Often the guiltiest of people will accuse others of the very thing they are doing and the others are not.
The religious Pharisees accused Christ of doing miracles by the power of the devil when the Pharisees were controlled by devils themselves.
When we see this happening in our world today we know that it is not unique to this time in history. It has been happening since the Garden of Eden when the snake called God a liar and deceiver, and when Christ encountered the "religious leaders" of His day.
The devil attempted to influence Eve, succeeding in convincing her, that God was not telling her the whole truth, withholding something from her to have power over her. Notice an interesting things here, Eve did not go to Adam or God to ask if this were true, she chose to believe the devil because of the rebellion in her own heart. She was hearing what she wanted to hear, her itching ears were burning as she became excited about her new found freedom to disregard God. Often modern Christians choose to believe the teachings that elevates them and approves of their sin.
The devil is doing this with adult children today and even extended family members of all ages. He is causing division and hatred by lying to people in their minds as they ponder things they think are their own thoughts based on logic, but in fact are thoughts the devil is implanting in their minds. The irrational thing is made to seem rational.
If it were not the devil influencing people, the affected people would be asking those for which they have contempt, to show them their own version of the facts, and even going to God to learn the truth, to dispel any sense of hatred they are feeling for others. Hatred is food for the narcissist, they enjoy hating others and enjoy even more causing others to hate as they react to the injustice and unkindness.
Those who love their contempt, nurture it by concocting evil where there is none, are being controlled by devils. I have seen this personally, the utter irrationality of those who would refuse to discuss matters to come to an understanding, they merely lean into the lies, even acting on them as though they are judge and jury over the one they hate.
Yes, contempt and concocted lies are hatred with intent to harm the object of the contempt. The harm comes in the form of gossip, judging without bothering to discuss matters and treating with unkindness to cause hurt feelings.
Narcissists want to cause hurt feelings, it makes them feel powerful as they look down their nose at those they perceive to be weak. What they do not understand is that it is the narcissist who is weak, they prey on the agony of others in order to feel whole or superior. Without the sense of superiority the narcissist withers.
2 Timothy 3 describes in detail the mentality of these types to warn us what we are up against and what our response to it should be.
Avoiding these people is paramount to a healthy spiritual life. The devil lurks in their hearts, if not by possession likely by control of their minds.
1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him (Christ), because He cares for you. 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.…"
In our day, these last days before Christ comes, we will encounter much persecution on every level in every community. It is a help and a blessing to know what we are encountering and what to do about it.
In verse 5 of 2 Timothy 3, we are told to remove ourselves from such people, however, if we do encounter them, without the possibility of escape, we are to obey Luke 6:27.
Luke 6:27 "27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "
When we know what we are dealing with and how to handle it, we can be free from guilt that we did not return evil for evil. The narcissist is never guilt free, but we can be if we obey Christ.
If we obey Christ we remain guilt free and there is a peace that passes any human understanding. Hallelujah!
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