Gal 5:15 Biting, devouring, consuming, destroying. Are you doing that? Be careful.

[1still_waters]

Galatians 5:

15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.KJV


15But if you(C) bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.ESV


15But if you (C)bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. NASB

15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. NIV

15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.NLT

15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! NKJV

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Bite, devour, consumed, destroy. These are all things capable of happening within a Christian community. Whether it's online or in person.

A few people have raised this concern on the forums and chat before, so my post is nothing new or innovative here. I'm sure some raised concerns because of posts I've made in the past!

Before I go throwing out my admonitions, I'll admit I'm guilty of creating posts and chat conversations that have lead to biting, devouring, consuming and destroying. That's one of the reasons I've really refrained lately from posting on here and getting too heavily involved in Bible discussions in chat.

We've all seen it on the board here, people crossing that line to the point they do start biting, devouring, consuming and destroying people.

I want to admonish some of you to please watch yourself and your tone on this board. Before you hit 'submit, read what you're saying and ask yourself, 'Is that the kind of person I want to project myself as being?"

Does your post involve any biting, devouring, consuming or destroying?

I know some of the more 'bold' and 'warrior like' amongst us will point to various Bible verses where bible people came across as bold and in your face. That's all fine and dandy, but keep in mind we are commanded to avoid things that lead to biting, devouring, consuming and destroying.

Here are the verses that surround Galatians 5:15.

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.

Are you loving your neighbor? Are you walking in the Spirit?

Listen I know in the heat of discussion, folks are bound to slip and be imperfect and say some stupid stuff. So that's going to happen.

But is the majority of your stuff mean spirited that does lead to biting, devouring, consuming and destroying of another?

 

[LynnJ]

I totally agree with you, Stilly. Everyone, please try to keep in mind what Paul wrote to Timothy:

"And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 2:24-25)

God bless you all as you continue to encourage and build one another up in the most holy faith!

 

[KingdomGeneration]

Stil you're absolutely right.

I'll be among the first to admit that I've done my fare share. Compassion has never been my strong suit. Sometimes it can be hard to sit back and say nothing when someone is bashing your beliefs when their belief system is easily just as flawed. Pride is a sin no matter how you try to wrap it. Pride disguised as sincerity is the worst of them all.

The truth is, there is no perfect denomination. If there were, all sincere believers would all be a part of it. Expressing denominational pride (non-denominational pride even) is only going to lead to trouble. So before you accuse someone of another denomination of living in apostacy, try to remember Matthew 7:1-5:

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

The person in which you are passing judgment may be a new believer or simply may not be as familiar with scripture as you. If you feel compelled to post scripture concerning the matter, that's fine however, if you attempt to push your beliefs on someone else you can expect the same resistance from them as if they were trying to push something on you. If you are truly sincere about their well being, then how about devoting as much time praying for people as you would debating with them. After all prayer is the most productive thing that we can do.

 

[Cookie38115]

I love this!!! Walking with God has it's on ups and downs, we don't need to tear each other down. I really hate to see some of the post, because some people are so Bible versed, that they don't apply those verses to how they are living every day. The most important commandment is to Love one another. Sometimes I don't feel the love. Everyone is so caught up in being right, they forget to love.

Thank you for letting me vent.

Have a great day.

 

[NoahsMom]

Well said still, Ill be the first to admit i have no finess, and the filter between my brain and mouth is all but non-exsistant, we should all be careful how we word things so as not to become a stumbling block to one another. you can attract more bees with honey than vinegar.

 

[Abing]

Thank you for the important reminder.

 

[Sinsear]

I agree. Although sharing our beliefs and dicussing doctrine is important , if we do it without love and humility it is vain and unprofitable.