Bullying

 I fear that there may be discord,

 jealousy, 

fits of rage,

 selfish ambition,

 slander,

gossip, 

arrogance and 

disorder. 

2 Corinthians 12:20

Even hummingbirds, the sweetest-looking birds ever, are wild beasts when it comes to their territory.  Ours are constantly fighting each other off, even to the ground, poking and biting and vying for first place, not wanting to share a container of food that will last for a week or more for all five.

We, also, are wild beasts when it comes to our positions in the church, our name on the rosters, our special spots to sit, our plaques on the wall, our names in the bulletin, our voices in business meetings.  We are just as territorial when a visitor arrives in our service.  I guess we've been looking at too many "hummingbirds" for our example instead of the God who made them that way to survive.  We can survive very well acting like Christ instead of his rival.

Photo Credit: Jon Montgomery