"...enemy of all righteousness."

It's amazing to me that many Christians have fallen into the trap of thinking that they cannot say anything "negative" about anyone. There are many preachers today who would say we just need to encourage people and speak kind words to them. Others would say we should never make a "negative confession." I do believe that we should be patient and longsuffering with people (after all every, believer has walked in darkness at one time but are saved only by the grace of God). But the truth is not always "positive and encouraging." And there are times when harsh language is acceptable and necessary. Take this passage of Scripture for example:

Acts 13:6-10 And when they [Paul and Barnabas] had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: (7) Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. (8) But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. (9) Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, (10) And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Many people today would be horrified if someone called another person a child of the devil or an enemy of righteousness. Didn't Paul know that this would hurt this poor man's self-esteem? (I'm being facetious of course.) Why did Paul say this? Before I attempt to answer this, let's look at another example from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself:

Matthew 23:15-17, 27-28, 33 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (16) Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! (17) Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? ... (27) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (28) Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity... (33) Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
(Read the whole chapter.)

This would be seen as a brutally vicious attack in today's "tolerant society." How could our Lord say such mean-spirited things to a whole group of people? Well we know that Jesus lived a sinless life here on earth (Hebrews 4:15). Therefore we can trust that His words were spoken in a perfectly righteous manner. Here's one last example before I offer my opinion:

Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

What do these three examples have in common? The first example involved a man who was trying to prevent someone from hearing the Word of God. Since "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17)," Elymas the sorcerer was trying to overthrow the deputy's faith. In the second example, Jesus was dealing with the legalists of Israel. They had added to the commandments of God. They could not keep the law given by God, and they were creating their own commandments for the people, thus keeping them in bondage. This is why Peter later asked, "why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" (Acts 15:10) In the third example, we need to go back to the first chapter of Galatians to understand why Paul was so upset with them.

Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel [of a different kind]: (7) Which is not another [of the same kind]; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

He also speaks of "false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage (Gal. 2:4)." The issue at stake in all three of these examples is the eternal destiny of the souls of men. The first two examples involve the rebuking of the "enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil. 3:18)." The last involves the stern correction of a group of believers who were putting themselves back into the bondage of keeping the law. This is what the Church needs to understand today. We cannot put ourselves under a regimen of rules and regulations to become holy. We must simply place our faith continually in the finished work of Christ on the Cross and allow God to make us holy and clothe us with the righteousness of Christ. Nothing else will do.

Galatians 2:16, 20-21, 3:1-3 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified [Here Paul makes is very clear that we cannot be saved by our good works; we can be saved only by God's grace through our faith in the correct object, that of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.]... (20) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (21) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. [Now Paul makes it clear that neither can our daily living for the Lord be accomplished in the flesh, that is of our own strength and ability through keeping the law. "...[T]he just shall live by his faith." (Hab. 2:4) Very clearly he says that if we can keep the law to become righteous and live a holy life, then there was no need for Christ to die on the cross. We need to let that thought sink in.] (3:1) O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (2) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? [The Galatians came in the right way, by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8), but they soon resorted to the works of the law in order to be sanctified. Paul is telling them here that this is impossible.]

Colossians 2:6-10, 20-23, 3:1-3 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him [Again Paul says our daily walk with the Lord must be in the same manner that we first received Christ when we were born again.]: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power... (20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not; (22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? [We are crucified with Christ. Therefore we should not subject ourselves to laws devised by men. These only bring us into bondage to them and create a spirit of self-righteousness.] (23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. (3:1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.