Inferiority and Insecurity and Doctrine

[mfblume]

I recently read a little book by Steve Fross called Satan's Dirty Little Secret. It is an excellent study on the devil's use of inferiority and insecurity to trap and bind people. Satan tempted Eve beginning with making her feel insecure. "Yea, hath God said?" If God's Word cannot be trusted, how insecure would that make one feel? Then he used inferiority, "God knows that in the day ye eat thereof ye shall be as God." She was made to feel less than what she could be.

The book had some profound thoughts about how Christians get caught up in this. They may get a genuine revelation for truth, but they seek to promote their personal identity with it. They feel superior due to having this revelation, and feel that by promoting it people will be impressed with THEM. This is due to the person's insecurity and inferiority. They seek to solve this problem by attaching their identity to doctrine. Rather than exalt Christ, they seek to exalt themselves.

When someone disagrees with their doctrine, these people take it personally since they used doctrine to promote their identity and escape insecurity and inferiority and so become angry. Their feeling of security is suddenly challenged, and due to not wanting to feel insecure again, they lash back and claim those who disagree are less spiritual or not wanting God's will. That may be true, but this is all being twisted out of God's desire completely when these folks use doctrine and His truth for their identities.

Soooooooooo..... (heh heh)

...This is probably why a lot of fussing that goes on in forums over doctrine where people get angry. Maybe all of us have been guilty of this to an extent. If we were not trying to find our security in being right about something, but rather finding our security in CHRIST, alone, it seems things would be different.

The bible teaches CHRIST ought to be our connection for identity instead of finding it in doctrine, or even fleshly things like a nice car or fancy clothing. Christ has inheritance greater than any angel, and we are joint heirs with Christ!

[*AQuietPlace*]

Interesting.

[SteppingStone]

Yes sir it's easy to get lifted up by reason of revelation but the Lord is faithful in that He resisteth the proud for their own good.

[mfblume]

The book mentioned how Saul was in error with his focus on insecurity that he manifested when David was anointed of God. Saul disobeyed Samuel's word from God concerning sacrifice when he offered the sacrifices and did not wait for Samuel to arrive. The opinion of the people towards him directed his actions as he tried to uphold his identity that was based upon people's respect and not the Lord's.

This issue covers so much!

When Jonathan his son revealed to him his error in seeking David's life since David did nothing against Saul, Saul sorrowed, but he did not repent. He did not change his thinking about where he sought to connect his identity. And as soon as David was used of God again, Saul once again sought to kill him.

[SteppingStone]

Yep and the children of old preferred men reign over them as kings, judges, etc.. Just like today..

[ManOfWord]

I "grok"

[mfblume]

In case someone wanted the book, the author's name was Steve Foss, not Fross. Sorry.