Proverbs 6:16-19 (ESV) “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
I’m going to key in on the “heart that devises wicked plans”. This is a total self serving attitude with evil motives toward splitting up a church or trying to get their way over matters of judgement and doing and/or saying about anything, in order to reach their goal. When someone looks for things to complain about and criticize constantly over matters of opinion, then they have a heart that is not pleasing to God. It’s one thing to criticize in a constructive manner, but when the Bible talks about building each other up and looking for the good in others including giving people the benefit of the doubt over things, we should look for ways to strengthen the body of Christ every way possible. I Thess. 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing”. Paul said in Phil. 2:1-2, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind”. Let’s quit pushing our own agenda, and think about what’s good for the whole body of Christ and that which is pleasing to God. People as a whole, avoid the troublemakers at congregations, and for good reason, negativity is contagious, and the troublemakers seem to gravitate to each other because nobody else wants to be a part of their heart that devises evil plans. What kind of reputation do you want to exhibit among God and Christians?
–Phil Barnes
Sunday Morning In-Person Service is Canceled