TonioTimeDaily

"Narcissism is an incredibly popular topic nowadays and it makes sense why. We can see it everywhere – on TV screens, in social media, and in our own lives. But there is also a tricky phenomenon called spiritual narcissism, which is lesser-known but equally important to talk about. Who Is a Spiritual Narcissist?

It is a person who is sure that he or she is spiritually awakened while staying in the trap of their own ego...

"Empty Positivity

Much of the instruction spewing out of harmful megachurch cultures is akin to vague self-improvement books rather than clear, biblical instruction. It's quite obvious that the goal is to be positive and encouraging, regardless of how much sense anything makes. This precedent is so dangerous.

Not all of life is positive. In fact, much of life is disappointing, frustrating, tiresome, or depressing...

"The Bible boldly proclaims: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20).

Jesus once referenced the prophet Isaiah by saying, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.They worship me in vain…” and went on to explain that “the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them...

"When you say you support Donald Trump and will vote for him in November:

• I hear you say lying doesn’t matter.
• I hear you say cheating on your SAT doesn’t matter.
• I hear you say rape doesn’t matter.
• I hear you say sexual assault doesn’t matter.
• I hear you say misogyny doesn’t matter.
• I hear you say grabbing women by their genitals against their will doesn’t matter.
• I hear you say tax fraud doesn’t matter...

"Recently, Godfrey Migwi, pastor of House of Hope Church in Nairobi, Kenya and a clinical psychologist, addressed the temptations pastors face from “skimpily dressed” women. Migwi stated:

Migwi is admitting that pastors are human; that they can be “tempted” just like anyone else...

"According to Ellis, all men should live according to “Billy Graham-Mike Pence Rule.” I say all, and not just married men, because Ellis, who describes himself as a conservative Christian, likely believes that it is a sin for unmarrieds to have sex. Thus, not only should married men abstain from being alone with women who are not their wives, so should unmarried men. Women, for married and unmarried men alike, are the problem...

"Dear Family, Friends, and Former Parishioners,

I have come to a place in life where I can no longer put off writing this letter. I have dreaded this day because I know what is likely to follow after certain people receive it. I have decided I can’t control how others react to this letter, so it is far more important to clear the air and make sure everyone knows the facts about Bruce Gerencser.

I won’t bore you with a long, drawn-out history of my life...

"Act One: RiseRussell Cobb: Carlton Pearson says there are two kinds of people in his family, preachers and convicts. He grew up in an all-black ghetto in San Diego in a strict Pentecostal denomination-- no smoking, drinking, cursing, or dancing. But there was lots of churchgoing.

And church is where the really wild stuff happened. People spoke in tongues, got slain by the Holy Spirit...