Who remembers the idiom? Sticks and stones may break bones, but names will never hurt me. How many can attest to saying this at some point in their lives? I know I can, and to this day, I still reference it when handling schoolyard bullies, but I do so in a way that teaches a biblical lesson.

At the same time, despite the abuse from preaching the gospel and living rightfully, it’s fair to say that although the sticks and stone expression is a gem, compassion, and self-control have more significant value.

Jesus says that when we are dealing with mentally, emotionally, and spiritually injured people who get their kicks out of kicking others, we have to be healthier. A good comeback always feels good at the moment, but self-control proves that Christ’s righteousness is better than belittling.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

Jesus tells us if we are walking in His Spirit and reflectivity outward the fruits that come from Him, there is no law; therefore, it’s safe to say it’s in our best interest when handling the foul-mouthed who speak profanity in our direction, or give backhanded compliments, insult or covertly exercise evil to speak out wisely rather than wittily, punch back.

Father says that slander and backbiting are Satan’s MO and not His people. Proverbs 20:19 says, “Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with a simple babbler.

A babbler is an obnoxious storyteller who makes people they find challenging look wrong or foolish by others by their outlandish demeanor and without reason. They do their best to dig into a person’s background before Christ to cause a smear campaign or, better yet, speak lies having no truth but reflecting a filthy nasty heart. Too often, this behavior is in the church because you tolerate that false prophetess Jezebel.

James 1:26 says it best, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”

Holy Spirit equips the saints to refrain from responding in a way that fuels the fire of iniquities but instead kindles a godly flame. We learn to handle ignorance and arrogance and Jezebel’s flamethrower in a way that reflects Christ and shines a light on their dark behavior.

2 Peter 1:5-8 KJV
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things are in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I like the sticks and stones expression because it’s painfully true to the loose-lipped, the people who are incapable of zipping the opening that buries themselves. Oh, they try, but without Christ, it looks more like groveling to look good. So don t be surprised that people begin to see where the chaos is coming from and start to pull back, knowing that if you hurt God’s anointed out of insecurities, then you can bet that if you get on that person’s wrong side, they will also try to destroy your name.

Psalm 34:12-16 ESV, “What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceitfully. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears are toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil to cut off their memory of them from the earth.

A few years ago, I was part of a group with several women in Jezebel’s Spirit who had a field day making up stories about innocent women. It was a dreadful experience, yet after some time, eyes began to shift in the direction of the storytellers because the clear in Christ were walking powerfully in God’s anointing. So people started to recognize that the problems began with the troublemakers who talked too much.

The false witnesses began by telling tales so fabricated with wickedness that one’s own experiences about these stories could have been where they originated, and the guilt came from within themselves. Then, as people started to wake up to the problemed areas, the insults of the false accusers turned into backhanded compliments while they tried to back-peddle before their peers. Sadly, it didn’t work for them because God favors the prophets; therefore, they showed these girls a few things, and the people influenced firsthand repented, but Holy Spirit said, “out of embarrassment, they never came forward to apologize.”

I share these experiences so that people can learn from them; I am grateful to have gone through several like it so that I can teach more profoundly to save others from narcissism. As a body of Christ’s church, it is better to stand together than drive wedges apart. In case you don’t know what to look for in your circles, a backhanded compliment is a covert insult, a jeer intended to back alley belittle someone so that other people see them insignificantly. Sadly, I am closely related to people who have parents and siblings who are guilty of treating their loving children and siblings this way. Who can relate?

The Jezebel Spirit will always be out to manipulate the circle by trying to act overly knowledgeable and bring attention to themselves; it’s all about them and no one else. But they put on an act of gentleness to appear suitable but only mirroring the goodness of their target.

For example, it’s like saying something about someone like they’re not used to public attention and don’t know how to handle it because they have a flawed character but let’s pray for them. Therefore the person who speaks poorly tries to make themselves look like they are a good person and evil as the day is long. Be on the lookout for this type of behavior but be sure to practice compassion and protect yourself by living honorably so that your patience is rewarded later in the face of persecution.

1 Peter 3:16 says it best, “Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

I’m glad to have gone through it to help you learn how to deal with hardship honorably. The Bible teaches us to guard our mouths to preserve life, but the person or people who open their lips wide comes to ruin.

How about raising the standard and not acting like the rest but taking a stand to live honorably and teaching Americans not to mock but instruct in the ways of Christ to be better and spiritually healthier rather than belittling?

God Bless You,
Sister Christine

C. Brejcha ©️