Paul wrote,
"Let all bitterness ... be put away from you"
(Eph. 4:31).
Christians today need this admonition so very badly. In the midst of all
the controversies now raging among brethren, bitterness is everywhere
evident.
One of the
most dreadful things about this problem is that few are able to see any
signs of bitterness in themselves. It is only in others that we see this
fault. We all stoutly declare our own innocence.
Yet
bitterness toward brethren often shows in the following ways:
1. A critical spirit:
This does not mean that constructive criticism is wrong, but this
critical spirit manifests itself in that we become faultfinders almost
habitually. We may seek to find faults.
2. Those with whom we differ become constant victims of
our ire.
Whatever they do, we search it with a critical eye,
seeking error in it.
3. Sometimes our criticism is in complete conflict with
principles of common decency, and courtesy.
We make our
criticism actual attacks upon people for whom we should be deeply
concerned and for whom love should fill our hearts even if we do
disagree with them.
This
bitterness is a double -- barreled problem. Bitterness in my heart will
hurt the one whom I oppose, but bitterness will hurt me more than it
will him. My own heart is sure to fall victim and be shrunk into an evil
one. In other words bitterness is accumulative--a speck of it will grow
into a mountain in our own heart.
Bitterness
will undoubtedly keep many out of heaven. Let's put it out of our lives,
for it is altogether unbecoming to the gospel of Christ which we believe
and to which we have claimed to give our allegiance.
Other
Articles by Leslie Diestelkamp
Do All to the Glory of God
Individual or Collective Action
Has God Revealed a Pattern for Worship?
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