AVOID! Mockers, scorners, and those who bite and devour, lest you be consumed (Gal. 5:15).

A prayer to pray over each conversation: ‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer’” (Psalm 19:14).

I am truly astounded at the scorn and mockery that is present in the news media, articles, blogs and comments to blogs. I find I need to avoid this carnal and demonic spirit or it contaminates my spirit. Obviously this cuts a lot out of my life and that is perfectly fine with me.

The Bible tells us to avoid mockers and scorners.

• Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot. They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. (Ps. 73:7-9) Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! (Ps. 73:18-19)
• Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is good will... The house of the wicked will be destroyed, But the tent of the upright will flourish. (Prov. 14:9 &11)
• An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished. (Prov.17:4-5)
• For the ruthless will come to an end and the scorner will be finished, Indeed all who are intent on doing evil will be cut off; Who cause a person to be indicted by a word, And ensnare him who adjudicates at the gate, And defraud the one in the right with meaningless arguments. (Isa. 29:20-21)
• In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts. These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. (Jude 1:18-21)

Coming to grips with my own mockery of other believers

It has taken me a while to realize that I grew up in a church denomination that mocked, scorned, and de-platformed every other denomination and religious group. I assumed this was normal and natural because, of course, everyone who disagreed with our denomination was going to hell! I still see this contempt among many Christians, and it saddens me. It would be horrific if the world learned how to de-platform and scorn others by observing this behavior in the Church. Lord, save us from our sins!

The Catholics who attend my seminars admit that they were taught Protestants were all going to hell. Protestants have been taught that Catholics are going to hell. And yet there they are in my seminars, loving God, journaling, and receiving His love (and some of them still attending Catholic churches). Do I rebuke them, or do I understand that they, just like me, are on a path that is growing brighter and brighter until the dawning of the full day of Christ in our hearts? We are all changing at the pace we can accept, and God is OK with that. Truly amazing!

See this powerful testimony from one Catholic who attended my seminar. (There are approximately 1.3 billion Catholics and 900 million Protestants in the world today.) Can I discover many horrible things spoken by the leaders within both Catholics and Protestant churches, as well as the Mormon church? Yes. Am I to be judged by the worst things spoken by some Protestant leader? I sure hope not! That is NOT who I am! TALK TO ME if you want to discover who I am. Don't throw a label on me so you can then easily discard me along with the group. I am NOT the group. I am me, on a path that constantly changes and gets brighter and brighter. Let me extend this courtesy to ALL!

Actually, I am not aware of any institution that does not get rotten. Perhaps that is why God said, I don't want you to establish a king. Maybe that is why Jesus operated outside all institutions of His day, and why revivals take place outside of existing institutions.

Now, 59 years after my salvation experience, I have discovered that I have changed most of my religious beliefs many times, and I just need to lighten up and accept that I am growing and changing right along with everyone else and we are all on a path that is to be getting brighter and brighter until the full dawning of Christ in our hearts (2 Pet. 1:19). 

Deciding what is foundational

The only three beliefs that I feel I need to hold are stated in the Apostles' Creed (which are all built on the underlying belief that the Bible is the Word of God.) I believe in the Father, I believe in the Son. I believe in the Holy Spirit. If you hold to that, I am going to accept you as my brother or sister in the body of Christ. I have sat down next to people in airplanes and talked with them - some of whom the Church is passionately, emotionally convinced are in cult groups. Yet when I talk with them one-on-one, they will affirm they believe in the Apostles' Creed (and NOT what I was told by religious authorities that they believed).

I choose to believe the words from their lips, over what others have told me they believe. Therefore, I consider them my brothers and sisters in Christ. I dare not even mention all the names of these groups as we are all at different points in the enlargement of our tents. I do assume that God's tent, as to whom He considers to be His children and who is going to spend eternity with Him, is likely much bigger than our tents. Thankfully, He has never commissioned me to judge who is going to heaven and who is not! I am just to share His love and His truth which I am walking in today. Whew! That is so much simpler than straightening everyone else out.

Jesus offers advice on judging others

• Jesus said to him (Peter), "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!" (Jn. 21:22)
• John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. "For he who is not against us is for us. "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward (Mk. 9:38-41).

So how about if we speak only words edifying for the need of the moment (Eph. 4:29). ‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer’” (Psalm 19:14).

Journaling

Lord, what would You speak to me concerning my speech about others, and whom I accept as part of the body of Christ?