bitterness – La Vista Church of Christ

The Bitter Heart

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 23:46:41 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

He said something they did not like, and they did not want to admit it was the truth; from then on, nothing he said was respected. They continued to backstab him, trying to undermine him by manipulating others. There was no room for loving him and forgiving him. Even if he were truly a good soul, they would never view him that way again. He did so much good and taught the truth in love, but they would look for things to complain about. He would have loved to reconcile and be united in fellowship, but they kept a diary of things to get offended about. It broke his heart that they kept up this attitude, but it was clear that they were determined to get rid of him. They would not be happy till he was gone. The bitter heart kept them from seeing any truth and goodness in him. They were the losers. It could have been so different for them, but bitterness blinds people.

By the way, the man they worked to ruin and destroy was Jesus. Bitterness crucified Him. The bitter ones who stayed offended were key leaders of the Pharisees. See what bitterness does? (Hebrews 12:14-15).

Root of Bitterness

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 16:07:24 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

"Pursue peace with all men...lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled" (Hebrews 12:14-15).

Negative experiences must be kept in perspective. If not handled well, we can allow those negative experiences to turn into resentment and hatred, which can be a root of bitterness. Bitterness defiles us. Even though the people who dealt us a negative experience were wrong and will give an account before God, we must be careful to check our feelings toward them.

While they may not deserve your trust and your companionship anymore, do they deserve your hatred? They are still valuable souls who operate in ignorance and sinful blindness. Jesus would handle it this way: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" Ignorance is often at the root of people's envy, foolish behavior, and poor choices. Their ignorance of God, His word, and your value to God leads them to foolish actions that hurt you. They operate under the blindness of sin. They know not what they do.

Jesus would say, "Sure, they hurt me, but I still value their soul and want them to turn around because I want them to go to heaven." A root of bitterness was not allowed to spring up and defile His heart. What people do to hurt us must not be allowed to be a springboard from which we do more damage to our own hearts and souls. The hurtful experience is a challenge to your high principle of love. Do you throw love out? Do you seek to overcome the hurt by loving your enemy? Or do you let the hurt overcome your good judgment and the high principle of love that you know God wants you to hold tightly in this situation?

Will you let the hurt turn to bitterness and defile you? Or, will you pursue peace with all men, even those who do not seem to deserve it? Be cautious of letting a root of bitterness cloud your good judgment and sound principles.

The Gall of Bitterness

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 17:47:50 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2004/09/The-Gall-of-Bitterness.mp3

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Reading: Acts 8:14-24

I. Hebrews 12:14-15

A. Bitterness is “characterized by animosity; harshly reproachful, caustic, disagreeable; to have a ‘sour’ disposition toward others over things that happened, whether real or imagined.”

B. Few people want to be bitter, but many slide into it over the years.

II. Causes of bitterness

A. Pride and arrogance

1. Deuteronomy 29:17-20 - The idea that “I have rebelled” and God hasn’t struck me with lightening.

2. There is no incentive to change. They remain in their sin and, over time, sin eats at their soul like an acid.

3. Jeremiah 4:16-18 - Rebellion has allowed sin to leave a bitter touch on the heart.

B. Jealousy and selfishness - James 3:14-16

C. Sin-filled life

1. Sin is a bitter poison - Deuteronomy 32:31-33

2. All are susceptible to its touch - Romans 3:9-18

3. In the bonds of sin, Simeon was filled with the gall of bitterness - Acts 8:23

III. The impact of bitterness

A. I once planted spearmint in a flower bed at my first home. I knew the plant had a tendency to spread uncontrollably, so I ringed them with a separator. What I didn’t realize was how deeply the roots would go. Before I knew it, I had spearmint everywhere. I tried pulling it up, following the long chain of roots back to its source, but it would break off. If I missed the tiniest piece, I soon found myself back to pulling up plants.

B. The roots of bitterness are the same. They spread deep and far – popping up far from the initial cause and in great abundance.

