No. 1613: How to behave as a Jesus believer in the face of difficult, narcissistic and lying people, what does the scripture say?

No. 1613:

How to behave as a Jesus believer in the face of difficult, narcissistic and lying people, what does the scripture say?

God's guidance is not really that difficult. God leads us through his word, through his Spirit, through people and circumstances. In extra ordaining cases angels and by hearing God's voice clearly. But not only hearing, but also doing is the essence and the important thing.
Even a donkey can be used by God as with Balaam, but the usual is primarily through the word of God, our conscience, through the circumstances and other people.
Illustration image with a mouth, as God's speech is in different ways as mentioned here. Well, that is the topic of this article.

All believers face challenges repeatedly in dealing with people who are ruled by forces other than God.
And has an attitude that is challenging, difficult and narcissistic.

As a believer, I would argue that we are generally trained and brought up to be too permissive. Give in to evil and evil persons. Scripture also says this.

Matt. 5. 43 "You have heard that it is said: 'You shall love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. Leviticus 19:18
44 But I say: Love your enemies, speak well of those who hate you and pray for those who slander and persecute you. For in this way you can show that you are sons of your Father in heaven.
45 For when the sun rises, it rises on both the evil and the good, and when it rains, it rains on both the just and the unjust.
46 For if you love only those who love you, what reward do you deserve? Don't the tax foots do the same?
47 And if you only greet your brothers, what do you do more than others? Don't the tax foot also do the same?
48 Therefore be mature, for your Father in heaven is mature."

This is important, and right. Turn the other cheek, don't catch up. But scripture also teaches other ways to deal with injustice. It is not always right to always give in, turn the other cheek.
Let me take a few more scriptures that deal with this.

Ephesus. 5. 8 Before you were in darkness. But now you are in the Lord's light. Then also live as a child of light.
9 For the fruit of the spirit consists of goodness, righteousness and truth.
10 Consider what pleases the Lord!
11 Do not become part of the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 But it is a shame just to talk about what happens in secret.
13 For everything is revealed and revealed by the light, and everything that is revealed is by the light.
14 Therefore he has said: 'Awake, you who sleep! Rise from the dead.' Let Christ shine for you! ISA 26,19

Col. 4. 3 Let me reveal it as I should speak.
4 Behave wisely among outsiders. Buy yourselves time.
5 Let your speech be gracious, and seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Here the scripture says, on the contrary, we should turn the other cheek, but rather rebuke and expose the works of darkness

Looking back at small and large events in my life. Where, unfortunately, all too often I have accepted what certain difficult, narcissistic and lying people have come at me with. Then, unfortunately, I didn't take up the fight, but gave in.
This is what I would call the "Christianity syndrome!" that one turns the other cheek in time and out of time.
Scripture also says, rebuke, speak against and do not always accept injustice and evil people's actions and behavior.

Think e.g. what I did to Unibuss who made outright false and lying accusations against me.
That I played loud Christian music, which was not true at all.
https://blog.janchristensen.net/2023/02/nr-3178-det-var-dokumentert-av.html

Then I stood with the "Santa's hat" in my hand, and accepted what these liars came up with.
Think this is synonymous and common among us believers?
Where time after time we are far too lenient in the face of evil and evil people. We do not take up the fight, and fight and stand for what we know and believe is right.

Important and necessary to always be led by the Holy Spirit for us believers, in all situations of life!

Actually believe that God will and can lead us as believers in absolutely all situations and events in life. Then God will guide us in accordance with his own word, not only that. But the Lord will give us advice with his eye, it says in the scriptures.

Psalm 32. 8 I will teach you and show you the way you should walk; I will advise you with my eye. 9 Do not be like the horse and the mule, which have no understanding! Their jewelry is empty and sloppy to compel them with; they will not come near you.

There are many stories from God's word that come to mind. One of them is when King David fought against the Philistines. How God led him.

1 Chron 14. 8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went out to get hold of him. But David got the hang of it and went out to meet them. 9 The Philistines came and spread out over the valley of Rephaim. 10 Then David asked God for advice: "Shall I go against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” And the Lord answered: “Just go up; I will give them into your power.” 11 Then David went up to Ba'al-Perasim, and there he smote them. Then he said: “God has broke through the enemy's ranks by my hand as water breaks through a dam." Therefore this place is called Ba'al-Perasim. 12 There the Philistines left their idols, and David ordered them to be burned.
     13 But the Philistines went out once more and spread out across the valley. 14 Then David asked God for advice again, but he answered: "You shall not follow straight after them, but take a detour so that you come upon them opposite the beca trees. 15 When you hear the sound of footsteps above the treetops, go to battle. For then God has gone out before you to smite the army of the Philistines.” 16 David did as God commanded him, and he defeated the Philistine army and pursued it from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 David's reputation reached all countries, and the Lord made it so that all nations were afraid of him.

God does not always lead us the same way every time, even if we have the same enemy!

As I have pointed out, we as believers are in the vast majority of cases far too lenient towards our opponents. By all means, this is correct in many cases. The scripture says, among other things to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile.
This walking 1 mile was something that in Jesus' time every citizen was required to do to help the Roman soldiers with their equipment when they needed help. This was approx. 1.6 Km. Jesus said, go double!

Sometimes it is right to be "defiant" and stand up for what is right.
Scripture says:

Heb. 11. 23 By faith Moses hid
24 By faith, after he had grown up, Moses refused to say that he was the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
25 He preferred to have to suffer with God's people rather than have a momentary joy in the pleasure of sin.

We see here that both Moses' parents and Moses himself put themselves on the "hind legs" in the face of what was imposed on them and expected. Like the word that says about Moses,
"By faith, after he had grown up, Moses refused to say that he was the son of Pharaoh's daughter."

It is when he had grown up that he REFUSED!

Looking back on my life and ministry. So this with being able to "vary" and the ability to say no when you have to. And yes, when it has to be said. It is not easy, as one is so easily influenced both by the circumstances and by having what I would call the "Christian syndrome!" Where one accepts far too much, and is too permissive.
I'm not saying it's wrong sometimes.
But we can learn from King David, who asked God for advice every time the enemy attacked.
We read in 1 Chronicles 14 that David attacked first, and won the victory.
The second time he used cunning, and won.
Likewise for us believers, we must ask God for wisdom and the ability to be led by God and his Spirit.
http://www.janchristensen.net/artiklerhoved.php?side=how-to-be-led-by-the-holy-spirit

I know the importance of being led by the Holy Spirit is crucial!

Unfortunately, I have made a number of mistakes here as well, which both I and you who read this should and can learn from.
It is when God speaks about something, then one must stand firm in this.
Don't back down, but stand firm. Abide in what you have learned says Paul to Timothy.
The same can be said for us today.

God has time after time either spoken to me, guided me or in other ways revealed his will.

This with God's leadership is not really that difficult. Then God will reveal his will and way for his children. The scriptures speak of this again and again.
But my experience is that the most difficult thing is to implement what God has spoken and shown me.
I think this is true for all believers!

God is tender and careful when he leads us most of the time!

We read in Psalm 34 that he gives us advice with his eye. We know that the eye is the most vulnerable and delicate place on the body. Just a small piece of debris is enough to impair vision. As soon as the eye feels attacked, we close it automatically.

It is therefore completely wrong to think that we will get writing on the wall and hear God's will like King Belshazzar in Daniel 5. This can happen, but the "normal" is small hints either through God's word, by God's indictment, by other people or circumstances happen as God shows his way!

Final comment:

Finally, I would like to tell here how God led us as a family when my wife and I were relatively newly married and had only had our 2 girls.
We had bought a relatively small two-room apartment in Vestli here in the capital.
It was too small for us, and we asked God to help us get a bigger apartment.
I was at the Library at Stovner and read the newspaper Vårt Land.
It was there in the Bill newspaper. Branded apartment 4-room apartment for rent.
I called right away and came for a viewing. This was obviously God's will.
But then for various reasons I managed to squander this opportunity.
That is how God leads, and it is important then to follow God's leadership and be steadfast. Here through the circumstances.
Unfortunately, far too many times I have been led by God, but have not followed God's leading. I have tried to learn lessons, and you who are reading this.
Take lessons, and follow God's leading all the way.
Not only at the beginning, but also throughout and at the end. You will profit from this, and God's way and leadership is always the right one give the best!

Related links:
http://www.janchristensen.net/artiklerhoved.php?side=how-to-be-led-by-the-holy-spirit