Brethren, today my heart is broken and aches. For there are many who call themselves disciples of Christ. When I have met some of them they seemed to be kind and full of the Spirit. But over time, sometimes quickly, they were exposed as violent and abusive. At least two I can think of, the abuse was subtle. Most of these people are outside the walls of institutional churches. They claim to have been led out by the Lord from the churches and walk in the wilderness. But they act like pastors in their own right. They have no shame to realize they have done anything wrong. If they do admit to anything, there is no sorrow for the pain and suffering they have caused. I fear the Lord’s judgment has come upon these and have given them over to delusion because of their lack of compassion and love for others.

Some I have known and speak of, they have written blogs, but are now silent.  Why? Because the Lord has silenced them. He has not given them any word for the people. Anything they attempted to write was confusion and lacked Scripture. If there was Scripture, it was out of context.

These people are prideful, or arrogant. Sometimes fearful of men to hold them accountable. Some hold others accountable but will not be accountable themselves. They make false accusations. Those who listen, only listen to the false witness without investigating for themselves. I have seen these things with my own eyes. I have been shocked, dismayed and appalled by these displays and lack of love or concern for the Body of Christ, let alone Christ Himself.

What does our God say?

Once again give them this message from the Lord: When a person falls, he jumps up again; when he is on the wrong road and discovers his mistake, he goes back to the fork where he made the wrong turn. But these people keep on along their evil path, even though I warn them. ⁶ I listen to their conversation and what do I hear? Is anyone sorry for sin? Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done”? No, all are rushing pell-mell down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse rushing to the battle! ⁷ The stork knows the time of her migration, as does the turtledove, the crane, and the swallow. They all return at God’s appointed time each year; but not my people! They don’t accept the laws of God.

⁸ How can you say, “We understand his laws,” when your teachers have twisted them up to mean a thing I never said? ⁹ These wise teachers of yours will be shamed by exile for this sin, for they have rejected the word of the Lord. Are they then so wise? ¹⁰ I will give their wives and their farms to others; for all of them, great and small, prophet and priest, have one purpose in mind—to get what isn’t theirs. ¹¹ They give useless medicine for my people’s grievous wounds, for they assure them all is well when that isn’t so at all! ¹² Are they ashamed because they worship idols? No, not in the least; they don’t even know how to blush! That is why I will see to it that they lie among the fallen. I will visit them with death. ¹³ Their figs and grapes will disappear, their fruit trees will die, and all the good things I prepared for them will soon be gone.
(Jeremiah 8:4-13)

Scripture is all powerful to reveal the Truth to us if we want to hear it. But the question is, do you want to hear the Truth? Do I want to hear the voice of Jesus? If I’m honest, most of the time I do, but there are times when the flesh begins to rise because the flesh will have nothing to do with Christ. As Paul exhorted the Galatians:

²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Gal. 5:24-25)

Wait, isn’t this the tail end of how a disciple in Christ is supposed to act?
Yes, let’s start in verse 13.

¹³ For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Gal. 5:13-26)

But the Spirit of the Lord warns us also not to have a Spirit of murder towards one another. Yes a murderer does not necessarily physically murder, but can spiritually murder their brethren.

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. ²³ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. (Mat. 5:21-26)

If there will be no repentance for the wickedness at hand then I fear Salvation may be lost. Let us examine ourselves in the light of Scripture and repent. Consider the parable of the wicked servant.

⁴⁵ “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. ⁴⁷ Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. ⁴⁸ But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming, ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹ and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Do you see it? Where will the hypocrites be? Is the inference enough? Do you think God will allow your or my excuses?

So then let us support one another in love. Not becoming offended by the out-pouring of love from others, let us not be cowards, let us not make up stories about prayer vigils to reveal sins if you cannot discuss things openly. Do not make false witness against your brethren. That one is one of the ten commandments isn’t it? Do not experiment or manipulate your brothers and sisters into the outcome you desire. For God forbids sorcery. Do not pass judgment before you know someone.

Repent therefore and come back to Christ Jesus! Find your shame and guilt and suppress it not. Come back to the bread of life. Your only hope in Salvation! Repent!

¹² “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

¹⁴ Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
(Rev. 22:12-17)