I’d be interested to get your feedback on something, which will only take a minute.

Years ago, I realized that people who accuse you falsely are often projecting on you what they themselves do. For example, if you were an honest, used-car salesperson trying to sell a car to a dishonest, used-car salesperson, it wouldn’t surprise me if that person accused you of trying to rip them off. They are just projecting on you what they themselves do.

In the same way, when I get falsely accused today by folks who differ with me, I wonder if they’re doing the same thing: projecting their hatred or rejection or anger or insecurity (or whatever) on me.

So, here’s my question for you, using just one example: A recent reviewer of Hyper-Grace stated, “It was difficult to sift through all of the hurt this guy [meaning me!] was speaking out of to get to the core of his argument, not to mention all of the defamation it was filled with.”

Since I wrote the book out of a burden from the Lord and out of a love for His people and the truth, without even the slightest trace of personal hurt (really, what hurt?), and since I’m extremely careful not to defame those I differ with in the book — in fact, I’ve been criticized for being too gracious in my differences — what is it that causes someone to write something like this? Is it a projection of their own hurt and their tendency to defame? Is it a fear that if they deal with the real issues, their own faulty foundations will be exposed?

I could multiply examples like this endlessly, but what’s your spiritual take on this?