The Seared Conscience of the Sociopath Part 1

1 Timothy 4

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Evil:

1. Anything which impairs the happiness of a being or deprives a being of any good; anything which causes suffering of any kind to sentient beings; injury;

mischief; harm; -- opposed to {good}. Evils which our own misdeeds have wrought. --Milton.

Those who have turned from God and have chosen to serve themselves are those who have had their conscience seared. These people are haughty, high minded and self-centered.

Some may characterize these people as narcissists or sociopaths.

In dealing with the sociopath, many dread to go near them with good reason. One thing is certain, prayer is an absolute must before being in the presence of such people.

What are a few characteristics of the sociopath?

I list these characteristics because they are the primary ones I have personally noted when dealing with the sociopath.

1. One who shows no regard for the feelings or needs of others.

3. Has a grandiose or elitist attitude

3. Displays a horrific sense of entitlement

4. Consumed with both jealousy and envy

5. Shows no empathy nor regard for their fellow human beings.

These people are concerned only with what they can gain out of each and every situation. America is said to be currently bombarded with a "ME" generation. Have you heard the expression, "What's in it for me"? Chances are you've met up with a sociopath who has little or no conscience. Every thing's about them. Constantly being ordered around by someone who won't lift one finger to ever help you, yet they can spew out orders with the greatest of ease? Chances are you have one of these selfish and hurtful people in your life.

These people must be the center of attention at all times. Do not ignore them or you will feel their wrath.

These people secretly feel (although they would never admit to it) as if they're superior to God.

I sometimes wonder if these people don't actually feel that they could rule both heaven and earth better than God himself! Their behavior certainly seems to conclude these assumptions. Sounds like Satan himself doesn't it? He wanted to rule above and to be worshipped by Jesus himself! Now if you have never met a person like this, there is no way for you to understand what it's like in having to deal with them.

These are a lazy bunch
Except when there are reasons not to be lazy and an activity of some sort would benefit them. They prefer not to do menial tasks such as working at a job or even taking out the trash. Chores such as these are beneath them and are seen as unworthy tasks, not suitable for someone of such high stature as themselves.

These people will scheme and con their way through life looking for people who will serve them and their purposes well. It seems at times that they never stop dreaming up ways to get more out of life, but for all their day dreaming, they enlist others to fight their fights for them. They prefer to watch from afar and remain inconspicuous when able, unless there is reason for them to actively participate in the evil they've helped to create.

These people are charmers and flatterers when necessary to further their cause. They know what others want to hear and will heap great praises upon whomever they're trying to con.

They prefer choice seats at restaurants, to them only center stage is satisfactory, never a back seat. Even innocent children can be manipulated, conned and used by them. They are needy, but never thankful or appreciative for anything. You can do for them over and over again and try to please them, but their lifestyle is of the highest maintenance and rest assured, you can never MAKE them HAPPY.

These hard to please people are like spoiled brats. Case is point? Confront them on some issue and let them know that they're wrong. You won't believe the fight you'll be in for and the misery they will attempt to heap upon you. Why would they react this way? So that you won't make the serious error of correcting them again. You will have to seriously weigh whether or not you should attempt to correct them on any issue in the future, no matter how large or small! Such twisted reality craves unending devotion to them -- unquestioning devotion.

Saying No

NO is not in these people's vocabulary. If you tell them no, even for the best of reasons, they will scorn you and resent you.

Try saying no and denying the selfish, self-centered sociopath and see what you get. Most likely they will use GUILT and TEARS to get their way next time. You will be feeling so guilty that you will think twice before using that two lettered word with them again.

Sociopath's never allow you to question them. However, it's totally acceptable for them to question you. What's good for the goose is never good for the gander from their distorted viewpoint. Sulking and tears are only two weapons in their arsenal among a long list of other such manipulative toys.

If you refuse to go along with their twisted and ungodly ventures, prepare to have a bulls-eye permanently tacked to your back because these people will stop at nothing to make you suffer for not bowing down to them. You see, to them you have committed the unpardonable sin. That of willful disobedience toward them, and they won't soon forget it! These people's egos are so large they would fill a Mack truck! But they themselves are small indeed. The longer you know one of them and truly start to understand them, the smaller they seem. Consider the following bible verse in which God describes Satan and compare his description with that of the sociopath. Those people you know who lack conscience :

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

This verse has always reminded me of those who are selfish and self serving and who care nothing about others. This describes the sociopath or the narcissist well.

Pathological Liars

We all have been lied to. It's pretty much a common occurrence for all of us in life, yet God says that all liars will have their place in hell. With the sociopath, truth is a rarity, whereas lies are the norm. There sometimes seems to be no rhyme or reason for the abundance of lies that spew forth from their lips.

