Spiritual Narcissism In The Church

At this point in the lives of those who have been part of Armstrongism over the decades, we have all known narcissists in the church. Sadly, a large percentage of the leadership of the hundreds of splinter groups are spiritual narcissists. They are the best men the church has ever seen leading the best COG's since the apostles walked this earth. God speaks in and through them and all should do well to heed their perfect words. Don't ever think of questioning them...

What is spiritual narcissism? These narcissists are at your church, yoga class and more by Charles Trepany

Narcissists are everywhere − and, yes, that includes church. 

 

If you've been involved in a church, yoga class, meditation group or other religious or spiritual community, odds are you've come across a spiritual narcissist, or a narcissist who uses spirituality and religion as a means to garner attention and validation, also known as narcissistic supply, to control others. 

 

By no means does someone being religious or spiritual mean they're a narcissist. Rather, psychologists say, spiritual narcissists distort religion and spirituality to cater to their own selfish interests, as well as to punish and abuse others.

Even if you have only been part of Armstrongism for a short while, you already know how distorted from reality it all is.

Spiritual narcissists will often take religious teachings out of context in order to gaslight people into doing what they want them to do or to justify their own mistreatment of others. If you speak out or raise questions to a spiritual narcissist, expect a smear campaign, in which the narcissist criticizes your faith, spiritual practice and morals. 

 

Like all narcissists, spiritual narcissists also lack empathy, caring only about themselves. Because of this, being perceived as spiritual and enlightened is often more important to them than actually being spiritual or enlightened. 

 

"They act like they speak for God and, if you don’t do what they want, then you’re against God. Essentially, they put themselves between you and God and claim that if you don’t do whatever they want you to do, then you’re not a 'true believer' or that you’re a bad person," Cole says. "They never practice what they preach." 

 

In extreme scenarios, spiritual narcissists may even start cults or become cult leaders, says Stephanie Sarkis, a psychotherapist and author of "Healing from Toxic Relationships: 10 Essential Steps to Recover from Gaslighting, Narcissism, and Emotional Abuse."

"Anyone that's in a position of power can inflict narcissistic abuse on others, and, particularly when it's a spiritual organization, you have people that might be vulnerable, that may be more of a target for narcissists," Sarkis says. "There's inherent power in leading a group of people." What is spiritual narcissism? These narcissists are at your church, yoga class and more

UCG Is More Unifed Than Ever And Ready To Take On The Catholic Church As The End Times Draws Nigh

 

After UCG's recent turmoil in Italy with another defecting minister, UCG has come out to say that the Italian church is as strong as ever and stands in fear of NO man or the Catholic Church. 

Why do so many Armstrongist churches have to thump their little chests instead of acting like real grace-filled Christians?

As for exposing the "evils of the world" the COG has a long history of running off at the mouth in sermons and sad magazine articles and then doing nothing. They can't even keep their own churches morally or spiritually clean, so why really worry about the world?

Most importantly, the Church there is united and at one with God, poised and ready to do the work God has called us all to do. God has been doing a work in Italy for years, dating all the way back to the time of the apostle Paul. Rome was the seat of the gentile world then, and Paul witnessed strongly of God’s ways. Today, Italy is the seat of the leader of one of the world’s leading religions. As time moves forward, God will lead His true Church in the work to be done in Italy, without fear of man, as we preach the truth and hope of the gospel and expose the evil of this world (Ephesians 5:11). Where He leads, we will follow. He will provide the direction and reveal His will as we move forward.

Crackpot Prophet Weighs In On Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse

 

Why is it that whenever a significant news story hits the airwaves self-appointed lying Church of God prophets have to open their fly traps and run off at the mouth about it? Not only do they have absolutely no qualifications in discussing these incidents, but their looney prophecy schtick makes them look even dumber.

Enter the scene with our Great Bwana Bob Mzungu Thiel, God's greatest prophet to ever walk the green hills of this earth. Being so amazingly important he was even part of the conversation by the Holy Trinity as they were forming the foundations of the world. After much debate, they settled on the Great Bwana Bob to arise in the perilous end times as the true savior of the church to reconcile it to the Father so they could all go to Petra together and learn to be future gods and goddesses, coequal with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The loss of the godly message would be so severe in the end times that there could only one person who could restore the truth once delivered, the Great Bwana Bob Mzungu. With his keen insight into Mayan culture, tornadoes, and mold, he would be God's mouthpiece in the end times.

By believing he is soooooooooo important, he now feels he has to weigh in on everything that happens in the news, which brings us to today.

Bad and deadly events happen and people are often surprised by them. 

 

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge would seem to be in that category.

Now, because people died unexpectedly, does that mean that those most affected by the fires were necessarily worse sinners than those less affected? 

 

The biblical answer is no. 

 

Notice the words of Jesus:

45…He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45)

4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:4-5)

But Jesus did prophesy wars, earthquakes, famines, and troubles:

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8).

We continue to see troubles in many parts of the world. 

 

Most people do not think that catastrophic events can happen to them. 

 

But all need to be spiritually prepared. 

 

Jesus taught paying attentions to world events and prophecy is important:

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

Notice Jesus said to watch and pray ALWAYS. He was referring to prophetic matters, particularly those with deadly effects. 

Apparently, these people who died on the bridge and those shocked by the event were not praying enough nor paying attention to world events in prophecy - as interpreted by the Great Bwana Bob Thiel.  

Jesus realized that if people did not pay attention to prophecy and pray always, they would not properly take the steps to “be counted worthy to escape all these things.” Yes, God uses prophecy as a motivator for people. Remember that God used Jonah to warn Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-4) and they repented (Jonah 3:5-9), and they did not get the punishment they were going to get then (Jonah 3:10). 

 

Jesus specifically told the Laodiceans, in a prophecy, that they needed to repent (Revelation 3:19) or face consequences (Revelation 3:14-19, and that they would be rewarded for doing so (Revelation 3:20). The Laodiceans are Church of God Christians “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17). 

 

Do not be like those of Siloam or those on the Francis Scott Key Bridge who did not know and then perished.

Why does the Great Bwana Bob Mzungu always have to come off as a pile of condescending shit?