Safe Abortion Day was on September 28. There is never a such thing as a safe abortion. Somebody always dies or is severely injured when an abortion is successful. Usually, the baby dies. Yet, when it survives, it is not uncommon that the baby is born alive yet sustained injury during the abortion, born alive and left to die (some cry for help until they die), or their organs are harvested once they are born alive, read Micaiah Bilger’s article on LifeNews.com, David Daleiden on Selling Aborted Baby Parts: They “Cut Open the Face to Harvest the Brain.” Also, often the mother dies or is irreversibly injured during abortion. Her risk for cancer is also increased. Please visit Advice & Aid Pregnancy Centers to learn more about the effects of abortion. Advice & Aid Pregnancy Centers state that abortion can abortions cause:
Impacts the health of future children
Causes infertility
Excessive bleeding
Abdominal pain and cramping after the procedure
Infection of the uterus or blood
Damage to the cervix
Scarring of the uterus
Ectopic pregnancies
Unnecessary Abortion
Rh sensitization
Depression and other mental and emotional disorders.
Jeremiah 1:5
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Matthew 18:1-11
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Don’t Let Ungrateful People Be Your Stumbling block
Periodically, the enemy and his minions spiritually attack me by reminding me of past hurts. When reflecting on my relationships, the enemy brought to mind an acquaintance that I referred to in a previous article, Do Not Be Provoked to Jealousy. This acquaintance was a narcissistic, elitist braggart when I knew them. I pray that she isn’t anymore. Once, I gave her two sets of clothes. The first set was new clothes with the tags still on them. The clothes didn’t flatter my figure and I thought that they would look good on her. She was happy about those. Then, I decided to give her my other clothes that I thought would look better on her than looked on me. She told me off and said they were ugly and I just wanted to put them off on her. She never gave me anything new and the very few clothes that she gave me were all ugly. However, I didn’t complain. I appreciated that she thought enough of me to give me a few things that she thought that I could use. I told her thank you. In retrospect, she may have been doing the very thing of which she accused me – giving me her ugly clothes that she didn’t want anymore. Now, I could have let her be a stumbling block to me by letting my heart be hardened to not help anyone else nor have a relationship with her. However, GOD brought to my mind that there were many others who be could be helped through me, therefore I shouldn’t harden my heart and cause others to miss out on a blessing. GOD also let me see that it is important to help those who need help, regardless of our personal feelings towards them. Let GOD avenge you. Romans 12:19 says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” In Matthew 5:42-48, Jesus says:
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
The film Fatal Flaws, created by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and DunnMedia, expose the realities of assisted suicide and the deceptions that patients and families face when patients rights are violated. Such unethical practices that occur are:
Unrequested Euthanasia
Eugenics and Discrimination
Billing Fraud
Disregard for the right to die naturally
Low accountability for the doctor’s decision-making
Low regard for and manipulation of patient’s mentalhealth and emotional state
Unrequested Euthanasia
When doctors have the power to euthanize a patient without consent, it is a violation of the patient’s right to life which involves a denial of the pursuit of life-saving treatments and long-term care
Eugenics and Discrimination
The personal beliefs and prejudices of the doctor may influence their decision to euthanize a patient. A doctor who believes in Eugenics because they believe that those who can’t take care of themselves are a burden on society may feel that is better if that patient were euthanized.
Discrimination may also lead a doctor to target specific individuals or people groups for euthanasia. Virginia governor Ralph Northam’s racism against Blacks, which was reported not long after he supported abortion bill that would allow that legalization of the killing of a baby after its birth, which is infanticide. Considering Black people have highest abortion rates in the country, his support of abortion, particularly late-term and partial birth abortion is sinister at worst and strangely coincidental at best.
Billing Fraud
Unethical billing practices of privatized hospice care facilities have led to the unrequested assisted deaths and euthanization of patients who had longer expectant life spans, those
who were suffering from dep8ression and those who were not ill enough for hospice.
Disregard for the right to die naturally
The right to a natural death may be
circumvented by personal views of a medical practitioner who believes in euthanasia. Those who hold the view that resources and time are wasted on those who want naturally live out their lives until the end may be not respect the wishes of a patient who wants to die naturally.
Low accountability for the doctor’s decision-making
Regulations of assisted sucide and euthanasia are more focused on protecting doctors from liability than patients from unrequested assisted sucide and euthanasia. In some countries, the doctor can legally usurp the authority of the patient and the family of the patients.
Low regard for and manipulation of patient’s mentalhealth and emotional state
These are vulnerable people who may not otherwise consider assisted suicide. Those who are experiencing financial difficulties may particularly feel like they are being a burden on others or that there is no hope for them due to medical costs.
