There is a typical tactic of the devil in our world today, "bad will be good and good will be bad." Those that are doing good will be told they are bad people, while the bad people are praised for their evil deeds.
We should not be surprised by this dynamic in the world today. The use of manipulation and intimidation against believers is increasing and intensifying.
When we do a good deed, even so small as cleaning our homes, the narcissist will accuse us of being overly concerned about cleanliness.
When we set a nice table, the narcissist will say they don't like fancy things, even though the kindness was done for them.
When we refuse to indulge in a particular ritual, such as particular holidays, we will be accuse of being "goody two shoes", those who think we are better than others.
I had a friend many years ago whose family decided to throw away the television from their house. They felt it was a distraction from family life and godly principles, so they pitched it. One day the relatives of this family stopped by for a visit. They noticed the television was gone, inquiring why it was gone, they were told we thought it was a distraction and worked against our family values. The relative became angry and accused them of thinking they were better than others.
Fascinating, they were not telling anyone else to get rid of their television, they were merely following the dictates of their own hearts in their own home.
Narcissists hate it when we make decisions differently from them, often because our decisions bring us closer to Christ while their decisions prevent spiritual growth, even promoting sin.
The narcissists attempt to get us both coming and going. No matter what we do, they will judge it as wrong. While accusing us of judging merely by following our own heart, they will judge us as something we are not , but the narcissist is. Often what the narcissist accuses us of, is the very thing we are not doing but they are doing.
The day the Lord made it clear that I don't have to follow the dictates of the culture around me, that I had the freedom to think for myself in terms of the principles of Christ, was the freest day of my life. When God shows us this, we are free indeed, not free to sin, but free to follow Him fully without any false guilt from the wicked and rebellious culture around us.
Deuteronomy 32:5
"They have acted corruptly toward Him, They are not His children, because of their defect; But are a perverse and crooked generation."
Proverbs 30:12
"There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness."
It is this generation that loves to come against the principles of God, so much so that those who choose to do so, will be mocked, demeaned and maligned for their commitment to God.
Luke 9:57-62
"57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.”
58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”
60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”
61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.”
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
As those along our path, mock and sneer at us, never leave the path, keep going, as we leave behind those lost and rebellious people, we will experience the peace of Christ, even if no one else go with us.
We should not be surprised by this dynamic in the world today. The use of manipulation and intimidation against believers is increasing and intensifying.
When we do a good deed, even so small as cleaning our homes, the narcissist will accuse us of being overly concerned about cleanliness.
When we set a nice table, the narcissist will say they don't like fancy things, even though the kindness was done for them.
When we refuse to indulge in a particular ritual, such as particular holidays, we will be accuse of being "goody two shoes", those who think we are better than others.
I had a friend many years ago whose family decided to throw away the television from their house. They felt it was a distraction from family life and godly principles, so they pitched it. One day the relatives of this family stopped by for a visit. They noticed the television was gone, inquiring why it was gone, they were told we thought it was a distraction and worked against our family values. The relative became angry and accused them of thinking they were better than others.
Fascinating, they were not telling anyone else to get rid of their television, they were merely following the dictates of their own hearts in their own home.
Narcissists hate it when we make decisions differently from them, often because our decisions bring us closer to Christ while their decisions prevent spiritual growth, even promoting sin.
The narcissists attempt to get us both coming and going. No matter what we do, they will judge it as wrong. While accusing us of judging merely by following our own heart, they will judge us as something we are not , but the narcissist is. Often what the narcissist accuses us of, is the very thing we are not doing but they are doing.
The day the Lord made it clear that I don't have to follow the dictates of the culture around me, that I had the freedom to think for myself in terms of the principles of Christ, was the freest day of my life. When God shows us this, we are free indeed, not free to sin, but free to follow Him fully without any false guilt from the wicked and rebellious culture around us.
Deuteronomy 32:5
"They have acted corruptly toward Him, They are not His children, because of their defect; But are a perverse and crooked generation."
Proverbs 30:12
"There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness."
It is this generation that loves to come against the principles of God, so much so that those who choose to do so, will be mocked, demeaned and maligned for their commitment to God.
Luke 9:57-62
"57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.”
58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”
60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”
61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.”
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
As those along our path, mock and sneer at us, never leave the path, keep going, as we leave behind those lost and rebellious people, we will experience the peace of Christ, even if no one else go with us.
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