They will lie to you about what you just heard. What you know as a fact, they will label fiction. Even with things that you alone have firsthand knowledge of.

We are told in the BIBLE that one of the things that God hates, one that is an abomination to him, is feet that are swift in running towards mischief. The person I've described to you remains in a state of malicious mischief. They scorn to stay out of trouble and to stop their gossiping and backbiting. They see nothing wrong with their actions. We are to live our lives and carry on with our work in such a way that we keep our heads down, avoid gossip and even the appearance of evil, yet if you tell these people how God desires us to live, it would seem as though you were speaking a foreign language to them. It appears it is not in them to understand godly morals.

The Substitutes

Rather than learning to be content in any situation we find ourselves in as the apostle Paul describes below, we attempt to apply a quick "fix" to escape the unpleasantness that we experience in our lives.

Philippians 4: 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

More often than not, our "fix" tends to push us toward more unpleasantness and emptiness. Have you ever noticed that drug addicts never feel at peace and contented unless they are high or using?

What have they done? They have substituted the drug for the true contentment that God alone offers them. We could say the same about money. People who feel depressed and unhappy when they have no money to spend have substituted money for a relationship with God that would bring lasting contentment. These substitutes will never measure up and they always fall short of the true contentment that is found in Christ. There is one action common to those who substitute other things for true contentment in Christ:
They keep coming back to their substitute hoping to gain contentment from it, only to be discouraged and depressed afterwards because they never get that contentment.

Why? Because they're trying to fit a square peg into a round hole and it isn't working for them.

Their square peg is their substitute, whether it be drugs, money or other addictions and compulsions. Their round hole is that place of spiritual wholeness. The place at the center of their being which God designed when he created mankind and which is reserved strictly for a spiritual relationship with him.

That which is of the spirit can never be satisfied with the things of this world. John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit

That spiritual part of us can never be properly substituted with the things of this world and of the flesh. But oh how we try to gain contentment and satisfaction from those things which will never profit us spiritually such as drugs, jobs, money and material possessions.

Those who do not believe in a creator God and his Son, Jesus Christ, have trouble grasping these truths. In order to understand our use of substitutions I've outlined in this article and the lack they represent in our lives, an individual must first believe that there is a Creator God.

How do we banish these substitutions in our lives? By finally understanding what they are and not being deceived any longer by them. See them for what they truly are - Sorry Substitutions for the true contentment that Christ gives to those who truly desire it. By recognizing the substitutes for the hindrances they are to our own spiritual growth. By knowing that what they offer only leads to more emptiness and depression in our lives. By us taking action now to put them in their proper place in our lives instead of allowing them to be idols in our hearts.

Depression

Trying to get lasting contentment out of the things of this world is like pounding your head against a wall and expecting a positive experience with no pain. It just isn't going to happen.

I know people who are still chasing things like money and drugs and they are STILL expecting a good outcome from the emptiness these things repeatedly bring them, some of them have been on this roller-coaster for many years.

These same people wonder why they're often so depressed. They're depressed because trying to gain fulfillment in these things is like trying to handcuff the wind. You can try for the rest of your life but it is not going to happen.

These substitutes will never fill that place God reserved for himself inside of us- his Sprit, they were never meant to. Satan has used them as tools to entice us and to keep us from entering into a true and fulfilling life that only God provides for us in Christ

Satan wants nothing more than for us to keep our focus on and our time wasted on these substitutes *these things of this world*. Satan knows that once our vision is fixed on our creator God and our understanding is enlightened to his (God's) truth, (Satan's) power over us will be broken and his days of deception in our lives are numbered.

We set up idols in our hearts with these substitutes. But we have to wake up out of our sleep. We must take action toward banishing them from our lives while we have the chance. The days of our lives on this earth are but a vapor. One minute we're here, living this life and the next, our lives are over . When your life is over and your eternal life begins, will you find yourselves in heaven or in hell? What are the substitutions you have fallen victim to? What are the things you throw your time and care into on this earth? Do you feel as though you've substituted the things of this world for God?

If you have, please say this prayer with me now and believe it in your heart:

Dear God, I have put things and people in that place that was only meant for you. A relationship with you should have been my number one priority and instead it has not been on my list of things important to me in my life. But I'm trying God, I'm trying to understand that this is not what you want for me because it will leave me empty and cold toward you and your will for my life. I know that your will for my life should be important to me . I pray that you give me ears to hear what your Spirit is trying to tell me. I want lasting peace and contentment that will never be taken away from me and I pray that you would give it to me. I thank you for your mercy that you have given me and everyone else on this earth.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Swimming With Sharks : The Hypocritical Christian

This article addresses the actions of hypocritical Christians.

