DID YOU KNOW that sowing seeds of discord among the brethren is an abomination in the Lord’s eyes?
“A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth; He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers; Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.” Proverbs 6:12-14
Please continue to read the next portion of this Scripture, “Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.” (v.15) What exactly is “sowing discord among the brethren”? I’m glad you asked. It’s to sow seeds (words) that spread dissent, division, doubt, distrust and discord amongst the church. It’s to speak a crafty word that undermines a leader’s authority, “I don’t think that pastor should do it that way!” It’s words that one speaks to solely produce a sense of distrust in the Church Body like, “that church is too *this or doesn’t preach *that”.
These words erode at the foundation of people’s trust and their sole purpose is to destroy. There’s a reason the Bible speaks of the power of the tongue and it’s warnings so much. Words can build up and they can destroy, especially when your heart is bitter.
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
A friend was telling me a story of something that happened in their church. She had said a family left the church from a bitter heart and initially didn’t say anything. But as time went on, people would be talking to them and they would say, “I’m not telling you to leave, but..” and they would list off their grievances against the church. Now mind you, no heresy was being preached. There was no impropriety within leadership. No money was being misused. There was no Biblical reason for their departure. This family had an offense at the pastor for something he didn’t do for them.
The reality was that the pastor didn’t even know about the situation. This family listed off their complaints to my friend. My friend did not think anything of it until after a couple of weeks and that list began popping up in her mind and she eyed the pastor suspiciously. This went on for a short time until she came to her senses and saw it for what it was: the enemy was sowing seeds of discord among the brethren. Your seemingly “harmless” conversation from a venomous and bitter tongue only produces unrighteousness.
Jesus tells us that we will give an account of every foolish and idle word. Continue to speak wicked and deceitful words and swift destruction is coming. Be very careful that when “stating your opinion” it’s not producing seeds of doubt in another’s ears. Just because you may not like the way something is done, does not make it wrong. Be very careful friend guard your heart and your mouth. Some people have a snaked tongue, “eat and drink they say to you, but seven abominations are in their heart”.
“These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19
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