New Guiding Principle

(Ephesians 4:31-32)

Malicious thoughts, no matter how much we try to hide them, do not stay hidden; they continue to grow and eventually surface, threatening the stability of the church. The Word, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice,” warns us about the progression of malice.

1. The Progression of Malice
When we harbor jealousy and discontent without turning back, we experience moments of rising anger, and if left unchecked, that anger will turn into a desire for revenge. People in such a state eventually erupt before others, shouting and expressing what has been smoldering inside. If they fail to control it, this leads to actions that slander and divide the church.

2. The Nature of God
To avoid grieving the Holy Spirit, we must put away such malice and take on God’s nature. Above all, we must be kind to one another, tenderhearted to one another, and forgive one another. God has granted His mercy to us unconditionally, had compassion on us when we were His enemies, and forgiven us even to the point of sacrificing Himself. Now, God desires that we forgive one another with mercy and compassion. However, this does not mean that all sins should be covered without limits. Repentance must precede forgiveness. Especially, actions that intentionally blaspheme the church must not be overlooked.

3. The Goal of Change
God not only saved us from the punishment of hell but also gave us the opportunity to enter heaven. We originally had no right to enter that Kingdom, nor did we fit into its order, yet God granted us this grace because He expected us to change. Now, let us discard the negative traits we carried from the world and make the sacrificial love that God showed through Jesus Christ the guiding principle of our actions. Let us demonstrate that we are recipients of grace through our changed behavior.

Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim