I don't have a finely tuned ear, like some folks, but even my unlearned ear is pained by some who sing so far off key ­not that it matters to God when a fellow is doing the best he can. But, the very concept of "harmony" necessitates symphonic notes sung together ­discordant notes destroy harmony.

When the wise man lists some seven sins that are particularly odious to God, he seventh is "he that soweth discord among brethren" (Pro. 6:19 ). That does not mean that the seventh sin is worse than the other six - all are equally abominable to God. And, while sowing discord does not have the same consequences as , it is listed as being as much of an abomination as "hands that shed ." If you are tempted to say or do things that create unrest and destroy harmony, then understand that, when compared to most other sins, God looks upon this sin with greater disgust. This is not a sin about which we can be blasé.

The "sowing discord" is "among brethren." As with the word “harmony," bre­thren" argue for unity and togetherness. It is a common, family identity of those belonging to a UNIT (Heb. 2:11 -14; cf. Ch. 10:19). Not long after Solomon penned these words the kingdom divided, creating no greater strife historically  known among "brethren" than the history of Israel . "The divided kingdom" appropriately covers the greater portion of  Israel 's history.

Sometimes little groups of associations are formed in a congregation that have a commonality of complaining and dissatisfaction. Gossiping and tale bearing that create suspicion and unrest are common practices of these parties. Instead of building up brethren they viciously cut and tear down. Just as is true of bearing false witness, a person is defenseless against their verbal abuses.

I find it weird that some worldly people seem to take pride in being rude, as though that is an admirable quality of character. I find nothing appealing in that kind of behavior and find it totally out of character for Christians. But, some seem to believe that they are justified in being obnoxious, if you have hurt their feelings - and frequently, you never learn that you have offended them unless word gets back to you through another source. That does seem to violate Matthew 18:15 , unless I have missed what Jesus was teaching. Addressing personal affronts, as Jesus taught it, not only takes care of sin in the right way, but it maintains oneness in a congregation. You can get along with these people for awhile but it doesn't take them long to get their feelings hurt and turn on you. These folks need to wake up to the fact that if they are able to keep friends only for a short time, before falling out with them, then the fault cannot always be with others.

Then, Paul warned Timothy about questions that "gender strife" (2 Tim. 2:23 ). We should be wise enough to know how to study and teach in a together relationship of brethren so that we maintain a spirit of oneness, even when we disagree. The man who boosts his ego by proudly displaying an appearance of knowledge through his "learned questions" is really a fool ­and he cares not that he sows discord among brethren.

Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers ..." (Matt. 5:7). Heaven's approval is upon the man who seeks to make peace between God and man. Also, God's approval rests upon those who, through great effort and proper 'disposition keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3).

Pay particular attention to the songs you sing among brethren- and I don't mean the hymns sung in the assembly. If your notes are discordant, God not only s them but they are particularly repugnant to him. - Jim R. Everett  

 

 

 

 

 

Solomon said, "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord" (Pro. 17: 15 ). How often are we witness to such perversion of justice in our day!

The wicked go their way, inflicting their ungodly ways on society in general. One man his fellow human being, and immediately there are those who come to his defense with all sorts of nonsense. How often do we hear, "O he is not responsible; he was mistreated as a child, and therefore should not be punished." A convicted due to meet his maker in the gas chamber usually has a battery of attorneys scurrying around trying to convince the courts that he should be spared because of "brain damage." I wonder who really has the "brain damage" here?

Or witness the ography that is peddled in almost every neighborhood ­all the way from supermarkets to "adult book stores" who market such filth. And what is the "defense" to such things. I read of one case some time ago, and I could hardly believe what I was seeing in the paper. Attorneys for these filth merchants say such outlets ought to be allowed to continue, for people have a right to see what the want to see. And then came the real . To close such establishment down, they said, was "discrimination against people who could not afford a VCR!" I wonder - who said we were entitled to a VCR anyway? Since when do we have rights to such things that" we almost consider necessities?

But those who are opposed to such things? Ahhh – they are bigoted and narrow minded and ought to be muzzled because society in general does not want them to “dictate morality” to them! There is a bit of news for such folks – God has already dictated on what is moral and what is not!

Find a man who would fit the description of the “wicked” in God’s sight. I will find you 20 more who will “justify” him in what he does. Find me a man that God looks upon as “just,” and I will find you 20 that will condemn him for his “narrow minded” views.

But we rejoice in that there is one who is higher than all, and he sees and will one day set such matters right (cf. Eccl. 5:8). Such things, good or bad, do not escape the omniscient eye of God. Would that all men would bring their lives into alignment with his ways! – Bill Moseley

 

 

 

A few year ago 1 watched my neighbor, who was about 6' 5" and weighing in at around 300 pounds, lifting sacks of cement and carrying them from his driveway to his backyard where he was doing some work. Being the neighborly sort, I offered him the use of my wheelbarrow. He thanked me and said, "naw - these only weigh 90 pounds." This prompted me to respond, "no ­they used to weigh 90 pounds - now they weigh about 150!" Took him a minute for it to sink in, and then he opined, "well, they do seem a mite heavier than they used to." Whereupon, he lifted two of them and carried them around the house.

Reminds me of the fellow who, as he grew older, thought he must also be getting stronger. "I can remember," he said, "when 1 was 20 years old and could only carry $10 worth of groceries. Now that I'm 70, 1 can carry $100 worth."

Years have a way of acting that way with you. If they don't affect you, they affect what you're trying to do. But is that bad? Depends on how you look at it. We could (and probably should) stop saying, "I'm another year older," and start saying, "I'm another year closer to heaven." This world is only temporary anyway; so why not look for that world which is permanent? Unlike cement and , groceries, our spiritual burdens ought to get lighter every year! - and they will if you have grown spiritually over the years as you should have! - Bill Moseley