I have felt for years that a minister, pastor or priest, who in fact, has mental and emotional problems, can hide in the ministry for years because his quirkiness, obedience and demands for obedience to “God’s Laws” seems so sincere. Many mental illness quirks can be mistaken for religious obedience and spiritual insights. Leadership styles and public speaking approaches that would never be tolerated in the workplace, are encouraged in the pulpit. A minister who is more mentally imbalanced than spiritually inspired can wreck havoc on a congregation and how often few, if any, in the congregation will confront the problem until it has all but destroyed the church. Therefore…
I’d like to ask the pastors, priests and ministers, you who have taken it upon yourselves to speak for God, Jesus, the Apostles and the intent of scripture, to examine some of this quirkiness that drives your members nuts and harms more than helps.
You who feel you know the mind of God and can clearly see what the Bible wants all humans to understand through you. You Pastors who affect how people think and live their real lives need to find a personality disorder test and TAKE IT.
Since you claim to know all of what God is and does and is doing, along with the truth of every important question about things past, present and future, it’s important that your congregation understand the filter, you, this information is passing through before it arrives on their doorstep. You think you know the mind of God. Do you know your how your own mind works and why you get the reactions you do from the faithful?
Are you mentally fit to lead and speak as if you know the answers that you require those who trust you to keep in their minds? Are you responsible with the monies entrusted to you by those who work hard for that which they send you believing it akin to giving God money to do “God’s work”? Are you prone to tell the truth at all costs, or just your own version of it for your own self aggrandizement? You see it’s really important we know, because history has already ripped the soul’s out of millions for not taking the time to ask their leaders to let them know a bit more about themselves before they got all teary eyed over the “truths” they wished to inflict upon their spiritual hopes and dreams. If what follows sounds all to familiar, the is it not time to ask why?
For example. If you are troubled by…..
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a distrust of others and a constant suspicion that people around you have sinister motives. People with this disorder tend to have excessive trust in their own knowledge and abilities and usually avoid close relationships. They search for hidden meanings in everything and read hostile intentions into the actions of others. They are quick to challenge the loyalties of friends and loved ones and often appear cold and distant. They usually shift blame to other people and tend to carry long grudges.
Symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder:
Unwillingness to forgive perceived insults
Excessive sensitivity to setbacks
Distrustfulness and excessive self-reliance
Projection of blame onto others
Consumed by anticipation of betrayal
Combative and tenacious adherence to personal rights
Relentlessly suspicious
Then we’d know why you are so cold to us after a perceived rejection of your inspired truth, or why you get so angry when things just don’t work out as you supposed they should. We’d also understand why everything is always OUR fault and why you think we are always talking about you behind your back. Or if you possess a…
Schizotypal Personality Disorder?
Many believe that schizotypal personality disorder represents mild schizophrenia. The disorder is characterized by odd forms of thinking and perceiving, and individuals with this disorder often seek isolation from others. They sometimes believe to have extra sensory ability or that unrelated events relate to them in some important way. They generally engage in eccentric behavior and have difficulty concentrating for long periods of time. Their speech is often over elaborate and difficult to follow.
Symptoms of Schizotypal Personality Disorder:
Odd or eccentric mannerisms or appearance
Superstitious or preoccupied with paranormal phenomena
Difficult to follow speech patterns
Feelings of anxiety in social situations
Suspiciousness and paranoia
Odd beliefs or magical thinking
Appears shy, aloof, or withdrawn to others
Personality Disorder Test – Personality Test
Then we would understand the tie or holy robes you want to wear and that crown you wear on your head during sermons. It would also understand why we can’t understand what the heck you are getting at in sermons or how you get that idea out of that scripture! Or if you possess a…
Antisocial Personality Disorder?
A common misconception is that antisocial personality disorder refers to people who have poor social skills. The opposite is often the case. Instead, antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a lack of conscience. People with this disorder are prone to criminal behavior, believing that their victims are weak and deserving of being taken advantage of. Antisocials tend to lie and steal. Often, they are careless with money and take action without thinking about consequences. They are often aggressive and are much more concerned with their own needs than the needs of others.
Symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder:
Disregard for the feelings of others
Impulsive and irresponsible decision-making
Lack of remorse for harm done to others
Lying, stealing, other criminal behaviors
Disregard for the safety of self and others
Personality Disorder Test – Personality Test
This might explain your cruelty to members, or those that question you, or how it is most of the congregation has been reduced to tears when they question your financial dealings with their money, and why you think you need a ministerial bus for your travels around the country. It also explains why you made fun of the guy who wasn’t able to come to church, and then died at home without you taking time to visit or encourage him. Or if you possess a….
Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by mood instability and poor self-image. People with this disorder are prone to constant mood swings and bouts of anger. Often, they will take their anger out on themselves, causing injury to their own body. Suicidal threats and actions are not uncommon. Borderlines think in very black and white terms and often form intense, conflict-ridden relationships. They are quick to anger when their expectations are not met.
Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder:
Self-injury or attempted suicide
Strong feelings of anger, anxiety, or depression that last for several hours
Impulsive behavior
Drug or alcohol abuse
Feelings of low self-worth
Unstable relationships with friends, family, and boyfriends/girlfriends
It would help us understand why you yell all the time, or are so damn negative in sermons about everyone and everything on this beautiful planet. It might even help us to understand why you disappear on trips for weeks at a time on “missionary” trips, or visits with brethren we have never heard of in places we have to look up. Or if you possess a…
Histrionic Personality Disorder?
People with histrionic personality disorder are constant attention seekers. They need to be the center of attention all the time, often interrupting others in order to dominate the conversation. They use grandiose language to describe everyday events and seek constant praise. They may dress proactively or exaggerate illnesses in order to gain attention. Histrionics also tend to exaggerate friendships and relationships, believing that everyone loves them. They are often manipulative.
Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder:
Needs to be the center of attention
Dresses or acts provocatively
Rapidly-shifting and shallow emotions
Exaggerates friendships
Overly-dramatic, occasionally theatrical speech
easily influenced; highly suggestible
Whoa…then we would really understand why nothing we say is good enough or right and why you make such mountains out of our molehills. We might also understand why you think the whole world is just amazed at your wonderful self…. Or if you possess a …
Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by self-centeredness. Like histrionic disorder, people with this disorder seek attention and praise. They exaggerate their achievements, expecting others to recognize them as being superior. They tend to be choosy about picking friends, since they believe that not just anyone is worthy of being their friend. Narcissists tend to make good first impressions, yet have difficulty maintaining long-lasting relationships. They are generally uninterested in the feelings of others and may take advantage of them.
Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
Requires excessive praise and admiration
Takes advantage of others
Grandiose sense of self-importance
Lack of empathy
Lying, to self and others
Obsessed with fantasies of fame, power, or beauty
PS…How many narcissists does it take to screw in a lighbulb?
Just one, he holds the bulb and the WHOLE WORLD revolves around him!
Well here then at least we’d understand why we’d have to call you “Mr.” and wonder why we aren’t in the group you seem to surround yourself with to our exclusion. They are such special people. We’d also understand why the group gets thrown out every six months and you regroup with a new group of close friend, not us. And we’d sure as hell understand all those titles you give yourself and the exaggerated size of our small congregation. Or if you possess a…
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?
While Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder (OCDP) sounds similar in name to obsessive-compulsive anxiety disorder, the two are markedly different disorders. People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are overly focused on orderliness and perfection. Their need to do everything “right” often interferes with their productivity. They tend to get caught up in the details and miss the bigger picture. They set unreasonably high standards for themselves and others, and tend to be very critical of others when they do not live up to these high standards. They avoid working in teams, believing others to be too careless or incompetent. They avoid making decisions because they fear making mistakes and are rarely generous with their time or money. They often have difficulty expressing emotion.
Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder:
Need for perfection and excessive discipline
Preoccupation with orderliness
Inflexibility
Lack of generosity
Hyper-focus on details and rules
Excessive devotion to work
Personality Disorder Test – Personality Test
Well then, at least we’d understand why no one is ever good enough in the church or tries hard enough to become perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect…whew..no challenge there! We’d understand why you rant every sermon about “God’s Law” and Jesus returning with a Rod of Iron…Heck…a hug would be better don’t you think? We’d also understand why once you make up your mind, it never changes and why you brag about all the work you do for the church. It would also explain both your and our ulcers.
Please print the results in your local church bulletins. It’s only fair since lives, emotions, finances , faith , hope and love depend on whether you really do speak for God, Jesus and all the Holy Apostles, OK well Paul who felt he was Holy Apostle most important of all. We anxiously await your participation in this wonderful service to all sincere humans who want to believe and know the truth of life, death and the eternal future.
Warmest regards
Dennis Diehl
I know, I know…”what about you Dennis?” Here is who I am evidently for your approval or not.
Paranoid: Low
Schizoid: Low
Schizotypal: Low
Antisocial: Low
Borderline: Low
Histrionic: Low
Narcissistic: Low
Avoidant: Low
Dependent: Low
Obsessive-Compulsive: Low
