The Reviler

 The Reviler We have all probably experienced it. We are driving down the road, minding our own business, obeying the traffic laws, when another motorist vents his spleen at us, flashing a rude gesture out the window in our direction. Because of his impatienceand lack of self-control, we receive a tongue-lashing filled with curses and profanities caustic enough to melt the paint off a fender! Afterward, we thank God that the other motorist did not have a gun! In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists seventeen behaviors he calls "the works of the flesh." His list is not complete; there are many other actions that he could have included, but these cover a great deal of territory, from sexual sins and occult practices to contentions and drunkenness. It includes many of the common sins we see daily in our society. The apostle writes a similar list in I Corinthians 6:9-10: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. As chapter 6 begins, Paul pleads with the Corinthians to stop treating each another so poorly. Some even sued their brethren in this world's courts, asking unconverted judges to sort out their differences. The apostle tries to get them to understandthat their calling demands that they meet far higher standards—especially in their relationships. He emphasizes, "Don't deceive yourselves! People who act sinfully will not inherit the Kingdom of God!" As in Galatians 5, he then lists some behaviors to steerclear of, all but two of which are elements of prohibitions found in the Ten Commandments. Among the unrighteous listed in verse 10 are "revilers." We quickly understand what adulterers, thieves, and drunkards do to brand themselves as unrighteous, but what exactly is a reviler? Although reviling is not a sin against one's physical body or someone else's, it is still an act of unrighteousness. It is definitely a behavior we should want to stay clear of, for a reviler will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In I Corinthians 5:11, Paul writes that a reviler is someone we should not "keep company with . . . not even to eat with such a person." The world believes a Christian can live however he chooses and retain God's favor, but Paul disagrees, saying, "[T]he unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God." He warns us to avoid the company of such unrighteous people among the brethren becausetheir sinful practices could drag us back into the world and cost us entrance into God's Kingdom. Dictionaries define revile as "to rail against with abusive language," "to slander or defame," or "to mock or verbally treat with contempt." Verbal abuse can be hurtful, even devastating. Like letting the cat out of the bag, abusivelanguage can be very difficult, if not impossible, to get back in! People often never forgive or forget the mean or dishonest things that are said to or about them, and in some people, they churn and bubble on low heat until they explode in retribution. The Bible considers reviling as one of the most wicked of sins. Wilson's Old Testament Word Studies notes that one of the Hebrew verbs translated as "revile," giddûp (Strong's #1421), is always used in relation to blaspheming God (see Isaiah 51:7; Zephaniah 2:8). Can we revile one another without reviling God? If God thinks enough of a person to call him or her into His Family, when we revile that individual, we call God's decision into question. How close is that to blaspheming God? Do we believethat God dwells in every Christian? If so, when we slander a brother or sister in the Lord, we revile God! Reviling is a serious sin. J.B. Phillips' The New Testament in Modern English renders "revilers" in I Corinthians 6:10 as "the foul-mouthed." Early in my career, I worked on a military base, and one of the things that I do not miss is all the foul language. It was a rarity to encounter someone who did not litter his speech with curses and profanities.In today's culture, cussing a blue streak is the rule, not the exception. It is hard to find television shows or movies without it. The Amplified Bible adds more definition to what a reviler is: one "whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander." Very few of us have not been guilty of such verbal abuse of others! Proverbs26:18-22 covers destructive speech. The passage does not use the word "revile" or "reviling" but includes examples of similar abusive speech. In verses 18-19, Solomon compares deceptive teasing or joking to "a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, anddeath"! How many people have been so embarrassed and distraught after having a prank played on them that they have harmed themselves? How often have practical jokes turned into tit-for-tat feuds that grew more personal and destructive? Verses 20-22 deal with talebearing, which falls into the category of reviling. Solomon says, "[W]here there is no talebearer [margin: gossip or slanderer, lit. whisperer], strife ceases." Years ago at a Feast site, a church member just would not let a matter go, talking to everyone about the issue and blowing it out of proportion. Before long, many people were upset and takingsides. It injected a wrong attitude into the congregation and ruined many people's Feast, which is supposed to be a time of rejoicing before God. Verse 21 speaks of "a contentious man." Such a person says things just to get a reaction or provoke an argument. Years ago, I knew someone who was crafty with his words. He would attempt to elicit a response just so he could retaliate and displayhis intelligence and superiority over his victim. These kinds of people, Paul says, will not enter God's Kingdom. Avoid them! Have we ever considered whether Jesus did any of these things? Did He pull pranks or practical jokes on His disciples, perhaps just to "lighten things up a bit"? Did He belittle them to put them in their place and exalt Himself? Did He tell them about all the latest intrigues coming outof Jerusalem? Did He ever try to provoke them into angry retorts or arguments? Of course not! We know that our Savior never sinned, neither with speech nor actions. He had complete control over what He said. He never railed against anyone with abusive language. He never used foul language. He never slandered or defamedanyone. He never mocked even His enemies or treated them with contempt. We "should follow in His steps" (IPeter 2:21) and clean up our speech. Jesus faced reviling more than any other man to walk the earth, and "when He was reviled, [He] did not revile in return" (IPeter 2:23). Though often provoked, He never retaliated! He knows firsthand what it is like to be on the receiving end of scorn, mocking, and abusive jests. He answered not a word (see Matthew 27:12-14). Instead, as Peter writes, He "committed Himself to Him who judges righteously." We must learn to do the same when abusive language comes our way. - Ronny H. Graham