Spiritual Cannibalism
If you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
Galatians 5:15
I’ve been troubled for several days by some social media posts that came from professing Christians. It’s not that those posts shared a particular position regarding politics or policies or practices. It’s that they accused those who believed otherwise as being “dumb,” “stupid,” “mindless,” or “brainwashed.”
What bothered me even more is how scores of individuals offered their support of such posts. I found myself thinking, “Where’s grace in all of this? Where’s love in all of this?” For that matter, “Where’s Jesus in all of this?”
There’s a Bible verse directed at a group of believers in the Galatian church that addressed it straight up. “If you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:15)
The churches in that area of the world were a beautiful blend of Jews and Gentiles. But even among them there were nuances of belief with some being more legalistic and some being more “free.” The challenge was to allow for and even respect these differences.
Paul intimates that in attacking others in the defense of their preferred beliefs and practices, these believers were engaging in a sort of spiritual cannibalism. Emotions obviously ran high among the Galatian Christians for the apostle Paul to use such strong language.
The verbs bite, devour, and consume paint a vivid and unpleasant word picture that takes us right back into the jungle.
Commentator Kenneth Wuest notes these three words were used “in connection with wild animals in deadly struggle…The words constitute a strong expression of partisan hatred resulting in actions that lead to mutual injury.” Another commentator notes the words suggest “wild animals engaged in deadly struggles.”
Two thousand years later the disagreements have changed, but divisions remain. And the behaviors are no less deadly as they were in the 1st century. My heart is deeply grieved as I see professing Christians biting and devouring one another.
Defeating the Cannibal Within
In pondering this, I came across a blog post by a man named Jim Newheiser who offered some practical counsel on how we can be less cannibalistic with one another. The following came from that blog.
Always be careful of how you speak about others, especially those with whom you disagree. It is easy when we feel passionate about something to allow our position to cause us to be harsh or sarcastic towards those with whom we differ. This is certainly true in face-to-face encounters. But it is no less true when it comes to social media.
Scripture is quite clear that our speech should always be characterized by love, kindness, and gentleness (aspects of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23). We should avoid saying or writing that which unnecessarily stirs up strife, enmities, disputes, dissentions and factions (Gal 5:20).
I would also add that merely avoiding the mention of an opponent’s name does not give license to be harsh. In a world of searchable e-books, Google, and Twitter, it is not difficult for people to figure out about whom you are speaking.The rightness and justice of your cause does not justify fleshly personal attacks. “He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool” (Prov 10:18).
Social media provides a forum for people to air their disagreements about important issues. Some of the dialogue can be constructive. However, often the discussion becomes fleshly and even hateful.
In recent weeks, I have observed multiple cases in which people who were deeply offended over what an opponent said or did vented their opposition publicly. They slanderously assumed the worst in the motives and actions of others and repeated hateful gossip and rumors.
We must heed James’ warning, “Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother judges the law, but if you judge the law you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:11-12)Be careful about what you “like.” “Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel” (Prov 20:3). Posts on Facebook invite “likes” and comments from “friends.” By liking or signing a post, blog, or petition that is slanderous gossip you participate in the spread of hurtful speech.
Even if you agree with the general sentiment of a post or petition, you do not need to affirm it. If it was expressed in an unspiritual/fleshly way you become a participant in the “biting and devouring” against which Paul warns in Galatians 5:15.
Online speech can be especially dangerous because it is more impersonal; the person of whom you speak is not there. In some cases, it may even be anonymous. This means that we need to be all the more careful with what we say or write.
We are all free to hold our points of view. However, we are not free to tout those points of view in an unloving way, much less to attack those with whom we disagree.
Enough with the cannibalism! Stop the biting and devouring. And lovingly challenge even those you may agree with to stop it as well.
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