The Outkeep of the Soul vs. The Performance
In this life, there is a performance being put on that would make a theater blush. It’s the performance of “innocence.” We’ve all seen it: the person with the soft voice, the wide-eyed “cluelessness,” and the constant use of the “naive card” to dodge accountability. They move as if they are too fragile for the world, yet behind closed doors, they are cool, calculated, and driven by a sharp, biting envy.
Let’s be clear: how someone else chooses to live or act is none of my business. What they do in their own time is between them and their Creator. But the moment that performance interferes with our lives, our property, or our peace, it becomes a problem. It is my job to help others notice that they aren’t alone, that they aren’t “crazy” for seeing what they see, and to help them find a path to heal from the damage these games cause.
The Tell: Selective Blindness and Side-Eye Energy
The easiest way to tell that a person is performing is to watch how they behave when you are actually in need. True innocence is observant and kind; fake innocence is selectively blind. They see you struggling. They know exactly what you need. Yet, they act like they don’t even see it. It’s a very specific kind of behavior where they stay in your space, watching you from the corner of their eye with that “side-eye” energy, waiting to see if you’ll trip.
Even worse, they will quietly put barriers in your way to make sure you don’t get what you’re after. When you finally confront them, they lean on that “naive card.” “Who, me? I had no idea!” It is a disgusting move used to stay in control while making you feel like you’re the one overreacting.
The Theological Principle: The Mystery of Iniquity
Theologically, what you are witnessing is the Mystery of Iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7). This is the truth that evil doesn’t always show up with horns; it often works under a “form of godliness” while denying its power.
There is also the principle of Total Depravity—the truth that without God, the human heart is “deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). The performer believes they are good because they look soft, but theologically, we know that a “pure” exterior can mask a soul that is actively warring against the Light.
Biblical Mirror: The Spirit of the Pharisees and Judas
Jesus called these people “whited sepulchers”, tombs that are white-washed and polished on the outside, but full of decay on the inside (Matthew 23:27).
Look at Judas. He walked with the disciples and even pretended to care about the poor. But while he was walking with the Truth, he was coolly calculating a betrayal. He used a kiss, the ultimate sign of “innocent” affection, to deliver the final blow. That is the “side-eye” energy in its ultimate form: smiling at your face while positioning you for a fall.
The “Outkeep” You Can’t Fake
You can tell who is acting and who is real by the outkeep of their lives. In theology, this is the Fruit of the Spirit. You cannot fake the fruit.
- The Home and Property: How they respect and maintain the space God has given them.
- The Mind and Body: How they treat themselves as a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19).
- The Soul: The dignity and order they carry when no one is watching.
When the World Flips the Script: The Victim as the Villain
The world will take a truly innocent person and label them the villain to fulfill an agenda. Most people just “go with it” without hesitation. We see this with David and Saul. David was the one winning the battles and playing the harp to soothe Saul’s soul. Yet Saul, driven by envy, branded David a traitor. Saul hunted David, making him look like the “villain” to the kingdom, while Saul stood in his palace playing the victim.
The most disgusting part? The victim is often the one who has to help their abuser. David had multiple chances to kill Saul, but he spared him. He helped the very man who tried to destroy him. This is the “drasticness” you see today, the bruised survivor being called the “abuser” just because they had the strength to stay alive.
The Survivor’s Toolkit: How to Handle the “Calculated Innocent”
- Document the “Blind Spots”: Stop assuming they “didn’t know.” When they play the naive card, call it out in real-time.
- Don’t Argue with the Mask: The goal is to get you to blow up so they can play the victim. Talk to the intent, not the mask.
- Build Your Own Sanctuary: You need a circle of people who have also been “through the fire.”
- Lean on the Shield: Use the Armor of God as your daily boundary.
The Armor of God: Your Spiritual Defense System
To protect your soul and keep your outkeep pure, you must be fully dressed:
- The Belt of Truth: Anchor yourself in the facts, refusing to let their “naive” lies rewrite your history.
- The Breastplate of Righteousness: Protect your heart so their envy doesn’t seep into your spirit.
- The Shoes of Peace: Move in grace even when walking through the fire of being targeted.
- The Shield of Faith: Extinguish the “fiery darts” of those who call your survival “abuse.”
- The Helmet of Salvation: Protect your mind from the gaslighting of those who want you to believe you are the villain.
- The Sword of the Spirit: Use the Word of God to cut through the “Mystery of Iniquity.”
A Matter of Eternal Life or Death
If you do not have Jesus as your shield and your armor, the world will not just break your heart, it will consume your soul. Without the covering of the Most High, the weight of being called a villain for simply surviving would turn anyone into the very thing they hate.
The performers have their stage, but the chosen have their Sanctuary. Stop looking for the world to validate your innocence. They didn’t give it to you, and they certainly won’t recognize it. God sees the outkeep of your life. He sees the survivor who still chooses grace even while being bruised.
You aren’t alone in this. My goal is to help you recognize the game so you can stop being a pawn in it and start your healing. Put on the full Armor of God. Stand behind the Shield of Faith. Your survival isn’t abuse—it’s a testimony.
Don’t Worry About Burning Ur Lips on This Tea