Scriptural Reference:
15 Such
“wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual,
demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there
you find disorder and every evil practice.
James 3:15-16
23 “Woe to
the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my
pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord,
the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because
you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not
bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the
evil you have done,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:1-4
Whoever slanders
his [parishioner] secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty
look and an arrogant heart I will not endure
Psalm 101:5
6 If anyone
causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,
it
would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around
their neck and to be
drowned in the depths of the sea.
Matthew 18:6
28 Keep watch
over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which
he bought with his own blood.
Acts 20:28
Reflection:
Perhaps one of them most contentious and difficult issues facing
many Post Christian churches today are those individuals identified
as being toxic. Everyone within a church can be toxic and have
a negative impact to the church and its' ability to be an effective
light to the community. Even Ministers (this is all inclusive
and will be used to also represent Priests, Reverends and Pastors)
can be or become toxic over time.
At 64 (as
of 2022) I have journeyed through many churches and denominations.
In each I have encountered the good, the bad and the Ugly. In
one church where I had thought I was accepted and respected I
was referred to in a small discussion group as being just a 'good
listener'. Talk about being told to shut up. So yes, what I am
saying is that negativity can come from many sources and at any
time unexpected. For personal and legal reasons I won't mention
specific churches, names or locations. The last time I even suggested
someone without naming them I was warned they would take me to
court. Hypocritical to the end. The Minister was gossiping and
white anting me behind my back. Making it impossible to stay in
the congregation. All because I didn't accept his 'Woke Gay Agenda'.
Parasites within the church are real.
It's too
easy to start a personal witch hunt and start looking for toxic
MInsiters or peoiple within your congregation. Something that
could easily create a toxic personality within yourself. So it's
important to first take this matter to constant and devoted prayer.
Asking your Jesus the Christ if indeed you have encountered someone
who is taxic. Or if fact you have felt slighted and in need of
vindication. So that you yourself have become toxic in search
of revenge. Prayer, prayer, and more prayer is needed to discern
what to do next.
After some
deep soul searching and consistant prayer you still feel under
attack and diminshed in your ability to live your faith. Yes,
even within a church community, this can and does happen far too
often than it should. As an example I remember going to a church
that in the past I had felt comfrotable in. I observed a woman
visiting a church for the first time. She stated she ewas looking
for a Bible based church to attend. The man she was talking to
noticed she was holding a ings James Bible and started to mock
here for reading the verson of the Bible. He didn't tell her any
factsm or interesting thoughts on the version. Nor did he bother
to ask why she liked it. He just attacked her for reading it.
Her expression of stress and shock was real. She had found that
this so called profoundly Christian church was hyper critical
of others.
So what are
some sign?
Here are nine signs of a toxic person: