Category: Humlity

1/19/2021

Church Narcissism?

Narcissist - a person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.

PSYCHOLOGY
selfishness, involving a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration, as characterizing a personality type.
PSYCHOANALYSIS
self-centeredness arising from failure to distinguish the self from external objects, either in very young babies or as a feature of mental disorder.

Today, a narcissist is a term thrown about to describe politicians, Hollywood celebrities, and pro athletes who appear to live a self-adoration existence believing they MUST share their 'enlightenments' to us 'common folk'. How else could we carry on?

Unfortunately, I believe narcissism is alive and well (actually a sickness) in the Church where 'celebrity' preachers' tweak God's Word for the itching ears of the masses seeking entertainment not God. These preachers are more concerned with offending society than God. note: never tweak God's Word, and never come to church for entertainment. Luke 18:10-14

Narcissism in the church exists when...

putting our self interests ahead of God's teaching.
we prop ourselves up be noticed for our talents, our service, sharing nuggets of wisdom, or displaying a general aura of Godliness.

Also, a subtle church narcissism can be fueled by insecurities. We skew our thoughts often fueled by anxious busy minds, and/or hurt feelings to where we lose sight of God. These self preservation fears will drive us inward, and away from God's will as much as any of the above ego-motivated narcissism. Sadly none of us are exempt from the pull of 'Christian Narcissism'.

note: Of course Christian Narcissism is a oxymoron of Biblical proportions. The behavior of Narcissism is anything but Christian, but makes for a catchy title.

Recently my wife and I started a small group Bible study with friends from our church. We are reading The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer .. and in this short book Tozer prescribes the cure for Narcissism.

Know God pursues us, and we should pursue God Matthew 18:11-13
Read & Study God's Word (His Truth) Psalm 119:11-18
being quiet and prayerful before God, Psalm 46:10 , Matthew 6:5-6
Repent of our sins, and receive His Amazing Grace. 1 John 1:9
From here we can truly love God, and others as ourselves... Matthew 22:36-40

* free of narcissism *

This is my prayer for God's Church. To pursue His Truth, and to serve in the church and in the world in ways that make us the Body of Christ. We (the Church) are one body with many parts (denominations, giftedness, talents) and designed for the Glory of God.

Blessings

Jeff (one body, many aches) Larson

1 Comment

8/24/2020

2 Comments

The Great FLAME MAIL of 2011

Today, I am remembering the great FLAME MAIL of 2011.

let me begin by saying I do not expect everyone to agree with me and in fact I would not advise everyone to agree with me all the time, BUT.. bottom-line I believe God loves everyone, but requires a repentant heart seeking Him.... as outlined in John 3:16.

So with all this out there, I want to post the last words from my disgruntled reader from 2011. I am not doing this to mock him but I think it is interesting how upset this man was. I do feel sorry that he was this upset with me, BUT.. what's a cartoonist to do? <pause>.. DRAW!

I tried words, the replied to his email with images and comments from the Back Pew. Forgive me if you think this is taunting or mocking.. I do not intend this, but I do want to put this to rest.. as my frustration has subsided,

As any reader of the Back Pew realizes, I am not a theologian, I am not a pastor, but instead I am just a guy who 'draws' (cartoon) unto to the Lord so he will draw near to me.

note: Twitter & Facebook have now become the home of spiritual flame-throwing. These are places where disagreements escalate into cries of FALSE TEACHER or HERETIC. Maybe many of these tweets are true, but I am not sure Social Media is the best forum for deciding who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell.

now without delay.. here is the flaming email from 2011.

-- BEGINNING from the computer of the frowning flamer-- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST
I continued to write because you are wrong, you are a double-minded man.
I continued to write because you cannot defend what you believe. Goodness, you couldn't even answer a few simple verses!
I continued to write because I am duty bound as a Christian to do so.
You have no idea who Calvin or Luther or Knox or Kennedy or Sproul are.
You know you're ignorant. You know you know nothing about theology. You have no training at all, and what you do have, is so off base on even an Arminain or Reformed perspective (you espouse a Universalist theology-- and you are bound for Hell if you persist!) . Yet you will persist.
What a two-faced hypocrite. And a scared one at that, writing all those verses and then telling me I couldn't respond. What a joke you are.
What kind of man are you, where you can't even defend what you think in any kind of coherent manner?
Don't bother writing back. I've unsubbed from your nonsense blurbs, and have blocked your e-mail.
You will be in Hell if you continue in your Universalist beliefs (again, look that term up, as you don't even know what it is).
-- END from the computer of the frowning flamer-- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST

Ouch.. I am a bit slow some times, but .. I don't think this guy likes me. So let me post the same comments with a few Back Pew images inserted as I see fitting. I think in Proverbs it says .. 'If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.. or if you are a cartoonist, draw cartoons'.

-- BEGINNING same FLAME w/ BP Rebuttals -- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST
- I continued to write because you are wrong, you'er a double-minded man.
- I continued to write because you cannot defend what you believe. Goodness, you coulnd't even answer a few simple verses!
I can't argue this.. I know I struggle with migraines, and I bruise like a peach.

- I continued to write because I am duty bound as a Christian to do so.
thanks.. I guess.. but please put down those stones!
- You have no idea who Calvin or Luther or Knox or Kennedy or Sproul are.
and I know Kennedy was the Catholic president. (well at least I got three right.. didn't I?)
No? Really?
- You know you're ignorant.
(note: if i am ignorant, i probably don't know it.. since isn't that the problem with being ignorant?.. you just don't know)
- You know you know nothing about theology. You have no training at all, and what you do have, is so off base on even an Arminain or Reformed perspective (you espouse a Universalist theology-- and you are bound for Hell if you persist!) . Yet you will persist.

Sorry, not a universalist.. I believe in Heaven, and Hell. John 3:16 gives us the great news God loves us.. BUT.. the ball is in our court. We must believe, and we must honor God with our lives... in words and deeds. Very serious stuff.. but very very good.
- What a two-faced hypocrite. And a scared one at that, writing all those verses and then telling me I couldn't respond.
- What a joke you are.
ahhh so you have been reading my emails. I am like everyone.. I need Jesus daily... and I like jokes. <pause> is that what you meant by me being a joke? Maybe not... again.. the above noted ignorance is bliss

- What kind of man are you, where you can't even defend what you think in any kind of coherent manner?
but i did pass the pop quiz at our church last Sunday .. so I pay attention sometimes.
- Don't bother writing back. I've unsubbed from your nonsense blurbs, and have blocked your e-mail.
You will be in Hell if you continue in your Universalist beliefs (again, look that term up, as you don't even know what it is).
Well.. On your way out, don't let the door hit ya, where the good Lord split ya.
-- END same FLAME w/ BP Rebuttals -- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST

So again, a cartoon rebuttal is what I do. Most of it is tongue-in-cheek.. I pray today we are kind to each other. That our words are well chosen, and have meaning. As Christians there is a spiritual urgency that is different from our Secular world causing great angst and division.. BUT ALSO.. within the church there is also great angst and division. It is ok (very OK ) to disagree with each other, but I pray we are respectful and kind, and understanding.

May God bless each of you in your pursuit of His truth. Love God with all your heart, and be kind to each other.

Jeff (a bit singed) Larson

Final note: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 ESV.
While I was flamed in the above email, I am reminded and convicted to do better myself. I can be direct, terse, and think skinned at times in my words. I pray for forgiveness and desire to do better.

2 Comments

7/16/2020

1 Comment

Too Too Much

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:5-7

I live in America where moderation is not the modus operandi. We like big, more, and we supersize whenever possible. Too much for us often is not enough.

While I am not saying having nice home, car, etc are bad things at all, but modesty and moderation does not come easy to Americans. IMO

But what if we temper our lives with those 3 verses in Philippians. What if we were known for our moderation, prayerful, and thankful to our God? Then the peace of God that does pass all understanding is there for each of us no matter if we are living check to check or encumbered with the trappings of wealth.

Let me leave you with a couple more scriptures of perspective in a world and even some in the church where moderation does NOT come easy.

Be poor in Spirit (humble) Matthew. 5:3 , faithful to our God and caring of others in the moments that make up your day. Then this whole moderation concept should take care of itself.
Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God Micah 6:8

May God will bless, lead, and use us all for His glory (not ours) in ways that are beyond your dreams. I pray we keep in mind Phil 4:5-7, Mt 5:3, and Mi 6:8 as a guide for our lives.

Jeff (slightly supersized) Larson

1 Comment

Church Narcissism?

The Great FLAME MAIL of 2011

Too Too Much

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