Malignant Christians

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 26, 1866

Malignant Christians.

Some persons pride themselves on being blunt, or, as they call it, "honest;" but very blunt people do little good to others, and get little love to themselves. The Scriptures recommend gentleness and kindness. There is nothing in all this world of ours half so mean as a vindictive and malignant disposition. Yet many Christians gratify this spirit, and deceive themselves with the idea that they are rebuking sin. Christians should take heed of getting fond of the work of "rebuking." Such "spiritual constables" do a great deal of mischief without intending it. They are in the church what a very witty and sarcastic person is in society, or what a tell-tale is in a school; and approximate very closely to that class which the apostle terms "busy-bodies in other men's matters." Such Christians come in time to be regarded as nuisances in society, constantly to be avoided, and the little good they may do is thrown away. Our manner must be tender and winning. "The nail of reproof" says an old writer, "must be well oiled in kindness before it is driven home."