PART ONE: BITING, DEVOURING, AND THE HYPOCRISY OF LOVELESS CHRISTIANITY

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”Galatians 5:14–15 

In a world already fractured by sin, division, and darkness, one of the greatest tragedies is when believers turn their weapons inward — not to slay the enemy, but each other. Paul writes to the churches of Galatia not about an outside threat, but an internal implosion.

The fulfilment of the law is not in ceremonial observances or external rituals, but in the simple, powerful command: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Leviticus 19:18, cf. Matthew 22:39). Yet the very people who claim to love Christ often bite and devour one another in conversation, criticism, and coldness. This is not just harmful—it is hypocritical.

Think about these examples:

• Gossip masked as concern: “I just wanted you to pray for…” turns into character assassination cloaked in spirituality.

• Social media slander: Keyboard courage fuels quick judgments and division over preferences rather than doctrine.

• Church splits and cliques: According to a 2020 LifeWay Research study, 66% of churchgoers had experienced church conflict, with over half citing personal criticism as the root.

These are not minor infractions; they are the cancer of the body of Christ. The warning is clear: “Take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” The Greek word analisko (translated “consumed”) implies total destruction. Left unchecked, these behaviours lead to spiritual cannibalism — we eat our own.

Warnings from the word:

• James 3:10 – “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

• 1 John 3:18 – “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

• Proverbs 6:16–19 – God lists seven abominations—three of which deal with discord and strife among brethren.

We often forget that tearing others down is not the work of the Holy Spirit, but of the flesh. When Christians bite each other with words and devour with actions, the cause of Christ is mocked, and the enemy rejoices.

A Greater Cause Demands a Greater Love

While the church fights over preferences, the world dies without the gospel. While we highlight faults, people are perishing without hope. There is a greater cause—the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are called to be ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), not assassins.

In Conclusion:

It is sheer hypocrisy to claim to love our neighbour in word while wounding them in deed. Christian, check your heart—are your words building or breaking? Are your actions healing or harming? The law is fulfilled in love—not in biting.

“Love is not weakness; it is warfare against the flesh.” – Vance Havner

Before revival can come to the world, repentance must come to the church. Let us stop the spiritual cannibalism and start demonstrating Christ.

Question: Are you consuming others with criticism, or are you fulfilling the law through love?