Raca!

There was once a brother in Christ who said of his fellow brethren, “Raca!” (Matt. 5:22). Oh. he did not say it outright, but his actions and attitude spoke it plainly enough. He felt his brethren were “apostate wretches” (Emphatic Diaglott translation for “Raca”); that they were among those who have gone astray by nurturing the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes, brethren who suffered that woman Jezebel to teach. These brethren were not to be visited or talked to — fellowship was absolutely forbidden. He was of the opinion that this was the right thing to do for should we not heed the apostolic command: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, nei­ther bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (II John 10-11).

The ecclesia was grieved and hurt. Perhaps the objects of his ire were only a few individuals, but it didn’t matter. The whole ecclesia felt the bewilderment of such accusations. Indeed, the word of contempt stabbed like a sword because of its cutting criticism (Psa. 57:4).

Beware of words

Was this brother justified in his actions? Did he not know the stern warnings of the Master and the apostles against unjustifiable accusations? “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matt. 12:36). Did he remember that “whoever shall say, apostate wretch! will be obnoxious to the burning of Gehenna” (Mau. 5:22 E.D.). Maybe he was aware of the Lord’s warnings and felt that his critical attitude was warranted.

Restoration attempted?

What can be said of such actions? Did this brother make an attempt to achieve restoration instead of excommunication? Was he righteous in his own eyes and blind to the needs of his brethren? Did this brother have a “root of bitterness” which troubled him, thereby defiling him (Heb. 12:15)? Could he rightly say that “I will shew thee my faith by my works” (Jam. 2:18)? Did this brother have a “good conscience toward God” (I Pet. 3:21) in that every effort had been made to perform God’s will?

Or was his “conscience seared” (I Tim. 4:2) and was he beguiled by self-importance and insensitivity toward his brethren? Did he love his brethren like Jeremiah did, being intensely concerned for them (Jer. 9:1) even though they hated him, persecuted him (15:15), mocked him (15:17), placed him in stocks (20:3) and cast him into a dungeon of mire (38:6)?

Was this brother the type of individual who says, “Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break mine head” (Psa. 141:5)? Or was he a scorner who, when he is reproved, hates his critic (Prov. 9:8-9)?

Remember, the Lord Jesus Christ comes quickly, even as a thief in the night to “give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev. 22:12). Let us therefore “laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that (we) may grow thereby” to build up and not to tear down (I Pet. 2:1-2).