According to GOD’s Word we are supposed to do good. It is wicked to not help when one has the ability to do so. Galatians 6:2 says, “2 Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
The Pharisees, Saducees, Scribes and Lawyers were all very legalistic and bureaucratic in their application of their man-made traditions and GOD’s law. In fact, they exalted their traditions over GOD’s law even if it meant refusing to do good when required and helping someone in need. Jesus gives us examples of doing good in Luke 10:25-37, Mark 2:1-5 and Mark 3:1-5:
Luke 10:25-37
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Mark 2:1-5
1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
Mark 3:1-5
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
In our interaction with other people, we must be wise. As believers in GOD, we must determine if we want to be right or righteous. The need to be right may lead us to be obnoxious, inconsiderate, tactless, and egostical. We won’t consider the consequences of that which we are saying and its impact upon those to whom we speaking nor we will care about the way in which we say these things to them because our desire to be right gives us a feeling superiority that we feel supercedes showing compassion. Feeling that we have right on our side may cause us to be prideful and arrogant when speaking in earnest to others.
Righteousness requires wisdom, tact, compassion, discernment, understanding, and discretion. You must be considerate of the other person’s feelings. Most of all, righteousness is not driven by the need to be right to satisfy one’s own ego. Our need to be right may break many spirits. Our need to be right may lead us to interfere in a direction in which GOD wants someone to walk.
Being righteous means to think before we speak. First, we need to discern the person’s spiritual, emotional, and mental health before to determine if, how, and when we should tell a person something that we think is right and would be helpful to their lives. We also need to discern our own motives for wanting tell that person that which is right. Are you trying to use telling that which is right to belittle them, make them submit to your own will or otherwise manipulate them for your own personal gain? Are you really trying to be helpful or are you just sewing discord?
Proverbs 15:1,23
1 A soft answer turneth awlay wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Proverbs 16:20-21,24, 27-28, 28-29
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass
Proverbs 18:21
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 17:27-28
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Hip-Hop and Satanism: Can Selling your Soul to the devil Really Be Done or Is It satan’s Con Job?
Hip-Hop is a subculture that has normalized and justified the worst behaviors of humanity, especially in a civilized society. Overall, it is the antithesis of the way that GOD teaches us is right. Hip-Hop promotes a lifestyle of
Murder
Genocide
Lying
Stealing
Drug dealing (A form of sorcery)
Drug use
Promiscuity
Irresponsibility
Immaturity
Self-righteousness
Pride
Greed
Perversion
Basic disrespect for others
Disrespect for the sanctity of life
Disrespect for the sanctity of marriage
Hatred of parenthood
Narcissism
Unforgiveness
Unbelief
Wrath
Envy
Covetousness
Jealousy
Emulations
Unoriginality
Misogyny
Vanity
GOD teaches us
Ephesians 4:17 – 32
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
In hip-hop, there has been a lot of satanism featured in music, music videos and gang culture. There lots of hip-hop entertainers who feature it in their work such as Rick Ross, Notorious B.I.G., Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Lil’ Uzi Vert, Eazy-E, Bone Thugs N Harmony, etc. To learn more, checkout Pastor G. Craige Lewis’ Truth Behind Hip-Hop series and his EX Ministries.
Hip-Hop entertainers present satanism as of it’s cool or makes them hard. Many of them boast of signing contracts of selling their souls to the devil. In reality, it makes them look like fools as they wantonly race toward hell by accepting and promoting a satanic lifestyle and encouraging others to do the same. Those very actions make them the children of disobedience who are of their father the devil. There is no need to sign a contract.
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Ephesians 2:2-3
2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Whether you follow satan or not, your soul does not belong to you. Your soul belongs to GOD. It is not yours to sell.
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Only GOD has the power to give you eternal life or destroy your soul. Satan is not sitting in hell ruling like king. However, for now, he is the ruler of the world system. He is going to and fro and up and down in the Earth.
Job 1:7
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 2:2
And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
He is only the ruler of the world systems until Jesus Christ comes back and tosses him into the lake of fire.
John 12:31
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
These Hip-Hop entertainers are using their influence in an attempt to sacrifice their own souls and yours for their own personal gain which includes riches and fame and a one way ticket to hell. You get nothing out of it except a one way ticket to hell.
Satan’s world system is not permanent. It is also at the root of most problems and is designed to separate us from GOD. Therefore we are not to love his world nor the things in it.
1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 Corinthians 2:6
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
John 12:25-26
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Learn of the LORD. His ways are Holy, Righteous, and Truth. He is Truth. satan can only lead you to deception, destruction, and death.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
2 Timothy 2:26
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Hip-Hop and Satanism: Can Selling your Soul to the devil Really Be Done or Is It satan’s Con Job?
It is an occult principle which states that one can manifest anything that they want by intensely meditating on it. People use various methods to create and maintain the level of focus needed to generate the right amount and type energy to achieve their goal, such as by creating vision boards or listening to binaural beats. The only one in the world that is constant is GOD. HE is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. HE is the same yesterday, today, and forever. HE is not a man that HE should lie. HE created us is the only one that we can trust with our lives and our fate, thus HE knows what is best for us. HE requires us to:
Ask for that which is best for us according to HIS WILL and not our lusts.
We must pray without ceasing.
Lean not unto our own understanding. Trust HIM
Be patient and wait on HIM.
Idolatry and Unbelief
Although GOD says that HE’LL give us what we ask if we pray in faith, following in the scriptures:
Mark 11:24 – Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].
Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
John 15:7 – If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Matthew 21:22 – And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
John 14:13-14
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it].
Psalms 37:4 – Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
We are still to pray according to HIS WILL, states James 4:5:
James 4:3 – Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.
When we want something or want something to happen more than we are willing to follow GOD’s counsel, we have gone into the sin of Idolatry. It is idolatry because we have put our desire ahead of our obedience to GOD.
HE knows what is best for us. We are supposed to trust in HIM and not lean unto our own understanding based on our limited view of the situation and our speculations. Proverbs 3:5-8, says: Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Everything thing that we want may not be best for us. GOD knows this before we develop a desire for anything. HE warns us against letting our will to have what we want override whether or not it is most beneficial for us to have it and if it is HIS WILL. We know don’t know all of the dynamics that affect why it would be good or bad for us to have something or do a certain thing, however GOD does. I know this to be true because there are times in my life when I have done things without or gotten things without praying to GOD for his counsel to make wise decisions about the matter. Unless GOD showed me mercy, usually, the decisions that I made without HIS counsel were some of the caused me regret. Those that I made against HIS counsel, were turned into more foolishness and threw my life off course.
Many of us become impatient and start to doubt and worry when the things that we want take longer than expected to happen. This is the sin of Unbelief.Philippians 4:6,states:
Philippians 4:6
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
In this context, careful means not to worry nor take matters into your own hands. Yet, the essence of The Law of Attraction is to use one’s own energy, not GOD’s power and will, to manifest that which one wants. In doing so, we become our own god who competes with the TRUE AND LIVING GOD – THE GOD OF ALL gods.
We are to trust GOD and put our total and complete faith in HIM. 2 Corinthians 5:7 states:
2 Corinthians 5:7 – (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
To receive that which is best for us which is in accordance with GOD’s WILL, We need to pray about the matter non-stop. 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 says
1 Thessalonians 5:15-18
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any [man]; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all [men].
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
To justify the use of the Law of Attraction to work outside of GOD’s will, verses like Matthew 17:20 are taken out of context, which says:
17 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
However, we must be careful because to have faith in GOD’s will, again James 4:3 says:
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.
Further, 1 Thessalonians 5:15 says:
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any [man]; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all [men].
Again, we must do that which is in accordance with GOD’s WILL. Otherwise, using The Law of Attraction when leaning unto our own understanding, we may cause trouble in the lives who truly don’t deserve it because we don’t know everything. We are not omniscient, omnipotent,nor omnipresent to know everything nor every dynamic of every situation to give just counsel or righteous judgment. For example, a person may be addicted to committing a sexual sin. Upon first assessment, others may lean unto their own understanding and label the person a wanton whore – plain and simple. However, GOD truly knows the person’s heart and anything that may have happened that caused the person to behave like that. Therefore, GOD’s judgment will always be righteous. GOD will not make an unjustified decision based upon HIS emotions.
Another example would be to use the Law of Attraction break up an intimate relationship make one of those involved in the relationship want to be with you. That person is someone that GOD either hadn’t chosen for you and is not the right the person for you or GOD knows that it is not the right time for you and that person to be together. If you use the Law of Attraction to make that relationship happen, it will fail because it is not in GOD’s will. Your life will be thrown off course and you will miss GOD’s true blessings and opportunities for you.
In addition to seeking GOD’s counsel, we have to be patient and wait on the LORD. HIS timing is always right, which Psalms and Proverbs states:
Psalms 25:3
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
Psalms 25:21
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
Psalms 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalms 37:34
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Psalms 69:6
Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
Proverbs 20:22
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Prayer to GOD changes things for the better. The law of attraction creates short-sighted chaos.
Narcisstic Abuse, Recovery and R. Kelly with Dr. Dave Orrison
Source: Bride Ministries International
I watched Bride Ministries discussion on Narcissism. Dan Duval and Dr. David Orrison discussed the Narcissism, the attributes of a narcissist, and the spiritual impact of narcissism on the lives of the narcissist and those that they hurt. Narcissism is a destructive force that causes trauma in the lives of those impacted by it and the self-destruction of the narcissist. Often, it breeds narcissism and other narcissists. I would even go so far as to say that the enablers of the narcissist are narcissistic submissives. I say this because they want to be associated with the greatness of the narcissist and benefit from that persons narcissism. They want the crumbs of all that is seemingly good that the narcissism brings. Indeed, some of them seem want to share the perceived spotlight of the narcissist by their association with them.
