Smooth Talker

“For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I had the displeasure of meeting someone not so long ago who professed to be a follower of Christ. This person tried to win me over with flattering words and smooth talk. All attempts to manipulate me for his own personal advantage. He tried to use the Word of God to convince me that God had told him I was to marry him.

When I respectfully declined his advances, he cursed at me. He acted out of character and blamed me for his angry outbursts. He accused me of being controlling among other things.

I’ll admit, momentarily, I questioned myself. I questioned my walk with Christ, my relationship with God. Was I what this man said that I was? Or was this just another attack from the enemy?

I saw the attack for what it was. An attack on my identity, an attack on my relationship with Jesus. A cunning, manipulative attack.

I’m not perfect by any means. I never profess to be. I have encountered attacks like this one before. However, to be attacked by someone who professed to be a “Christian” who laced hateful words alongside flattering remarks… That was a new one for me.

A lesson well-learned… Tell someone “no” and you discover exactly how they feel about you.

I think the attempted emotional and spiritual abuse in the name of Jesus is what disgusts and disturbs me the most.

Still, I pray for him and I forgive him. I pray that he allows God to heal whatever hurt he endured in his life to cause him to feel the need to manipulate others.