The Destructive Power of Pretense

tv1a · #1 05-13-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

I won't cite the author or the title of the book because people will make the discussion about the author and not the content...

We were not created to live as though life depended on what we do to achieve our own worth. Nor were we created to live the bifurcation (dividing into 2 parts) of our inner and outer selves... It is foreign to our created natures to live in falsehood, and when we do, we are like fish out of water. The extent to which we live as hypocrites - literally as actors - is the extent to which we are sick in our inner being. Pretense is a fatal disease.

... Almost all emotional and psychological illnesses are in one way or another connected to an unwillingness or inability to face truth. When we try to create truth based on our own wishes simply acknowledging truth, we are on the way to destroying ourselves. When we hide what is real in order to project a false appearance, we are literaly making ourselves sick.

Life in the flesh... however is fundamentally opposed to the truth. It arises from and is sustained by a supression of the truth. The more truth is covered up and hidden, the more power and evil have to do their work in our lives.
... Satan is a "real spirit of unreality". His power is solely a power of a lie - making people believe that what is real is unreal and what is unreal is real. He [Satan] needs the darkness of secrecy, the dimness of deception, to be empowered. The light of truth, exposes and destroys him. All that is evil therefore must feed off the unreality and deception that life in the flesh creates.

... When we understand the evil and destructiveness of pretense, we can perhaps better understand why the main oppostition to the work of Christ... came from the religious leaders of his day.

...This also explains why some of the opposition to the radical work of Christ in the world today comes from within the church, not outside it.

tv1a · #2 05-13-2007, 06:45 PM

Any comments?

Scott Hutchinson · #3 05-13-2007, 09:34 PM

Very good thoughts TV.

tv1a · #4 05-14-2007, 04:59 AM

Probably won't get much of a response since I wont' name the book or the author. There are some people who would rather attack the messenger than discuss the message.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Very good thoughts TV.

#5 05-14-2007, 08:24 AM

Naturally, to some extent I will disagree.

Christian or not, anyone acting out every inward impulse or thought would be plain STUPID.

In the world of spirits where there is no veil of the natural, whatever the thought or impulse, it is known by all. In the natural world those thoughts and impulses can be veiled very easily which many should be.

No too long ago, I had a thought and a tremedous impulse to sit a long tongue tied (lose on both ends and tied in the middle) woman down and put a strip of duct tape over he mouth. I was able to veil my thought and impulse.

OK, so I'm a hypocrite? NOT!

Some of us STILL need to bring every thought into captivity. This will be a continued battled as long as we are in the flesh.

tv1a · #6 05-14-2007, 05:00 PM

I don't think the author intends for us to "act" out our impulses. When taken into a religious context, the author leaves the impression it is easy for christians to hide behind a facade. For example it is easy to hide behind a dress code and not deal with real issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

Naturally, to some extent I will disagree.

Christian or not, anyone acting out every inward impulse or thought would be plain STUPID.

In the world of spirits where there is no veil of the natural, whatever the thought or impulse, it is known by all. In the natural world those thoughts and impulses can be veiled very easily which many should be.

No too long ago, I had a thought and a tremedous impulse to sit a long tongue tied (lose on both ends and tied in the middle) woman down and put a strip of duct tape over he mouth. I was able to veil my thought and impulse.

OK, so I'm a hypocrite? NOT!

Some of us STILL need to bring every thought into captivity. This will be a continued battled as long as we are in the flesh.

Coonskinner · #7 05-14-2007, 06:59 PM

Is this some of Yaconelli's stuff?

tv1a · #8 05-14-2007, 08:56 PM

No

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

Is this some of Yaconelli's stuff?

tv1a · #9 05-14-2007, 09:02 PM

Care to comment on the topic?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

Is this some of Yaconelli's stuff?

Coonskinner · #10 05-14-2007, 09:17 PM

I do not for a moment believe that the main opposition to the radical work of Christ comes from the Church.

The religious world? Yes.

Not those born of water and Spirit, who are the only ones in the Church anyway.

Otherwise, I generally agree with the main thrust of the article, at least as far as the awful destructive power of pretense is concerned.

When there is a dichotomy between what we pretend to be, and what we are, it creates a tenion on the inside of a person that is a ticking time bomb.

We were not originally created to lie. It is hard on the mind and spirit to live a lie.