Revile
William Langerak's article examines the biblical sin of reviling—understood as malicious verbal assault aimed at humiliation, control, and destruction—and argues that churches often inadequately address it through superficial pastoral responses. Drawing on scriptural analysis and the roots of reviling in pride and lack of respect for Christ's office, Langerak calls for deeper spiritual diagnosis and treatment of this destructive sin in covenant relationships, homes, and churches.
Revile is an ugly biblical word, and one we hardly use. The sin it describes, however, occurs far too frequently in our covenant conversations, marriages, homes, schools, and churches. And the words we use -- name-calling, trash-talking, teasing, kidding, losing our cool, bullying or even verbal abuse -- all minimize the despicable, destructive, malicious, and vicious nature of reviling. And often, then, so does any medicine we prescribe. Rather than treat the reviler's stone-cold heart, we...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org