Swimming With Sharks : The Hypocritical Christian

Enduring the actions and attitudes of a hypocrite reminds me of swimming with sharks. The shark thinks nothing of taking a bite out of someone. In the same respect, the Christian hypocrite thinks nothing of taking bites out of their fellow man.

Have you ever met a Christian whose judgmental actions and attitudes make you cringe?

They're ready to let you know what you've done wrong, yet their own unchristian like ways they are oblivious to.

Luke 6:41

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Instead of being consumed and harping on their fellow man's sins, they should throw all of that energy into taking care of their own sinfulness and shortcomings. But these people NEVER do that. They are much too busy sticking their noses into the business of everyone around them. Jesus called these people hypocrites.

Luke 6:42

Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Being Hypo-Critical

critical

marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws; "a critical attitude"

Why do they do it?

I believe that hypocrites suffer from

"Misplaced Introspection"

*I made this name up myself and it describes those who have practiced inspecting everyone else's lives to the neglect of their own*

Introspection means :A looking inward; specifically, the act or process of self-examination

Weighing and judging other people's actions is their way of avoidance. What are they trying to avoid?

The mirror

They would rather avoid taking a good healthy look at the actions and motives of their own heart. So instead, they fix their gaze onto the next best alternative, everyone else's actions and motives.

It never ceases to amaze me how we overlook the sin inside of us that we should be focused on, yet we are all too ready to focus on another's sinful ways. Sometimes the sin that is within ourselves appears to be small and insignificant, but in reality it can be a huge beast of a problem that must be conquered.

Concerning the conduct of others, hypocrites should remain silent much of the time rather than blasting others with their input. Hypocrites attempt to FORCE people to live as they would like them to. God made each and every one of us with a WILL. And nobody can override another's will for any reason. I don't want someone telling me how to live, I choose instead to pick up my bible and read up on how to live well.

The hypocrite who touts Christianity desires shouting out other people's shortcomings and sins from the rooftops but they are lacking in the attributes of long suffering and mercy. They certainly come up short on personal introspection.

This reminds me of an accuser of the brethren.

The only thing that God desires us to do if we are confused and bothered by the actions of others is to PRAY for them and have faith that he will do a work in their lives that will save them from a life of misery before it is too late. Barring this, we are only to speak to them about their sin if we are confident that God has told us to specifically, and even then we are to do so ONLY with love and compassion in our hearts toward them.

Christian Hypocrites Thwart God's Will for Others

If we truly believe that God is able to clean our neighbor's life up and set them on a solid rock and on the path toward everlasting life, then why do we so often offend them and thwart what he is trying to do in their lives by living as a hypocrite?

Why do we get angry when others don't listen to us and live as we encourage them to?

Our anger toward them is not going to change them.

There is an over abundance of unsolicited advice going out from hypocrites.

Instead of blasting them with our opinions, we should tell them the truth *if they ask us* in LOVE and compassion. This is what Jesus did. His anger was stirred at the Pharisees and nobody else, why do you suppose that was?

Because it was the Pharisees who were trying to trap him and trip him up by his words and actions. It was the way of the Pharisees to act pious toward other's. It was the Pharisees who were religious hypocrites!

Christian Hypocrites and Anger

Hypocrites always seem to be mad about something, especially Christian hypocrites. The hypocrites anger comes from living a life that is making them unhappy. Many of them are living by their OWN power and not relying on the power that comes only from the Holy Spirit and truth. This is why they are so puffed up and full of pride. Because they may say they are living their life with God's help but in reality they are not. Hypocrites truly ARE living their life through their OWN power. This leaves them nothing but an empty feeling inside of them and when they see the freedom in Christ that other's enjoy, their anger shows. But you can forget approaching them with this truth. As I said, they are blind to their own faults, yet very aware of the faults of others. They believe they are right on all counts and live so much better than their fellow man.

Those who rely on the power of God to live their lives do NOT have a pride problem. In fact, they are only too aware of their weaknesses and shortcomings and this is why they KNOW that they must rely on God's grace and mercy to help them live this life.

Do as we say and not as we do

Generally, people will not DO what we tell them to do. We will usually butt heads with someone if they attempt to control us. What people will do is notice how we live and notice how we treat others. That is more of a witness than a thousand words will ever be to them. We were never meant to allow another person to control us, God is the one who should have that
privilege.