C. Bitterness disrupts the harmony between brethren.

D. Listen to the warning of Paul - I Corinthans 3:9-10, 16-17

1. Are we building up or are we tearing down?

2. Do bitterness and jealous drive us to bring down the work of God?

E. Surely this is why sowing discord is listed as one of the seven abominable sins - Proverbs 6:19.

IV. The solution to bitterness

A. Ephesians 4:31-32 - Put away bitterness by replacing it with kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness.

B. Hebrews 12:14-15 - We need to pursue peace and holiness. These qualities are the opposites of those that produce bitterness in a person.

C. We must understand that we will answer for everything that we have done – good and bad. There is no getting away with sin before God. - II Corinthians 5:9-10; Romans 14:10-12

V. Now is the time for cleansing, to uproot all the bitterness from your heart.

The Root of Bitterness (Moyer)

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 21:15:40 +0000

by Doy Moyer

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Photo by Zach Lezniewicz on Unsplash

Bitterness is poison. It destroys the one eaten up with it and hurts others in its path. The writer of Hebrews noted: “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:15). The last phrase makes the point that many will become stained or contaminated by what bitterness does. It is a “root” that springs up and demolishes relationships. The writer may be echoing a point made in Deuteronomy 29:18-19. Moses warned the people about turning away from God’s covenant. He says, “Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.” This is the root of bitterness, a poisonous and bitter fruit indeed. It runs counter to the fruit of the Spirit.

Paul ties bitterness to “anger and clamor and slander.” Bitterness grows through the anger and grudges that one holds. What one says and does with bitterness can also involve clamor (loud crying out) and slander toward others. The bitter person throws fits when he doesn’t get his way, and others become the targets of the rage. In turn, it devolves into malice (evil, ill-will, and desire to injure). This is about as destructive as one can get, and bitterness is the poisonous root of it all. Paul tells God’s people that these must be “put away from you.” They will eat away the holiness of God’s people.

Think of a couple of examples given in Genesis of how bitterness can be so harmful to those who hold the grudges. Since the Hebrews writer mentions Esau in the context of speaking about bitterness, we note that Esau’s anger toward Jacob’s maneuvering to get both Esau’s birthright and firstborn blessing led to Esau’s desire to kill Jacob. “As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, ‘Bless me, even me also, O my father!’” (Genesis 27:34) Later, we read, “Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, ‘The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob’” (Genesis 27:41). The bitterness consumed him, and how many years of his life were ruined because of it?

Consider also the situation between Joseph and his brothers. Because their father loved Joseph more than they, the brothers reached a point where “they hated him (Joseph) and could not speak peacefully to him” (Genesis 37:4). Hatred and bitterness make it impossible to speak peaceful and kind words. Our words will be laced with the poison of bitterness and lead us to insult, cast aspersions, and slander. We may not even realize we are doing it.

Social media seems to be a breeding ground for bitter and angry interactions. Sometimes, people, typically known as trolls and occasionally anonymous, purposefully respond to posts with offensive and angry rejoinders. Yet they are not all anonymous, and sometimes, those among friends also reply with angry retorts instead of calm, peaceful attempts at reasonable discussion. However, such interactions are out of place for the child of God, whether online or face-to-face. We must do better in seeking peace and having reasonable discussions.

In contrast to the bitterness, Paul writes that God’s people are to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. Kindness is a mark of love and is listed as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Instead of being mean, insulting, and ungracious, we seek to show grace, mercy, and kindness in how we interact and converse with others even when they do not show these in return. To be tenderhearted is to show compassion, to be moved by another’s situation. Forgiveness should also be a staple of the Christian’s desires and attitudes.

Paul said, “forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Our forgiveness of others is so important that our own forgiveness hinges on it: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15; cf. Mark 11:25).

The contrast here should be plain. “Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” are in line with the wisdom of this world and lead to disorder and vile practices. In contrast, the wisdom of God is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:13-18). May God help us overcome bitterness and act with kindness and peace. May we show God’s wisdom in a world of bitterness and anger!

