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What does the Bible say
About the spiritually abusive?
They are self-deceived
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly
they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Matt.7:15, 16.
Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven… Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
(preached) in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? And in your
name done many wonderful works? And than I will profess to them, I never knew
you; depart from me you that work iniquity”. Matt. 7:23.
They are spiritually critical & ignorant
“But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know
naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves”. Jude 10
They are sensual
“These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit”.
Jude 19b
They are separatist & elitist
“These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit. Jude
19a. Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us
not. If I come, I will remember his (Diotrephes) deeds which he doeth, prating
against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he
himself receive the brethren and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them
out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.
He (Diotrephes) that doeth evil hath not seen God”.
3 John 1:5; 8-11
They are spiritually divisive & exclusive
“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the
name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you…lest any should say that
I had baptized in mine own name (own denomination). Preach the gospel, not
with wisdom of words lest the cross of Christ should ne made of none effect. (1
Cor. 1:11-14, 17. If any man seem to be contentious we have no such custom,
neither the churches of God (plural and universal church). When you come
together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you…for there must
ne also heresies among you that they which are approved may be made
manifest among you…Do you despise the church of God? 1Cor 11:16, 18, 19.
For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body…and have been all made to
drink into one spirit. 1Cor. 12:13. There is one body, and one spirit even as you
are called in one hope…One Lord, one faith, one baptism”. Eph.4:4, 5.
They are sinfully carnal & self-made
“For you are yet carnal; for there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions,
are you not carnal and walk as men?” 1 Cor. 3:3-5
They are spiritually contentious
“If any man seem to be contentious we have no such custom, neither the
churches of God. When you come together in the church, I hear that there be
divisions among you…for there must ne also heresies among you that they which
are approved may be made manifest among you…Do you despise the church of
God? ” 1Cor 11:16,18, 19.
They are spiritually segregated
“For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another I am of Apollos; are you not
carnal? For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. Therefore let no man glory (boast) in men (manmade denominations,
fellowships or associations)… Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be
found faithful (“Be found faithful’ in context is referring to being faithful in having
open fellowship with all believers, Christian fellowships and groups). For who
makes you to differ from another? ” (denomination or Christian group).
1 Corinthians. 3:3-23
They are sure of themselves
“Now you are full (satisfied with your denomination), now you are rich (sufficient
in your denomination), you have reigned (operated your denominations) as kings
(elitist) without us: for I think that God has set forth us the apostles last (sarcastic
remark)… We (apostles) are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are strong
(doctrinally correct): you are honourable, but we are despised. I write not to
shame you… but to warn you. For though you have ten thousand instructors in
Christ, yet you have not many fathers (spiritual leaders)”. 1 Cor. 4:7-10
They are self-sufficient & superior in their own eyes
“now you are full, now you are rich, you have reigned as kings without us…”
1 Corinthians 4:8
They are smart and strong in their own eyes
“We (apostles) are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are strong…”
1 Corinthians 4:10
They are self-centred and self-conceited
“Let no man glory in men. For all things are your’s; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or
Cephas… 1 Corinthians 3:21, 22. Now some are puffed up, though I would not
come to you. What will you? Shall I come unto you with a rod or in love…
”.1Corinthians 4:18 "Knowledge puffeth up..."And if any man think that he
knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know"
1 Corinthians 8:1,2
They are secular in their theology
“But avoid foolish questions, and geneologies and contentions, and strivings
about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is a heretic…reject.
Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth, being condemned of
himself. Tit. 3:9-11. That thou mightest charge some that they teach no other
doctrine neither give heed to fables and endless geneologies which minister
questions, rather than godly edifying…1Tim.1:3-6. Judge (form opinions or
convictions) nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will reveal the
hidden (obscure) things of darkness and will manifest the unknown counsels of
mystery. 1Cor. 4:5. Some having swerved have turned aside unto vain
janglings (debates) desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither
what they say, nor whereof they affirm…1Ti.1:6, 7. Avoiding profane and vain
babblings (preaching) and opposition of science falsely called: which some
professing have erred concerning the faith. 1Ti. 6:20, 21. After you have known
God, or rather are known of God; you turned again to be in bondage. You
observe days and months and times and years. Am I therefore become your
enemy, because I tell you the truth? I (Paul) stand in doubt of you”.
