False Beliefs, False Assumptions and Distortions

[David Norman]

I know that Paul warns believers of the schemes of the devil. I'd love to hear people's input as to how Satan temps us to accept false beliefs as truth, and presents before us the temptation to act and choose on false assumptions rather than God's Word and truth.

Thanks David

[Sheri]

You are right. We are social creatures. That's why we are commanded to be in fellowship with other church members. Part of our responsibility to each other is to speak the truth in love when we see our church siblings falling into sin and they do the same for us. As far as the false things we have been taught that we slowly become aware of, scripture says that we are to take every thought captive for the cause of Christ. I had to write things down for awhile so I could evaluate them objectively to see if they were family patterns, false assumptions, or religious traditionalism to make sure I was in line with scriptures, and I still discover things I need to change sometimes even though I've lived a half century now.

You are also right. Jesus had great love for sinners. He came into the world not to condemn sinners but to save them, even though he had the right to do so. After forgiving them, he told them to go and sin no more, and He said if we love Him we are to keep His commandments. Paul further wrote that if we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We still have a responsibility in this to make good choices. In dealing with non-believers we have to be careful to avoid temptations. Jesus mingled with sinners, but He didn't join them in their sinful behaviors. We are still to reach out to them to share all the things Jesus has done and taught us, especially the hope of the gospel message. It's also not fair to hold them to the same standards as we do other believers, because they are lost in darkness and cannot even see their sin sometimes unless they come to Christ. The Holy Spirit within us gives us discernment and strength to avoid sin, but non-believers do not have this guidance.

As far as the schemes of the devil, the scripture says we are drawn away into sin because of our own desires. Man is not defiled by what comes from without, but from what comes from within his heart. When he tempted Jesus, he tried to meet a legimate need with an illegimate solution, such turning stones into bread after Jesus's long fast in response to the temptation, or throwing Himself off a cliff so the angels would save Him, so the devil would give Him the world back sooner, when it would eventually be His again anyway, but after the suffering of the Cross. This is the struggle we all share. We are to use our will that naturally chooses to defy God and actively choose to obey and do the right thing. Then Jesus does His part and continues to make us into new creations. He knows we are still going to falter, but He gives us a way to start again and keep trying because of His great love.

Hope this helps. I am still learning too. Best wishes and may God bless you and guide you in your searching.

[David Norman]

Hello Sheri,

Thanks so much for your response, when I think about desires, it seems desires and choices are always neutral between good and evil, or our old nature can have bad desires while at the same time we can desire to do something truly good and have a good desire. Our will and choices seem to be fixed in between or in the middle, we stand on a thin line, called will and choice and can either make bad choices or good choices, however, doesn't it seem like we learn so much more from our mistakes than our successes in life? For so long in my life, I just felt worthless, I hated myself, I was a people please always sacrificing how I felt for how other people felt, I felt emotionally abandoned when I was about 8 years old and ever sense then have felt completely alone in life, asking for other people's help I don't even know how to do,, the emotional pain I've suffered I can't seem tobe free of, just learn to live with is somehow. God always knows best, learning to let go and let God seems to be the challenge of a life time, my foolish pride and self centeredness keeps me from the best things God has for me, it's like I am self defeating, no one else does it to me. I feel so stuck in my pain, and bitterness and hatred but I prayed this morning to take it away

[Sheri]

Hi, David,
I feel so sad for you because you are in so much pain and because of the pain of your childhood. It took me a long time to forgive the people in my past who hurt me. It's like grief sometimes too in that memories can bring back those feelings of pain, sadness, and anger. Then I have to choose to forgive again. It doesn't make what those people did or what happened to me okay, but it helps me to let go of those feelings because they do not help me in living. I have to seek forgiveness sometimes from others too, and forgive myself as well.

As far as our desires go, the scripture says we are to choose everyday whom we will serve, like the verse in Joshua, "Choose you this day, whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Paul writes that we are to die to ourselves daily. I think it means the same thing. We are to put aside our own desires and seek God's will in our lives. For some reason He has set it up to be a cooperative effort in that we have the freedom to choose evil or good. He gives us His help and strength to do the right things. The ways we can evaluate the choices to determine if they are in line with God's will, are to study scriptures, listen to the Holy Spirit, and listen to our fellow believers who are trying to help us obey God.

For feelings of worthlessness, and self-hatred, I found a book that helped me, "The Search for Significance". It tells about the different ways we are taught to evaluate ourselves, and compares that to how Jesus sees us.

As far as being a people-pleaser, the Bible says we are to please God and not man. But I think what you are really asking is where to draw the line about caring for ourselves and others. I read the book called, "Safe People." It tells you how to seek out healthy, trustworthy people and how to become one. I think that's an issue in our lives that calls for constant evaluation.

My counselor told me to take care of myself first and then I will have more to give. I've found it's important to be honest and genuine about my feelings with others, while still being kind. Being unselfish was stressed for me to the point that I gave too much away when I got older. Part of my learning experience has been to learn when to say yes and no. I read a book for that also, "When I Say No, I Feel Guilty," among others.

For the pain and depression I felt, I went to several counselors. Some advice they taught me helped, and some things were a waste of time. The important thing is to keep searching and learning. I finally went on medication to deal with the feelings of heaviness, like I was carrying around a huge weight on my head, and so I wouldn't cry so much of the time. I had a chemical imbalance either from going through so much or because of a physical problem, or both.

As far as our choices being neutral, and learning from our mistakes, I think you are over my head there. You might want to talk to your pastor about those things. It's important to read the Bible everyday and spend time alone with God. The closer I get to God, the less appeal sin has for me. I still have issues I struggle with, but it's like practicing the piano, golf, or sports. The more you do it, the better your skills get. I like what Stephen Arterburn and Dr. John Townsend say on their radio show about making mistakes, "Do the next right thing."

Let's all continue to bear one another's burdens and hold each other up in prayer.

[David Norman]

Thanks Sheri,

For your insite, I've got that book the Search for Significance I need to read it again, in that book they speak about how each human has two primal needs, first, to be loved, second to be safe. How true. Another thing I brought away from that book was the fact that the worlds system of self worth basically boils our worth as humans down to two things, first our performance, second other's opinions. I fully agree with that, we are constantly being measured up by our performance or lack of performance. Forgiveness is so key, I find it much easier just to forget people, than to actually forgive someone if that makes sense. All the while holding tightly to the pain and hate, rather than letting go and surrendering it.
Thanks again for your love and concern,

David