James 3:16 KJV
[16] “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
I want to invite you to Confusion Baptist Church. Allow me to describe the church to you for a moment. Confusion Baptist has the right kind of music, the right Bible, and the right standards. They believe the right doctrine and go out on weekly visitation. This church has many outreach ministries, a great mission program, and the offerings could not be better. The attendance is good, and visitors come on occasion.
However, this church appears to get along on the surface, but it is full of envy and strife. People smile at one another, the choir sings songs with enthusiasm, and the preacher preaches with fervency, but the church is divided. Members talk about one another over a Sunday meal when they go home. Some members even avoid each other altogether, so they don’t have to speak or shake hands. The preacher constantly complains about a member and runs them down in front of his family.
Jealousy has filtered into the singing, and the music program has separated some of the singers and musicians. While it appears to be all for the Lord, it’s a competition to see who can be the best or most popular. The preacher delivers a good sermon but is self-centered, making much about himself and less about Christ. It appears to be all about the work of God when, in reality, it is full of evil works. You might ask, “Evil works; how is this possible?” Confusion Baptist has become a breeding ground for gossip, hypocrisy, jealousy, lying, envy, strife, malice, and many other works of Satan. The Spirit has been grieved and departed, and Satan is having a field day with the congregation as they play church. What is sad is that it all started with the tongue. The tragedy is that this church breeds confusion and the probability is that its youth will grow up seeing a congregation, and the preacher, appearing one way but being another.