Gal.4:9-11, 16, 20.
They are seduced by human standards & traditions
“Stand in liberty…wherewith Christ has made you free, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage… for Christ shall profit you nothing…and
become of no effect unto you… whosoever are justified by the law; ye are fallen
from grace…and your consciences are seared as with a hot iron. This
persuasion (believing in grace but not living by grace) cometh not of Him that
calleth you. Gal.5:1-4, 8; 1Ti.4:2. Let no man judge you in meat, or in drink, or in
respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or the Sabbath days. Col. 2:16. If any
man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words…he is proud
knowing nothing, but doting about words, whereof cometh strifes, envy, railings,
evil surmisings; perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of
truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself. Knowledge
puffeth up…If any man think that he know anything, he knows nothing”.
1Cor.8:2; Gal. 6:3; Romans12:3. 1Ti.6:3-5.
They are spiritually blind
"They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall
into a ditch."Matt 15:14 “And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the
blind…an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of
knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou which teachest another, teachest
thou not thyself? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the
law dishonourest thou God? ” (good question). Romans 2:19-21
They are spiritual babes, shallow and self-promoting
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal,
even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for
hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” 1Corinthians
3:1, 2. “An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of
knowledge and of the truth in the law, Thou therefore which teaches another,
teachest thou not thyself? ” Romans 2:20-21
They are self-serving and seductive
“Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which
you learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the
hearts of the simple (naïve)”.
Romans 16:17, 18
They are selfish and spiritually sick
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word… love thy neighbour as thyself. Gal5:14.
For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even
publicans the same…love your enemies. Matt.5:44. Which is the greatest
commandment in the law? Love the Lord thy God…and your neighbour as
thyself”. Matt.22:36-40. 3 John 1:5; 8-11.
If any man say, I love God, and hateth (The word hate here means “to reject,
ignore or avoid”) his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth (the word love here
means “to fellowship or associate with”) not his brother whom he has seen, how
can he love God who he has not seen? There is no fear in love but perfect love
casteth out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in
love”.
They are satanically motivated
“Ye are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a
murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth
in him”. John 8:44 “We know that we have passed from death unto life because
we love the brethren (plural and universal fellowship). He that loveth not his
brother abideth in death”. Whoever hateth (to treat badly by ignoring or
demeaning) his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has
eternal life. Let us not love in word (talk), neither in tongue (speech); but in deed
(action)” 1John 2:9-11; 3:14, 15; 4:18, 20
They are soul winners from hell
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to
win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of
hell as yourselves”. Matthew 23:15
They are strict in their observance of the law
“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I’m not
as other men are, extoritioners, unjust, adulterers. Or even as this publican. I
fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess”. Luke 18: 11-12 “The
letter of the law killeth but the spirit of the law gives life”. 2 Corinthian 3:6
“But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held,
that we should serve in the newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter”.
Romans 7:6
They are self-righteous
“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I’m not
as other men are, extoritioners, unjust, adulterers. Or even as this publican. I
fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess”.
Luke 18: 11-12
They are stereotypical in their faith
“The gospel is made without charge if I abuse my power in the gospel; therefore I
am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some”.
1Corintians 9:18-23.
They are superficial
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of
the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind
Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them
may be clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are
like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are
full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly
appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ”
Matthew 23:25-28
They are scripturally sound but spiritually legalistic & hypocritical
“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes
and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to
observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they
say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on
men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their
fingers”. Matthew 23:1-4
They are scripturally studios
“You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life;
and it is these that bear witness of Me”. John 5:39
They are spiritual know it alls
"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the lord come, who both will bring
to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the
hearts....1 Corinthians 4:5 "We see through a glass darkly..." 1 Corinthians
13:12 "The scriptures are of no private (human) interpretation..." 2 Peter 1:20
"Not as though I had already attained..." Philippians 3:12 "And if any man think
that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know"
1 Corinthians 8:1,2
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