvation.
When Christ saves us He places in us His principles and when those principles are absent then there may not be salvation.
Proverbs 15:9 "The way of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness."
We can hide to some degree from one another, for a time, then the clues will give us away, but we cannot hide from the Lord, He sees all and judges all.
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