Articles
Are You a Projector?
Projection is "accusing someone of what you are actually doing." Projection "is a defense mechanism in psychology where an individual attributes their own undesirable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors to someone else. It's a way of avoiding personal discomfort by shifting the focus onto another person (ChatGPT).
Projection is a subconscious defense mechanism. A person who struggles with anger, may accuse others of having anger management issues while denying their own issues. A person who feels inadequate in their skills and abilities, might project their feelings onto others, by constantly criticizing their efforts. The person who avoids work and responsibilities may project their own laziness onto colleagues, claiming they are not putting in enough effort. The key here is that people project their own faults onto others to make themselves look good or to camouflage their own shortcomings.
Paul instructed Titus to teach us “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:2). To speak evil is to blaspheme a person. Blaspheming someone is to slander their character or reputation. The Greek word for slander is diabolos, meaning a person who is an "enemy, adversary, devil." The Christian must not be an adversary who falsely accuses others of sin. In the Ten Commandments, Israel was commanded; “And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Deut. 5:20). Someone who falsely accuses their brother or sister, or any person, of sin, is a false witness and a slanderer. To be a false witness is to violate the second great commandment; “For the commandments... are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:9-10).
The sin of envy is at the root of "projection." The Greek word, phthonos, is translated envy. It means, "jealousy, envy, spite." Peter said, “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” (1 Pet. 2:1). Christians are not to be jealous of other Christians. Sometimes we are jealous of people who live more consistent lives than we do. Paul commanded the Corinthians to "examine themselves" (2 Cor. 13:5). The wrong response is to project our motivations or problems on them. The right response is to ask why l am jealous. Self-examination helps me identify my sins and work to overcome them.
Paul taught the Roman brethren; “Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” (Rom. 12:3 NLT) Everyone sins and falls short of the glory of God. Accept your sin, determine to change, and become what God wants you to be. Compare yourself to God, not others. Doing so will lead to overcoming your sin and the desire to project evil on others!
