<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]Therefore, at least this is how my mind works, we should, as God did, separate "the light from the darkness" in our lives and strive to not become "contaminated" by this parasite. And O what a sin it is to take suck blood from the preachers of the Word of God! May we ALL see the error of our ways and turn back to the God who saved us by His sovereign grace! And maybe my thoughts are way off, in which case you can forget I even said anything.</font><hr></blockquote><p> Yes we are to be mature........but we are not and many times we choose the direction of LESSER COMMUNICATION over GREATER COMMUNICATION -- we gossip and tear down the truth. We literally suck the truth out of the Word of God. [color:red]Vampires of Pride</font color=red> may be a good phrase here in keeping with Augustine's thought. We become ineffective in our witness, word and deed by gossip. Though God's Word and Will, WILL STAND no matter how much our parasitic activity we subject it to, the devastation of what we do with our words is incredibly depraved. As James says,<br><br><blockquote>[color:blue]James 3:1-10 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.</blockquote></font color=blue> Our conduct and speech at times reeks of poisonous and nauseous fumes of [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/puke.gif" alt="puke" title="puke[/img].

Reformed and Always Reforming,