If we see what appears to be SIN in other's lives, we have all kinds of advice for them that might "help" them. When we see what appears to us to be sinfulness in another, we would do well to pray for them and NEVER do anything that would offend them and turn them away from Christ in any way. Many have been hurt and angered by these hypocritical Christian zealots and very few have been helped by them.

The Christian hypocrite would do well to ponder on the following scripture and put it to work in their own life:

Romans 14:4

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Drug Addiction: Shattered Dreams and Wasted Lives Pt 4

A drug addict is arrogant, willful and cocky when they have money in their pocket, but they are full of hard luck stories when they are broke.
Many of them only work in order to keep a steady supply of their drug of choice.
When they are broke, they will then seek out those who they can borrow money from to keep their habit going.
If there seems to be nobody who will lend them money, they will then resort to theft and various con-games.
Arrogance and Drug Use
1.Drugs are like a shot of self confidence to those who have little or no self esteem. If the person you love is addicted to drugs, chances are you have not seen the REAL them for a long time. What you have been looking at when you gaze upon their faces is a stranger who seems to have taken over their bodies and minds.
Money In their Pockets
When drug addicts have money in their pockets, they are on top of the world and high as a kite flying in a strong breeze on a clear day. They are self assured, totally in control and seem VERY happy go lucky.
But take away that drug, that little helper of theirs and they are spoiled, tantrum throwing two year olds!
The Drug Abuser and His Job
2. Chronic drug abusers will only work in order to supply their habit. They have no use for a job and they do not take pride in a job well done as non-addicts do. The addict simply does not care about a job or taking pride in his or her accomplishments because to them, a job is only a tool they USE in order to continue courting their only true love, their drug of choice. The drug abusers that I have known will work for a few days, only until they get that paycheck, they then immediately speed to the bank, cash it and then it is straight to their dealers house where they are like a kid in a candy store. When a drug addict starts to habitually lose jobs because of the escalation of his drug use, he will then resort to theft as well as selling drugs. At this point, he is a lot closer to being put behind bars or losing his life or on the more positive side, he may be getting closer to a prodigal son experience.
The Penniless Drug Abuser
3. When a drug abuser is penniless, he is a lot LESS cocky and arrogant. He would flatter anyone and everyone if he thought it would profit him. They will borrow from anyone, no matter if the loved one they hit up for money is having a hard time paying their own bills! You see, the drug addict thinks absolutely nothing about the problems his loved one could be going through, there is only one thing that is utmost in his mind, getting his next fix.
The Drug Abuser As Thief
4. Many chronic addicts that I have known will resort to stealing if that is what it takes to get drugs. Heck, some of them would sell off their own family members without batting an eye, they are so desperate when they run out of drugs that they could care less about any morals. Why do you think drug users are such risk takers? Because they don't care WHAT happens to them or the pain it causes their families because in the grand scheme of things, it's all about getting what they want at any cost to themselves or others who might try to stand in their way. An addict who is penniless can be quite dangerous. They will stop at nothing to keep their drug supply up and to catch that next high. If you live around those you suspect of drug addiction, please lock your doors and protect anything you value. Another danger is that they may attempt to buy drugs on "credit" from the dealer. But someone always has to pay their drug dealer sooner or later.
Master Con Artists and Manipulators:
Drug addicts are masters at manipulation. They have learned this because those who truly love them are continually making an all out effort to persuade them to get clean and to STOP destroying themselves. Although those who love them SEE the obviousness in this, the addict sees the opposite. The addict believes that if you try to separate him from his drug, you are attempting to DESTROY him, therefore in his twisted thinking, you are now his or her sworn enemy. How perverted is this? Very.
I know this is twisted thinking. But in the mind of an addict it is seen this way. You try to split up a relationship between the addict and his lover, (his drug) and you are an enemy to that addict, no matter how you may try to persuade the addict that you CARE about him.
The Spirit of Addiction
I believe that there is a SPIRIT of ADDICTION. There is most certainly a spirit world that we read about in the BIBLE. There are things we can see, and there are things we cannot see. We cannot see into the spirit world as such. Only those who have died or have been given visions or dreams from the Holy Spirit have seen into the spirit world. However, it has been noted by some addicts that when they have been on their "TRIPS", they have seen "demons or other evil spirits or creatures" that have frightened some of them so much that such encounters have persuaded them to stop their drug addiction cold turkey.
When we dabble in drugs, there is a VERY solid chance that we may lose our life. And that is not the worst of it. When we exit this life, we will go to one of only 2 places. Those places are heaven or hell. We are asked of God in the bible to choose life or death. In this respect, when we choose to give our lives over to drugs, we are actively choosing death for as long as we continue our addiction.