By: Obed Pineda
The rise of Judaizing teachers within the Church during the first century prompted a myriad of inspired epistles that were sent with crucial instructions on how to contain the spread of their false teachings. It is fair to note that these directions that were revealed by the Holy Spirit were not solely applicable to the Judaizers, rather they were given to prevent any and every proponent of false doctrine to be prevented from luring the faith of those enticed by them to suffer shipwreck (cf. 1st Timothy 1:18-19). These wicked men are so proficiently dangerous with their charming ways that the psalmists declares, “there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue” (Psalm 5:9). Holy Writ, too, reminds us that these ministers of deceit learned their craft from the father of lies himself who “transforms himself into an angel of light…Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2nd Corinthians 11:14-15, cf. John 8:42-44). Learning then how lethally convincing they can be with their deceptive words, it behooves all who strive to abide faithfully in the whole counsel of God to remember that they do not have their victim’s best interest at heart. False teachers are solely seeking to gain for their own self-interests and thus excel at the art of manipulation. The apostle Paul exposed these servants of wickedness by disclosing to the brethren in Galatia that “they zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them” (Galatians 4:17). Their persistence in winning over the hearts of the brotherhood with their persuasive words and tactics illuminates one of the primary reasons the Bible vehemently speaks against befriending these dangerous individuals, who are well versed in the skill of coercive control (cf. Romans 16:17-18, 1st Corinthians 15:33, 2nd Timothy 3:1-5, James 4:4-5, 2nd John 10-11). Remember that these seducers possess a narcissistic nature and therefore avidly weave their web of lies to capture their desired prey. One such ploy that is frequently used by these insincere men and women to entrap their victims is known as narcissistic kindness. This kind of behavior is best described as the act of weaponizing kindness to essentially “own” a person. A simpler way of describing narcissistic kindness is that they are favors that always have strings attached to them. The intentions behind such “generous acts” is to make the individual who is on the receiving end of the kind gesture feel indebted to the narcissist providing the aid. These hypocritical actions, veiled as genuine concern for the person, are nothing more than golden chalices filled with refreshing water, but the rim has been laced with poison. For this reason, it is fitting for the holy servants of God to learn to spot the venom before taking the cup and drinking it’s proverbial contents, as Abram did. After Abram and Lot agreed to separate from one another in an effort to preserve the peace between them, “Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD” (Genesis 13:11-13). Lot would soon learn about the instability that existed among these cities of the plain due to the corrupt, marauding rulers who had been at war with each other, ultimately resulting in Lot and his household being captured and taken hostage (cf. Genesis 14:1-12). Abram, having been informed of Lot’s captivity, solicited the help of his allies and armed three hundred and eighteen of his own servants and journeyed together to go and rescue his nephew (cf. Genesis 14:13-14). Abram’s campaign against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and his allies was successful and “he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him” (Genesis 14:16-17). Abram proceeded to meet Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of Jehovah God (Abram’s God) to give him the tithe of the spoils of his victory in thanksgiving to God for His providential victory (cf. Genesis 14:18-20). The king of Sodom was present during Melchizedek’s blessing of Abram and afterward “graciously” offered Abram to keep all of the goods that he had secured in his victory (cf. Genesis 14:21). At first glance, it would be understandable to interpret the Sodomite king’s intentions to show genuine gratitude toward Abram for defeating his foes and rescuing his people. However, we must not forget that the inspired account earlier manifested that “the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD” (Genesis 13:13). Abram would have been keenly aware of this fact regarding Sodom’s citizens and for this reason carried on with wise prudence. The first thing Abram pointed out to the king is that the glory for the victory in battled belonged to God, and not him (cf. Genesis 14:22). It was, after all, the reason why he had sought out Melchizedek to pay tribute to the Lord God in thanksgiving for His providence in their triumph. Secondly, Abram was able to perceive the true intentions behind the king’s “generosity.” Abram replied to the king’s offer, “I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’” (Genesis 14:23). Abram spotted the translucent strings that were attached to this “act of kindness” because of the king’s lack of gratitude toward God for liberating him and his kingdom from the Chedorlaomer’s yoke of bondage. Sodom’s ungrateful king should have been the first one in seeking out Melchizedek to offer a burnt offering in thanksgiving to Jehovah God for His mercy and salvation, but instead he chose to play politics by paying homage to another man. Abram judiciously distanced himself from this perverse ruler and ensured that it was evident to all who were present that there was no alliance between himself and that wicked society. Abram was clarifying that the sole purpose for his rescue mission was to bring back his nephew, Lot, from captivity and the king of Sodom simply benefited from this choice. Ergo, Abram declined to drink from the poisoned cup offered to him because he was able to see past the pomp and glamour of it’s glistening beauty and correctly picked up on the subtle, faint scent of poison that could have potentially enslaved him to a wicked king. Verily, from this pericope of Holy Writ we must learn to be very cautious of readily accepting lavish gifts offered to us without carefully examining the intent behind such a generous offer. It is valuable to use caution in such instances because what may appear to be a gift, may in actuality be nothing more than a mere bribe aimed at ensnaring us.