2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
One of the most prevalent false teachings found in local churches, “Christian” literature and “Christian” counseling is the insistence that a RASN (reviler, abuser, sociopath, narcissist) can still be a Christian. The error goes even further, instructing people who have been victimized and targeted by these toxic individuals, that they must “believe the best” and accept the RASN’s claim to be a Christian.
But the thing is impossible.
As Paul states in the verse above, to be a Christian means being a new person. A newly birthed creation of God. Therefore, certain things will no longer be true of the new man. He will not think like he used to. His mindset will no longer be self, self, self. He will have been taught by Jesus to love. All of these things and more speak of a radical, radical change.
The Bible knows nothing of someone who walks in sin without repentance being a Christian.
1Jn 2:4-5 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (5) but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
1Jn 2:9-11 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. (10) Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. (11) But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
I find it intriguing (and very frustrating) that so many professing Christians see these truths as so radical, so black and white, that surely they must be softened down. “I mean, John surely could not have meant that someone who is a real Christian will love his brother, and that anyone who does not love others is not a Christian. No, we must not think in such absolutes.”
Really? The Bible DOES speak in such absolutes! We have it throughout Scripture.
The beginning of getting free of the “Christian” RASN is to realize that God means what He says. A RASN is not a Christian. He or she is a counterfeit from whom we must separate. And from whom we have the right to separate.
Daughter of the King
Amen and amen.
Jade
My former church pastors would simply say that *I* am the one failing to love others (my ex husband) because I separated from him and refuse to reconcile or listen to their “counsel” on the matter. He has them completely fooled with his false repentance.
Tracey
Oh my gosh this is eye opening!