Spiritual Projections

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”-John 3:16-21

I’ve worked in the corporate world, but never on a board of directors. I have, however, been in meetings, heard reports from management, and seen charts and figures that were important for a company, and what I’ve observed was most important in those meetings concerned the data pointing to what the product, event, quarterly or yearly projections were. Through this data, the upper echelons of these companies wanted to know or to anticipate what was going to make the most money, and how to capitalize on that to make better profits. These projections were based on trends, and were invested in with the hopes that the trends continue. Business projections anticipate profits, the moving of certain products (such as in a grocery store during football season), and are based on market research and data suggesting a pattern that can be followed to a profitable outcome. I learned that, in any business, projections are important, and smart business owners have a feel for their customers and constituents so they know how to serve them accordingly (and, thus, make more profit). This works in the business world, but not in the Spiritual.

Spiritual projections aren’t a new age or occultic idea, they are when someone takes their own inward inadequacies and place them on to a target to alleviate their own feelings of guilt, shame, or conviction. They, in essence, blame others for what’s going on inside of them, because they do not want to deal with the spiritual aspects of their actions. In the my time as a minister, I’ve had people tell me what they thought I’ve said, what I was rumored to have said, what they wanted me to have said, and, unfortunately, what I’ve never said but others said that I have said (it seemed confusing when I wrote it, but in rereading it, I stand by this sentence!). Much of the time, if not most, when there was malicious intent or even someone’s feelings were hurt, these statements were said because of a different kind of projection: not one of marketing trends or data, but of the inward state of a person’s heart. I’ve had people mistakenly say I’ve said something, state outright lies, or misrepresent a position I’ve taken because, whatever was going on in their hearts, they needed a target for their frustrations, and the people they didn’t want to look at was themselves.

Projections have no place in the Church. We are concerned with what Jesus was concerned with: the lost. Sin and Death are our enemies, and the adversary of believers prowls around like a roaring lion looking for a soul to devour. When we confront sin, and when we get too close to home in some people, rather than dealing with their own inadequacies, people want to destroy the message we bring. People do not want to get rid of the log in their own eye, but would rather focus on the spec of dust in someone else’s. Preach the word any way. Darkness cannot overcome the light, but it sure fight hard to keep it from shining, and when you take a stand for Christ, people will do all they can to keep your mouths shut, merely because, as Scripture says, men love the darkness rather than the light. Speak the Truth in Love anyway. Jesus promised this would happen, and He also said He would not abandon us. Stand firm. Proclaim the Gospel. Fight the good fight.

2 Timothy 3:1-4:8

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.