Mara or Naomi?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 01:39:56 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Mara-or-Naomi.mp3

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Text: Ruth 1:19-21

I. Life has its ups and downs. How do you respond?

A. Do you rail at life and God? Do you decide life is a misery?

B. Naomi had a hard life.

1. Famine caused her family to move to a foreign country - Ruth 1:1

2. Her husband then died - Ruth 1:3

3. Her sons grew up and married local women, but then they died - Ruth 1:5

4. Life, without a doubt, was hard on Naomi and it got to her - Ruth 1:19-21

II. The bad events in life can be bitter pills to swallow

A. Hannah was bitter because she had no children - I Samuel 1:10

B. Tamar was bitter after being raped - II Samuel 13:19

C. Job was bitter after Satan destroyed almost all that he had - Job 3:20

D. Captivity made life bitter for the Israelites - Jeremiah 22:10

E. The loss of children - Jeremiah 31:15

F. It is understandable to respond in bitterness to the blows in life.

III. But some people create their own bitterness in themselves and in others

A. The immoral woman makes men’s lives bitter by the spreading of sin - Proverbs 5:3-4; Ecclesiastes 7:26

B. A foolish son makes his parents’ lives bitter - Proverbs 17:25

C. Turning from God brings bitterness into a person’s life - Deuteronomy 29:18-19

1. You might think doing as you please is a path to happiness, but it isn’t

2. Forsaking God brings evil and bitterness - Jeremiah 2:19

3. It becomes rooted into your being - Jeremiah 4:18

D. Bitterness is something that others might not easily see- Proverbs 14:10

E. But if left, it can cause bad decisions - Hebrews 12:15

1. It was bitterness that led Simon astray - Acts 8:23

2. We should not be proud of our bitterness - James 3:14

IV. Put away bitterness - Ephesians 4:31

A. It sounds easier than to do. But realizing that sin is behind much bitterness, the first step is to put away sin.

1. We don’t have to stay in the bitterness of sin - Titus 3:3-8

B. Counter with kindness toward others - Ephesians 4:32

C. Realize that life is full of ups and downs. A bitter person focuses only on the negative things that happen

1. For example, Naomi had a wonderful daughter-in-law who left her own people to just be with Naomi. I’m sure Naomi appreciated her, but she didn’t take it into account.

2. Pleasant words - Proverbs 16:24

3. Wisdom and knowledge - Proverbs 22:17-18

4. Songs of praise to God - Psalms 135:3

D. You can’t control what life throws your way, but you can control what you focus upon - Philippians 4:8-9

V. We don’t like unpleasant things, but it doesn’t mean we should become unpleasant people as a result. We have to remember that God makes use of everything - Romans 8:28, 35-37

A. We need confidence that God will aid - Hebrews 4:16

B. Don’t throw it away just because we suffer setbacks - Hebrews 10:35-39

C. Naomi eventually learned to let go of bitterness and her life became pleasant once again - Ruth 4:13-17

D. No matter how bad life gets, rejoice - Habakkuk 3:17-19

How Satan Divides Brethren

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 18:45:12 +0000

by Larry Rouse

The Three Pillars of False Movements

I. We should not be surprised at the tactics of Satan.

A. When working with other men we must constantly be humbled and because of that be willing to follow the wisdom of God. (James 4:13-18)

1. When we trust God it becomes all about Him and we empty ourselves.

2. When brethren want to serve God there is not a problem we cannot work out.

B. There will be some who seek to draw disciples unto themselves. (Acts 20:30)

1. They will appear humble, loving and often have a great ability to speak. Sadly, they have a different motive than what is outwardly shown. (Romans 16:18; Colossians 2:18-19, 23)

2. How can I know when this is happening? How can I keep loved ones from being pulled into such a movement?

3. Let us careful look at the difference in how children of God work out problems and those who submit to the wisdom of Satan.

