Building on the Foundation

  In the first three blog posts in this series, we’ve explored the deadly sin of reviling, which involves cursing, belittling, and using abusive language toward other people. In part 1 , we saw that this behavior is evil and demonic, and that such people will burn in the lake of fire if they do not repent: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). In part 2 , we saw that God’s Word especially condemns reviling spirit beings, our parents, human rulers or authorities, our spouses, our children, fellow brethren, and people in general. In this life, God’s law prescribes the death penalty for reviling many of these, in addition to the eternal destruction that awaits those who persist in such wicked behavior. In part 3 , we explored...

  Last time , we explored some of the specific groups of people whom God’s Word tells us not to revile. We are not to curse, speak evil of, or belittle spirit beings, parents, human rulers, our spouses, our children, fellow brethren… or, for that matter, anyone! The apostle Peter plainly told us that we must show honor to everyone: “Honor all people . Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Pet. 2:17). And the apostle Paul added, “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Tit. 3:1-2). We are to love others as our own selves (Lev. 19:18), to do unto others as we would have them do unto us (Luke 6:31). And yet, the Bible shows multiple examples of God’s people denouncing the wicked — reviling them even! Even Jesus Himself reviled the scribes and Pharisees with the very word He warned His followers not to use toward one another: moros or ...