The only Scripture that I can find to support this is in Acts 17:11 when we are told to be like Bereans who examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. This is the only Scripture that I can find on this subject and we are not told what to do with it if we find that someone is teaching something that isn't true. Scripture does tell us what to do if we have a problem with someone, this would include what they are teaching, you go to them first. You do not go to everyone around you, call your friends, your mom, your teacher. Then if the problem is still not resolved you go to and get two or three witnesses. This is God's way of handling conflict in the body.
Now, there is scripture after scripture that speaks to judging, gossip, slander, and causing dissension in the body. I have heard it said many times, "You can be right and not be righteous." Amen to that, boy have I been there. So many times, we want to be right so bad we lose all of our (Jesus' in us) righteousness.
Let me just read Galatians 5:16-21 "I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
The word variance here in the greek means contention, strife, wrangling, how often is this happening in our churches and from our pulpits?
This word is used 9 times in the NT and all relating to the same thing - Rom. 1:29 the word is translated debate, Rom. 13:13 uses the word, strife, 1 Cor. 1:11 with use of the word contentions, 1 Cor. 3:3 using strife again, 2 Cor. 12:20 again we see debates, Phil. 1:15 is strife again, 1 Tim. 6:4 again we see strife, Titus 3:9 uses contentions.
All of these verses talk about the carnal, fleshly way NOT to live. This weekend at church we had a guest speaker and he was talking about the way we see the sin of others. I am not saying at ALL that these people that they are speaking out against are sinning, which makes it even more devastating because they are leading these people to the throne of God but that is beside the point. We are to see our sin as a large log and theirs as a speck. How often is that true of us? We are so quick to look at others.
I have to tell you that I am enthralled in this word study. In 2 Cor. 12:20 it says, "For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and [that] I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest [there be] debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:"
The word for backbiting is defamation or evil speaking. Whispering means secret slandering or get this and I love it, of the magical murmuring of a charmer of snakes. Swelling means a puffing up of soul, loftiness, pride.
Needless to say, I could go on and on with the word study and the problem this behavior is causing our body. The affect it is having is not measurable, one would think we could stop fighting with ourselves long enough to reach a world watching us fighting and wanting no part of it.
I leave you with Titus 3:9 "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. " Warren Wiersbe says "people who are busy for the Lord do not have time for useless arguments."
I feel better, sorry to throw up on you, but had to get it off my chest. Now I am up to my ears in the word study of a heresy. Will let you know what I find.
2 comments:
I saw your comment on the lproof blog and wanted to stop by and read a Siesta in Christ's blog.
I love your post...it's almost as if you attend the church I love but left after 20 years.
God's blessings to you.
Annette
I find this post interesting and very fascinating. I like the word study concept, I've done that a little myself here and there. I journaled through a word study I did years ago about judgment, but I never showed it to a soul.
It's refreshing to read this post. Gossip is an epidemic. On a regular basis I've walked away from conversations because they are turning gossipy! Christians seem to be so nonchalant about it, and often justify it. Some gossip and then say things bout how they are somehow serving the Lord in this behavior! They twist it all up and, I don't know, even convince themselves, or something.
Though it's not a habit for me, but unfortunately, I have been on the other side a couple times. I have caught myself crossing boundaries in this area a couple times, to my shame. But I really detest gossip, so it's not a regular struggle for me. Oh man, the times I have, BOY, did I ever pay the consequences! I have always took this to be a clear message from God that He takes this matter of gossip so seriously, and it put the fear of God in me strongly!! At least in this area.
Well, ok, sin is sin. When in sin, well, just admit it, confess it, bring it to the Lord, and get it taken care of. Don't justify and say it's somehow godly. I know this because, I have had to do this myself. It's not pleasant, but necessary. We all have to go to the Lord on our knees here and there, all of us. This is what I want to say when people try to justify gossip!
I can't tell you how refreshing it was to read this post and hear that someone else in the church is taking this matter serious!
I'm curious to see what you learn about Heresy. Ok, because as a Christian I have a few hot topics, or pet peeves. One of them is gossip, another one is Heresy, then I have a couple more, but that's for another time.
Sorry for the extra long comment. Also typos and grammatical mess ups. I typed this up quick and didn't edit it.
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