Bulletin Articles: Full Article for Record Number 1080
Unhealthy Spirits
by Larry Ray Hafley
Unwholesome attitudes pervade and pervert the lives of some Christians. No one is immune. All are subject to fall into the lairs and snares of Satan. We must take inventory of our internal situation lest we fall into eternal condemnation, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts" (Mk. 7:21-23). Again, Jesus said, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh...an evil man out of the evil treasure (heart) bringeth forth evil things" (Matt. 12:34-37).
What are some of these unsound spirits and alienating attitudes?
(1)Jealous Hearts-Envy or jealousy is so detested and despised that Solomon calls it "the rottenous of the bones" (Prov. 14:30). Regardless of the disgusting nature of the deeds of another, we must not permit jealousy to permeate our thoughts. Though some may preach Christ "even of envy and strife...(and) of contention, not sincerely," we should "rejoice," as Paul did, because "whether in pretence or truth, Christ is preached" (Phil. 1:14-18). Remember, "the members (of the body, the church) should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it" (1 Cor. 12:25, 26).
(2)Angry Hearts-Angry hearts kindle strife and keep it simmering. A furious man, the Spirit says, abounds in transgressions. "A wrathful man stirreth up strife; but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife" (Prov. 15:18). An angry heart has a mean gleam and a clenched fist. "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools" (Eccl. 7:9). One cannot allow anger to ferment into wrath, "for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (Jas. 1:20). Therefore, "let all...anger...be put away from you, with all malice" (Eph. 4:31).
(3)Bitter, Vengeful Hearts-A heart cannot be bitter and not be vengeful, nor can it be vengeful and not bitter. Nothing any man has done to you is worth becoming bitter and being lost. A bitter heart is a hard, impervious heart, but the Bible heart is a tender one. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another" (Eph. 4:32). "Put on therefore...bowels of mercies, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another and forgiving one another" (Col. 3:12, 13).
A man set of on fire with vengeance will not and cannot heed Paul’s injunction: "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify (build up) another" (Rom. 14:19). The spirit of retaliation does not build life or strength or peace. It saps and drains them. A church whose leaders and members have an unquenchable desire for revenge may grow for a while on brute force, but, inwardly, it will crumble and eventually collapse. "Dear beloved, avenge not yourselves....For it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Rom. 12:19). Let us not take what belongs to God.
Conclusion--Only God knows how many homes and churches have been destroyed by jealous, angry, and bitter, vengeful hearts. How many innocent, precious and sweet hearts have been unjustly savaged by jealous, angry and bitter ones? Again, only God knows. Yes, he knows, and he will judge. Let us, therefore, purge and purify our hearts of all such attitudes, for they will lead us into eternal destruction.
