Holly D. Dye is the founding contributor and General Editor of Refocusing Our Eyes.

I will be the first one to challenge what our modern churches have defined as the “love walk”. It seems to be nothing more than simple tolerance, weak and unbalanced, at best. However, we can never by any means cast off love or ignore its command to believers.

I have been deeply burdened, as of late, at the constant bickering and viciousness of fellow believers. Never before have I witnessed such a willingness to tear people apart if one does not believe exactly like the other.

My friends, these things ought not be.

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Gal 5:14-15)

Albert Barnes explained it in this manner:

*But if ye bite – The word used here (δάκνω daknō), means, properly, to bite, to sting; and here seems to be used in the sense of contending and striving – a metaphor not improbably taken from dogs and wild beasts.

*And devour one another – As wild beasts do. The sense is, “if you contend with each other;” and the reference is, probably, to the strife, which would arise between the two parties in the churches – the Jewish and the Gentile converts.

*Take heed that ye be not consumed … – As wild beasts contend sometimes until both are slain. Thus, the idea is, in their contentions they would destroy the spirituality and happiness of each other; their characters would be ruined; and the church be overthrown. The readiest way to destroy the spirituality of a church, and to annihilate the influence of religion, is to excite a spirit of contention. (Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible)

Apparently, the Jewish believers were taking issue with the Gentile believers because they did not adhere to the customs they thought were important, mainly the Law. However, Paul is teaching them here that the most important part of the law they have put off is love.

He goes on to say that if they would walk in the Spirit, the following things would not be manifesting in their lives:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21)

Hatred. Hatred of any man, even our enemies, is forbidden.

Variance. This means contentions, fighting or quarrelling.

Emulations. This word speaks of having zeal, but not for good. It means a boiling or rising up of the spirits and passions at the honor of another.

Wrath. Wrath is a violent emotion. It moves you to seek revenge and seeks to hurt others.

Strife. When Paul speaks of strife, in this verse, he is talking about arguing about petty flaws in others or finding unnecessary fault.

Seditions. Public disorder. Division.

Did you happen to notice that these words are lumped into the same category with adultery, idolatry and witchcraft?

Did you also notice that Paul said they, which do such things, SHALL NOT inherit the kingdom of God?

This is a sober warning, my friends, which I think we would do well to heed.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (Jn 13:35)

Somewhere between the years of 160-220 A.D., the Christian author, Tertullian, observed that even the heathen took notice of Christians passing one another along the street, for they would meet and express their affection to each other. It was said the heathen remarked, “see how they love one another”.

Can this be said of us today? No, I do not think it can.

Well, you may say, “I’m fighting for TRUTH! Lies must be exposed!” I agree, to an extent. False doctrine must be exposed, but not at the risk of devouring one another.

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2Tim 2:24-26)

You must check your motives. What is their desired end? Is it truly to help your brother who has fallen into a lie? Or is it to crush him and get him out of your way? Can you not see the latter is evil?

He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. (1Jn 2:9-11)

Now, John specifically uses the word brother here. He is not talking about the ungodly. He is talking about fellow believers.

Yet, what I have been observing is believers mocking one another because they don’t agree over a certain doctrine. Let me make this as clear as I possibly can.

Dear friend, that brother…that sister…that you have so freely pursued to destroy, is someone whom Christ died for. When you so mock your brother, you so mock Christ. For when you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto Him. You are yet in darkness.

It is pride that sets itself in a position over others to deem that person unworthy of respect. Who made you lord over your brother?

Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Rom 14:4)

Beware, lest you find yourself opposed to God. For how do you know the inner workings of the Spirit of God upon a man’s heart? How do you know the brother or sister whom you are despising, God is not in the process of holding him up?

Friends! This is such dangerous ground to tread upon! In tears, I plead with you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – abstain from strife!

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (Jas 1:19-20)

You cannot justify your wrath. I don’t care what your crusade is. I don’t care what your passion is. You simply cannot justify it with the Word of God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1Jn 4:8)

John makes this statement clear. If you do not love – You do not know God. Period.

What should our attitude be toward one another, even when we may disagree?

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (Rom 14:19)

If we love our brothers, we will do everything possible to edify them. Love must be our highest aim. But if we seek to promote our own agenda, passions and prejudices, will it not only gender strife and contention? There are things that are common among us all that we can agree on and will unite us. Let us strive to cultivate a spirit of peace among our ranks.

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By Holly D. Dye
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