II. The three pillars of false movements - the components of Satan’s wisdom (Jamess 4:14)

A. Bitterness towards brethren. (Hebrews 12:15)

1. pikri,a - bitterness; literally, of plants that produce inedible or poisonous fruit, root that bears bitter fruit; used metaphorically of a person whose influence or actions become harmful to a community one who causes trouble (HE 12.15; ..); figuratively, as a hostile attitude (angry) resentment, animosity (EP 4.31)

2. It is very easy to spread anger and bitterness. The world in not concerned with justice and mercy. They are quick to believe a falsehood! Let us not do this.

3. The “anger family” can accomplish much in Satan’s plan. (Galatians 5:19-21)

4. The unstable are especially vulnerable to this powerful emotion. (Ephesians 4:26-27)

5. “I am so fed up with churches of Christ” or “These legalistic brethren are telling lies against me!”

B. Pride towards brethren – (James 4:14; I John 2:16)

1. Pride and bitterness are common partners. (Luke 18:9)

2. Pride is often employed by those who have no foundation to artificially build one up. Many look down on their “ignorant” brethren. (I Corinthians 8:1-3)

3. Pride rejoices in the faults of others. You live in the land of “throw-away” people. You write them off with no attempt to work with them.

4. They often discuss the faults of brethren as a means of building themselves up. (II Corinthians 10:12, 18)

C. A learned dishonesty. (Luke 20:4-7)

1. This creates a heart that cannot receive the word of God. (Luke 8:15 KJV)

2. Men of faith and convict are open and bold. (II Corinthians 4:2; 3:2; John 1:47)

3. One brother described a man’s preaching as “veiled subtleties that leave you uneasy after hearing the sermons.”

4. They are always “misunderstood” and love to wear martyr’s clothes.

5. How did Jesus teach others? Why do men hide their beliefs? (John 18:20)

III. Tools Satan uses to build his pillars

A. Wedge issues – How are differences among brethren are handled?

1. Satan’s wisdom works to build wedges between brethren, the love of Christ shows mercy and patience.

2. “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” Consider how differences are exploited to achieve worldly goals. The love of God is very different. (I Corinthians 13:4-7)

3. Some issues: the term “church of Christ”, opposing “legalism,” how to best conduct our assemblies, use of restoration history, CENI and “worship.”

4. By far, the biggest wedge issue used to spread bitterness amongst brethren is the care of the needy. This is not the first time where the needy are used as a prop and as a carnal tool. (Matthew 6:1-4)

B. Secrecy and whispering – How is a fellowship is built upon bitterness and flattery?

1. They complain about others “gossip” they work hard to destroy relationships with those that could answer their doctrine. “Ex. Don’t give this to Larry!”

2. They do not have the spirit of open examination! (Acts 17:11; II Peter 2:1-3)

3. They use emotion to separate them from others. (Galatians 4:16-17)

C. Discarding your brethren

1. How do people suddenly rebel against an eldership and destroy relationships that have been built for years? They have help. (I John 2:9-11)

2. Consider what the scriptures describe as one being captured. (II Peter 2:18-19)

3. I have been shocked to see the ridicule of brethren publicly. It is hard for those exposed to this over time to overcome it. Example: Korah (Numbers 16:41)

4. Years ago I learned a truth from a proponent of the “house church movement.” The average life span of a house church is 2 years.

5. These movements are a halfway house to denominationalism or worse.

6. Doctrines that are favored are those which are different from the “traditional.”

IV. How to defeat Satan’s battle plan

A. We overcome darkness with the light! (John 3:19-21)

1. We must make local churches as a place where a strong faith is built.

2. We must solve problems and desire to be with each other. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

B. We must give greater emphasis to Bible reading and Bible preaching. (II Timothy 4:1-4)

1. When God is in view then my actions will be changed. (I John 4:20-21)

2. One brother recently said: “In the church the reading of the books of men is on the decrease and the reading of the Bible is on the decrease.”

3. Consider how the writings of Francis Chan and David Platt are being used.

C. Let us not become fearful but learn from these things to have a greater service.

1. I do not believe that this current movement will last.

2. What can I do to have an assurance with my God so that my heart overflows to be used by God as a servant? (I John 4:17-19)

3. We do need watchful elderships who will protect their flocks. Failure to do so will affect many.

V. Let us have our eyes opened to God’s word to see the tactics of Satan!

Thank you for the article “Overcoming Bitterness”

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 19:04:12 +0000

Question:

Good Morning Sir,

I read the article by Lawrence Kelley on Overcoming Bitterness and I read the 3 points on identifying the characteristics of bitterness to our Wednesday Night Bible study class. Our minister was so touched by this that he wants to post a copy on our bulletin board and website because he said this needs to be shared. I notice that it is stated at the bottom that permission is given in advance to use the material for non-commercial purposes, but I just like to touch base with you and make sure our intent is in line with this permission.

Thank you for the article and thank you for any response to this email.

Answer:

It is perfectly fine to reprint the article. It is there to be used.

The Root of Bitterness (Bassford)

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:10:41 +0000

by Matthew W. Bassford

Most of us have had an experience, invariably bad, with bitter people. Something has happened to them that they have continued to resent for years or decades, and they often take out their resentment on those who are closest to them. Frequently, we turn to Hebrews 12:15 for a Biblical condemnation of such behavior.

Because Hebrews 12:14 emphasizes the importance of pursuing peace with others, I think this is a correct reading of the text. It makes sense in context. However, the Hebrews writer is saying more here than we commonly credit.

The concept of a root of bitterness does not appear for the first time in Hebrews. Instead, the writer is paraphrasing Deuteronomy 29:18, which warns against those who are roots that bear poisonous and bitter fruit. However, in the context of Deuteronomy, such people aren’t quarrelsome and resentful. Instead, they are idolaters. They cause widespread trouble because they lead others away into idolatry.

At first glance, it appears that the Hebrews writer has missed the point of the quotation from Deuteronomy 29. However, given the great skill with which the writer (to say nothing of the Holy Spirit!) uses the Old Testament throughout the rest of the book, this is extremely unlikely. Instead, he has left an additional lesson for those who are familiar with the Law of Moses too.

He wants us, in fact, to recognize that bitterness is a form of idolatry. After all, the New Testament frequently reminds us that idolatry does not necessarily involve worshiping a golden statue. In Colossians 3:5, Paul notes that greed is a form of idolatry. People who care about money and stuff more than anything else are bowing down to Mammon, whether they recognize it or not.

However, we can take the analysis one step further even than that. When we are greedy, it’s not really the money and the stuff that we value. It’s the way that they make us feel, and we prize that feeling so much that we are willing to abandon God and do evil in order to experience it. When it comes to covetousness, the idol we are worshiping is the self.

The same is true for bitterness. People who can’t move past a wrong that they have suffered are resentful because it is a wrong that they have suffered. Somebody has hurt them, or hurt somebody close to them, and that’s an unforgivable sin because it is a wrong that has touched their precious, invaluable self. This is so great a violation of the way that they think things ought to be that they feel justified in mistreating the wrongdoer, or even in mistreating an innocent third party.

As a result, they repeatedly express the outrage they feel at their own injury by injuring others, often until the end of their lives. Even if people like this faithfully attend worship services, Jesus is not and cannot be the Lord of their hearts. He cannot be most important to them, because nothing is more important to them than they are.

They are their own miserable, spiteful idols.

When Jesus exhorts us to be merciful and forgiving, then, He does not merely do so because mercy and forgiveness are good. Instead, it is because being merciful and forgiving is a necessary part of subjecting ourselves to Him. When we place so much importance on ourselves that we refuse to forgive, we reveal that we have been defiled by the idol of selfishness in our hearts.

Everything offends me

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 17:05:00 +0000

Question:

Hi,

I read your article on the spirit of offense.

I've been a believer for 40 years. Over that time, I've been harassed by unbelievers, assaulted by boyfriends who claimed to be saved, bullied by bosses and coworkers, and church workers have been rude and pushy, to say the least. The results? Depression, shame, guilt, severe anxiety and panic attacks, bitterness, social anxiety, and what appears to be PTSD. I'm offended, now, by everything. The person who cuts me off in traffic or who drives recklessly, the person who snubs me, the worship leader who acts erratically on stage, or the family member who ignores my comment online or who snubs me for months.

My problem is everything has become an offense. I now tend to see the wrong in everything. To me, that's what people refer to when they say a person has a spirit of offense. They can't see any good. For me, the pain, hurt, and bitterness go too deep.

While I don't think it's necessarily an evil spirit, it is definitely a very unhealthy mindset. I feel it's made me more likely to turn off more people because I'm on guard and joyless, making me feel as if I'm bad.

Please pray for me. I need a breakthrough.

Answer:

"All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled" (Hebrews 12:9-15).

Life can be difficult. We were never promised an easy life. Actually, we were told to expect the opposite. "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12).

You have a choice in how to respond to the struggles of life. You can grumble, complain, and become bitter over each of the challenges or you can see them as challenges to be overcome. That is what perseverance is all about.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 8:1-5).

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4).

You can't make the hardships go away but you can change your attitude toward them. Instead of being beaten down by them, use each as an opportunity to grow into a stronger person.

Response:

Thank you, Jeffrey.

God bless.

Reactionary Apostasy

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 03:22:00 +0000

by Warren E. Berkley
via Guardian of Truth, February 1, 1990

Here is a situation that isn't hypothetical. It is common, and thus worthy of our attention.

In a local church where there is a history of objection to the sponsoring church arrangement and other unauthorized innovations, war breaks out. Brethren "bite and devour one another," and the ugly result is "envy and self-seeking ... confusion and every evil thing" (Galatians 5:15; James 3:16). There is a division, perhaps followed by another; snide, sarcastic remarks. Preachers are fired, elders resign, members are agitated and a cold sterile atmosphere takes hold.

In the midst of this turmoil, as impatience and disgust turn into bitterness, there are some who just quit. They join a nearby liberal church, enter into the mainstream of Protestant denominationalism, or entirely give up the matter of religion. Though I'm not altogether satisfied with this description, I'm going to call this: reactionary apostasy.

Reactionary apostasy is usually accompanied by a statement something like these: "I'm fed up with conservative churches of Christ," or "There has got to be something wrong with 'conservative church of Christ' religion."

This needs to be addressed. So I beg your consideration toward these thoughts. Reactionary apostasy is fraught with at least two flaws.

Flaw 1: Rejecting teaching, merely on the basis of misbehavior

Suppose someone was pressed to define the "conservative church of Christ" religion. Personally, I'm not comfortable with this label. I would rather communicate with the scriptural language and deal with "the gospel," "the truth," "the Lord's church," or even New Testament Christianity. Yet, in the interest of being realistic and accommodative, and for the purpose of dealing with this matter of reactionary apostasy, let's formulate a definition of the "conservative church of Christ" religion. Perhaps this religion would entail the following items of conviction:

There is "one God, and Father of all, who is above all" (Ephesians 4:6).
The Bible is the Word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17).
Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah and is the only begotten Son of God, who died for our sins, but arose and ascended to the right hand of God (Matthew 1:21; Romans 1:1-4; I Corinthians 15:1-4; John 1:14,29).
Man's number one problem, and the great tragedy of all humanity is sin (Romans 1:18-3:23).
The gospel is God's power to save (Romans 1:16-17).
Those who would be saved by the gospel of Christ, must hear, believe and obey that message (Romans 6:17-18; Mark 16:15-16; Hebrews 5:9).
Baptism is essential unto salvation (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:26-27).
After baptism, God requires a life of faithfulness (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42; Colossians 2:6-7).
Jesus built his church, one body; and it came into existence on the day of Pentecost (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:47; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:10,21; 4:4).
Local churches are charged to do the works of evangelism, edification, and benevolence for needy saints (Acts 20:28,32; I Thessalonians 1:8; Philippians 4:15; I Corinthians 16:1-2).
The local church is to be financed by the voluntary giving of the members, as they respond according to their own prosperity (I Corinthians 16:1-2).
When fully developed, local churches are to have scripturally qualified elders, deacons, and saints (Philippians 1:1; Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1-3).
We are to worship the Father "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).
Evangelists are to preach the Word (II Timothy 4:2).
As individual Christians and as collective groups (local churches), we are obligated to abide in the doctrine of Christ (II John 9; Philippians 4:9; Matthew 7:24-27; 28:18-20).

If you can - for the sake of this present study - regard this as a summary of those things believed and taught by "conservative churches of Christ."

Now here is my point: when people who teach these things become embroiled in a battle with one another, and manifest ungodly attitudes to the point of unjustified division, by what reasoning do we conclude that these 15 principles are faulty?

Somebody needs to explain this to me. Am I missing something? When people who teach these things turn a local church into a mess, by what reasoning are we supposed to conclude that these principles are invalid? Help me here.

If a man who believes in the existence of God throws himself into a pile of iniquity, crime, and shame ... should this cause me to question God's existence?

If a group of people who preach that the Bible is inspired involved themselves in dishonesty, jealousy, and other acts of disobedience ... does this mean that the Bible may not be inspired?

Do we prove that what a man is teaching is false, by pointing to his foolish behavior? No, we must never reject some proposition simply because the one who advances it is inconsistent. We examine teachings; we test doctrines in one and only one way: by the light of Scripture (Acts 17:11).

I'm persuaded that a connection is being made here that doesn't logically follow! When a group of people bite and devour one another, that doesn't necessarily mean that everything they have been teaching should be called into question! By no means.

When a "conservative church of Christ" falls into turmoil and disorder, it fell into chaos in spite of the above principles, not because of them. When "conservative brethren" act in a manner that isn't befitting the gospel, that misbehavior says nothing about the gospel. It says a great deal about lack of commitment, weakness in yielding to temptation, and hypocrisy. But it says nothing about the truth of the gospel or the integrity of New Testament Christianity!

Anytime there is a big church fight or division, be assured somebody isn't obeying God's word! It may be just a few; it may be everybody. But when such an ugly mess arises, it does not mean that everything these folks have taught and stood for is suspect. It means that somebody isn't obeying God's word. (When the apostle Peter, in Galatians 2:11-16, "played the hypocrite," that misbehavior did not diminish the integrity of anything he had taught on the day of Pentecost!) But, reactionary apostasy faces another problem.

Flaw 2: "You can run, but you can't hide!"

When you abandon the "conservative church of Christ" religion, where do you go? Liberal churches are not immune from the ugly spectacle of uproars caused by selfishness and stubborn sin. Denominational churches have internal battles and open political warfare between parties who struggle for power. Where will you go? Paul Harvey often says, "You can run, but you can't hide!"

Let it be granted, it is a real challenge to your attitude, perseverance, and commitment to go through internal strife. And there are circumstances where, for conscience's sake, one must leave a group and identify with another congregation. But when you find yourself in the middle of an ugly mess, consider that there is a right way and a wrong way to react.

I'm saying - reactionary apostasy is not the answer.

It is based on an invalid connection, between what a group has taught and the way they act. Misbehavior doesn't necessarily mean that the teachings have been invalid.
Reactionary apostasy takes you somewhere else, with no guarantee that you won't meet the same ugly spectacle, sooner or later.

Don't just react out of the subjective emotion of bitterness. Stand for the truth, support those who stand for it; live as you should; resist the devil, and remember "... if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another" (Galatians 5:15).