My husband and I have watched Christians do Satan's work in every church we've been in and at times we've seen each other do it. This isn't a pleasant topic but one that affects all of us at one point or another in our Christian walk.
Some of the best vessels for Satan to do his work, in my opinion, are Christians. What better way to lead others astray than to operate in one generally above reproach? We were in a church one time where the leadership claimed that "God" had put them in their positions and therefore their word was to be obeyed (sacrosanct). But they used their positions to hurt others and puff themselves up. They hurt people, including my family. Members of my family still won't go to an independent bible church today because of them. And the worst part about it is that they just didn't care. We left the church and within a short time the pastor was pushed out.
I think that Christians need to be aware that we are all targets for destruction by the enemy. Not only individually but as a group. I think that Satan wants to destroy unity among believers because we're weaker. We know that Satan attacks us but what I never hear talked about is that Satan sometimes uses other believers.
The Bible says a perverse man sows strife (Prov. 16:28); and that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21); and despite the fact that God warns us not to circulate a false report (Ex. 23:1) we can’t resist the temptation to gossip—especially when slander is involved on here and in church.
Slander is not pretty. It means "to defame someone; to harm their reputation; to disgrace; or to accuse." Slander is a tool of the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). Consider this: the word slanderer in 1 Timothy 3:11 is the same word for “devil.” When we slander someone, we are acting like devils. We are mirroring the character of Satan. We can’t claim to be Christians and mirror the character of Satan at the same time.
I think this is something we should be on guard against; we're supposed to be on one side or the other. We have an enemy and a world that is very anti-Christian and seems to be growing more so as we draw nearer to the end. For those who claim to be Christians sometimes we seem to look more like the world.
Some of the best vessels for Satan to do his work, in my opinion, are Christians. What better way to lead others astray than to operate in one generally above reproach? We were in a church one time where the leadership claimed that "God" had put them in their positions and therefore their word was to be obeyed (sacrosanct). But they used their positions to hurt others and puff themselves up. They hurt people, including my family. Members of my family still won't go to an independent bible church today because of them. And the worst part about it is that they just didn't care. We left the church and within a short time the pastor was pushed out.
I think that Christians need to be aware that we are all targets for destruction by the enemy. Not only individually but as a group. I think that Satan wants to destroy unity among believers because we're weaker. We know that Satan attacks us but what I never hear talked about is that Satan sometimes uses other believers.
The Bible says a perverse man sows strife (Prov. 16:28); and that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21); and despite the fact that God warns us not to circulate a false report (Ex. 23:1) we can’t resist the temptation to gossip—especially when slander is involved on here and in church.
Slander is not pretty. It means "to defame someone; to harm their reputation; to disgrace; or to accuse." Slander is a tool of the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). Consider this: the word slanderer in 1 Timothy 3:11 is the same word for “devil.” When we slander someone, we are acting like devils. We are mirroring the character of Satan. We can’t claim to be Christians and mirror the character of Satan at the same time.
I think this is something we should be on guard against; we're supposed to be on one side or the other. We have an enemy and a world that is very anti-Christian and seems to be growing more so as we draw nearer to the end. For those who claim to be Christians sometimes we seem to look more like the world.