Dr. Orrison pointed out that narcissists don’t recognize the personhood of others. Recognizing the personhood others to be more than just supporting actors and props in a play about them, to them, diminishes their own value by giving individual unique importance and significance to others. I’m glad that Duval and Orrison had this discussion because as I listened to Dan Duval and David Orrison, GOD brought it to my attention that expecting and showing Respect of Persons, in a biblical sense, is a form of narcissism. I had written an article in which I discussed the biblical, Respect of Persons is utter disrespect last year. In the article, I described Respect of Persons and those who use it to manipulate others as well as get their way at nearly all costs.
Roots of Narcissism: Pride and Hurt
Pride and Hurt can manifest in many forms. Narcissism is a form in which those feelings of pride and hurt can manifest. According to Orrison, the self-image of that person becomes an idol to be perfected and protected or is already viewed as perfect. The narcissist wants to elevate and protect that image of themselves, even if its at the expense of others, he went on further to say. Personally, I have also observed that there may be a dissociation with reality occuring that allows them not to see the realities of life and the impact of their actions on it and others, though this not to absolve them of any responsibility for their actions.
Dan Duval and David Orrison: A Discussion on Narcissism
Duval and Orrison discuss:
Situational Narcissism
Narcissism in the workplace
Narcissism in the family
Narcissism in the church
I began to think about the numerous times in which I have encountered narcissism. In each scenario, I have observed that it is highly destructive to the others, the environment in which the narcissist is impacting and the narcissist themselves.
Situational Narcissism
Situational Narcissist typically have to be the center of attention and control minor situations to their advantage. They try to share in the spotlight of other or shut it off completely.
Narcissism in the workplace
Narcissism in the workplace creates a toxic organizational culture that creates an imbalance of power, exceptionalism, unbalanced workload, interpersonal conflict, destruction of healthy structures that comprise framework of the organization, nepotism, cronyism, unethical practices in decision-making, unjust rewarding systems, etc. Companies have been destroyed from within because of their toxic organizational culture. Toxic organizational has caused low employee morale that results in a plethora or problems such physical and mental health problems, the destruction of employee loyalty to the organization, low and poor productivity, cohesiveness that creates an environment for teamwork.
Narcissism in the family
Narcissism in the family can make a family a unit of enemies. Family members are supportive of one another. In a family where narcissism exists, healthy support of one another is replaced with competition, covetousness, envy, greedy, and self-entitlement. Substance is replaced with pomp and superficiality. When parents are narcissist, they have a tendency to raise narcissists or damage those who either won’t let themselves be shaped into a narcissist or who has been rejected by the narcissistic parent. Families affected by narcissism fight one another gladiator style for ultimate supremacy, hurting one another in immeasurable ways until they fall apart. Fortunately, members of the family who reject the influence of narcissism, can hold and rebuild their relationships.
Narcissism in the church
Narcissism in the church can be most damaging to those who need to be there most. Narcissism is truly the antithesis of GOD’s love. GOD is selfless. HE loves us so much that HE gives us free will. A narcissist is selfish and tries to control everyone else. In my opinion, when narcissism enters the church, the self-idolatry of narcissists makes themselves the first priority of the church and a mediator between its members and GOD’s word. This is the attitude that the scribes, pharisees, and sadducees. When Jesus came profess his rightful position of authority over them and held them accountable for their, even pointing out their hypocrisy by telling how they are like whited sepulchres with all filth and decay on the inside, they couldn’t handle it. Jesus stated in Matthew 23:1-36:
Matthew 23:1-36
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
They had elevated themselves and wanted no one to see their imperfection nor threaten their authority which they had imposed upon the people by way of tradition. These were traditions that they didn’t follow yet held others accountable because they were trying to control them rather point them to GOD’s righteous way. They wanted the worship for themselves, much like many entertainers in Hollywood today. When Jesus pointed people to GOD THE FATHER, Himself, and God The Holy Ghost; the scribes, pharisees, and sadducees wanted to silence Him.
The Ultimate Consequence of Narcissism
Narcissism is a poison that makes having a genuine relationship with GOD extremely difficult. It will always cause us to not walk with GOD. Most of all, It causes a person to forfeit their trust in GOD and appreciation of GOD. There is no one who can be trusted more than GOD no matter what situation we are in – good or bad. GOD is the GOD of all gods and there is none like unto HIM. The CREATOR of the universe. He knew us before he formed us in the womb and he knows what is best for us.
Reference
Duval,D.[Bride Ministries International]. (2019, Mar 21). Narcisstic Abuse, Recovery and R. Kelly with Dr. Dave Orrison. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/7B52FfGBZTQ
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