There are many who say they believe in Christ, but His name almost never falls from their lips, there is no fruit to speak of, they are living a superficial and mechanical Christianity based on their own desires to be elevated by others. The depth of conviction for Christ and self reflection is not there .
When we hear believers almost exclusively speaking about rules, miracles and blessings but not mentioning Christ Jesus, we should become concerned.
When we hear no confession of sin, but rather hostility at the suggestion that someone should reflect upon their own attitude or lifestyle, then we have very likely encountered a pretender.
A pretender is one who has all the right words, attends a local church, even lives a decent life, but becomes enraged at any correction or instruction. Their heart is so elevated, basking in their own goodness, that they are unhinged that someone might think they need God to work in them.
Romans 12:2-4 "…2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,…"
James 5:16 "16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
The Tongue and Covert Meanness are Cousins
We must include the covert acts of meanness, that are not seen by most but felt by the victims. It isn't only the tongue that is the problem in many relationships, it is the hidden and covert contempt that chips away at the victims soul. They pretend to care, but deeply hate those they wish to destroy.
Proverbs 29:5-6 "5 A man who flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps. 6 By transgression an evil man is ensnared, But the righteous sings and rejoices.…"
Psalm 21:23 "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles."
James 3:2
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
Psalm 141:3
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Proverbs 12:13
An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.
Proverbs 13:3
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
One elements of narcissism is that they accuse others of doing what the narcissist is doing but the others are not. Hillary chastised Trump for not proclaiming he would accept the results of the election, then when she loses she does not accept the results of the election.
If a narcissist calls you a liar, they are revealing that they have lied or are about to lie to you. If a narcissist says you are man spirited, they are describing themselves. It's called in psychological terms, "projection." They think you are doing what they do because they do it.
When Christ died on the cross, He came to heal our wounds, not the physical wound, although He also does that at times. But the wounds He healed were the stain of sin, that no longer has to dominate us when we have trusted Christ, that His blood covers our sinfulness and places in us a new heart that loves Him.
I do not rejoice nor do I grieve over someone who goes into hell, because I fully accept God's will.
My hope is that many will become born again, but once they have made their choice and God has executed His decree, I walk away and leave it to God.
We live in a culture that seems satisfied with merely words, nothing has to change or happen, as long as they say the words. To say the words without any intent to do what is said, is called "lying."
Our elections prove this point, that "the deception will be so great that even the elect will be fooled."
"T" was elected because the American people wanted their borders, lower taxes and the freedom to do as they please without challenge. I heard no push to repent, stopping of sin, turning to Christ or any other concept that had to do with righteousness. The American people remain selfish, entitled, grandiose and willful. They have placed their trust in empty words and an empty man, they have viewed to be their rescuer, refusing to see what he is and the life he has consistently lived. This man they have idolized is already backing up on some of his promises, in my estimation because he never intended to keep them in the first place.
I have seen this up close and personal, sociopaths and narcissists are in the habit of living in a fantasy world, thinking they can say anything, as long as it pleases people it doesn't have to actually be true or it doesn't have to happen, as long as the "words" are spoken. Once again the American people moved upon the hype they were fed without discernment.
I now have a much better idea of just what the deception of the anti-christ will look like, the eyes of many will see only what they want to see, not what is real and not what can be discerned from a little prayer and the clues. The clues were and are there, but many refuse to see them, or explain them away by their excuses.
Was the other candidate worse? Maybe, but I don't think so, both who won the nomination of their parties are of the very same stripe, sociopathic narcissists, one knew how better to work the people, the other was so grandiose in her own mind that she really believed that everyone loved her and would think as she does.
"T" having been more involved in the matter of wheeling and dealing with people understood the need to pretend he wanted what the majority of people wanted, he was very good at it. After all, don't we watch television shows and actually cry over sad scenes because our emotions make us think what we see is really happening? Yes, once again America has been duped, manipulated and lied to.
I voted for the one who "said" the right things, knowing what I was doing, simply because I saw no choice and that perhaps I was wrong, I left room for doubt, but in my Spirit I was deeply troubled by this person who promised so many things, that frankly I didn't even care about.
My concerns have to do with the spiritual bankruptcy of this nation. For me this is all that matters, if this nation has to fall apart in order for the people to see their need for Christ, then I am all for that.
Make no mistake, God ordained whoever is in office, He motivated the people to vote for this man in order for God's purposes to go forward. Sadly, the people who voted for him do not see God's purposes, they are still trusting in having a great nation more than they are in pleasing Christ. I see no repentance on the part of anyone, I see only pride that they got what they wanted.
Many of the people who voted for "T" would become enraged if he proposed a ban on their immoral practices, or spoke boldly against their sinful behavior. I experience rage from believers all the time for correcting them in the mildest terms, imagine if I told them they were acting wickedly and need to repent.
Even the believer in our country say they are "Bible Believing", when in fact they obey very little of the Scriptures. When someone claims to be Bible believing, that should mean that we seek the Scriptures for our wisdom and the way in which we should live. Most people who claim to be believers today know little of the Word or know just enough to dangerously twist it to their own benefit, justifying their sinfulness, while negating Christs principles.
Our only hope as individuals in a nation that has gone bad on every level, is to confess our sinfulness before Christ, ask Him to change us into a new creation to become born again. Saving this nation for our own personal safety and pleasure should not be the goal of a born again believer.
Remember this, the church grows under persecution, under comfort and pleasure it becomes apostate.
