Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32 NIV
St. Paul was so right when he kept admonishing his flocks about bad behavior. The Hebrew and Christian Scriptures are so down to earth, direct, concrete about our ability to tear each other to pieces.
The Psalms are a mirror-in some ways, the author (authors?) might have been writing for you, or me-and for our denominations.
Unfortunately, our congregations can be Petri dishes for the foul fruits of bickering, criticism, indifference and anger.
Right now the Anglican Communion is being roiled by just such spiritual warfare-waged by very human beings. No point trying to blame this on a supernatural agent. The spiritual arrogance, backroom accusations and gossip emerge out of the murk of our own very human sin. We will, we are, being judged for it.
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