The news carried the story of the unthinkable. It seems that U.S. soldiers were under attack. Several grenades had been rolled into the tent that housed many soldiers, and when they ran out of the tent for their lives, the perpetrator routinely shot them. The unthinkable; this was not an enemy soldier but one of our own who did this.
Fratricide is defined as the killing of a brother (or sister). It describes “one who kills his brother.” We understand why one kills an enemy, but to kill a brother, comrade and partner is difficult to understand. Yet, many do it routinely—no, not in the military, but in the Lord’s church. Whether unknowingly or otherwise, we can be guilty killing—spiritually maiming or even killing a brother. We must be careful because these kinds of “grenades” can kill spiritually.
The grenade of false accusation kills. Whether it comes in the form of gossip, slander, half-truths or some other form, the improper use of the tongue can be deadly (James 3:2-12). Instead of lobbing grenades, let’s follow the instruction of God: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another” (Ephesians 4:31-32a).
The grenade of suspicion kills. Love is eager to believe the best, but suspicion is produced by something far less noble. The brother, who, with raised eyebrow and jaundiced vision, views another with suspicion based on his associates or mannerisms, will kill or wound, perhaps for no reason at all. Of all people to whom we should give the benefit of the doubt, it is our brethren!
The grenade of indifference kills. Perhaps this is the cruelest of all. George Bernard Shaw said, “The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them.” Our Lord taught the importance of being responsive to those around us in Matthew 25:31-46 where He depicted the Judgment as being based in part on how we respond to the needs of others. Let us not simply say, “be warmed and filled” (James 2:15-17), but rather be genuinely concerned about the needs of others, especially of fellow Christians (Galatians 6:10).
I do not envy the man who will surely be tried before a military court on the charge of killing his fellow soldiers—his brothers. Yet, even more frightening and sobering is the thought of standing before the Judge to give an account for wounding and killing my brethren and God’s children. Let’s avoid that dire possibility by “being devoted to one another in brotherly love…” (Romans 12:10).
