1. The Forgiveness That Removes All Ground for Blame

Believers may act foolishly or sin grievously, but because we are forgiven in Christ, there is no biblical warrant to hold their failures against them or to maintain a record of blame. The only ones who persist in harboring this “island of blame” are those who trust in the law—or in some moral principle derived from it. As the apostle Paul declares, “All who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them’” (Galatians 3:10, quoting Deut 27:26). John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion 3.19.2–4, explains that the law’s curse remains active against any who seek righteousness by it, even after justification; only faith in Christ removes the believer from that curse.

2. Two Central Struggles in the Christian Life

As we grow in grace, two major obstacles repeatedly confront us. First, truly believing—and resting in—the absolute sovereignty of God over all things, including our failures and the failures of others. Second, maintaining a relationship with the law that is consistent with the gospel rather than slipping back into legalism. Many believers play both sides: they embrace grace in doctrine while clinging to law in practice, creating a conflicted faith that breeds doubt, self-righteousness, and judgmentalism. Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics 4.5.4, describes this tension as the ongoing conflict between the “old man” (still drawn to law) and the “new man” (alive in Christ); the gospel alone frees us from the former.

3. The Danger of Trusting the Law: A Personal and Biblical Warning

Many never fully sever the strings of the law because they do not truly believe the Bible’s warning that the law curses lawbreakers. It took me many years of inwardly cursing lawbreakers—and feeling the destructive power of that attitude—to grasp how dangerous the law can be when it is misused as a tool of personal judgment. Ps. 69: 1-5""I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; many are those who would destroy me, my enemies who accuse me falsely."

I therefore no longer approach Christian love as restrained condemnation or controlled anger. Through prolonged meditation on certain Psalms (especially Ps 119:97–104, where love for the law paradoxically leads to hatred of false ways), it has become second nature to resist trusting in those condemning strings. I know that within me the law remains a fire that can consume and destroy if I am not vigilant. If I fail to discern the internal forces that pull me back into bondage, the law only ruins my attitude and quenches the Spirit. That is why I strive to live in a state of spiritual overflow—free, joyful, and abundant in grace. When I encounter that same legalistic spirit in others, it threatens to pull me back into judgment; therefore we should be as harmless and gentle as possible in what we fall back on. Many flirt with this fire because they do not seriously believe the Bible’s repeated warnings that trusting in the law brings a curse rather than blessing. Galatians 5:4 – “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”: Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians (on 3:10), warns that even believers who return to law for assurance or judgment place themselves under its curse again.

4. The Command Not to Call Brothers “Fools” and the Call to Praise

This is why Jesus warns us not to call our brothers “fools” or “thou fool” (Matthew 5:22), equating such contempt with murder in the heart. Of course, some like to pick and choose which commands to emphasize while ignoring others. The Bible forbids us to regard fellow believers as still under God’s wrath or condemnation. Instead, we are called to praise God for them (Philippians 1:3–6; 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3). There is never a place in the wisdom literature where we treat brothers in Christ as pagans or enemies.Ps.16:3 "As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” we view those whom God has forgiven as still at odds with Him, we are effectively placing them back under the law to be cursed by it—contrary to the entire message of grace. Ephesians 4:31–32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger… be put away from you… forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”: John Owen, The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded, stresses that believers are to view one another through the lens of union with Christ, never as objects of wrath.

5. When Rebuke or Cursing May Be Necessary: Protecting the Flock

I have never intentionally cursed a brother. However, I believe that in certain extreme cases, strong rebuke—or even imprecatory language—may be appropriate when it protects the unity and purity of the church from wolves and false teachers who threaten to destroy it (e.g., Galatians 1:8–9; 2 Timothy 2:17–18). In such situations, speaking against evil serves to set the community straight and preserve its integrity. Ps. 71:13"May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace."Titus 1:10–13 – Paul commands that false teachers “must be silenced” because they upset whole families. John Calvin, Institutes 4.12.10–11, affirms church discipline—including strong public rebuke—when necessary to guard the flock.

6. The Prophet’s Anger: Reasoning, Not Divine Rebuke

In this particular context, you have not demonstrated that God told the prophet he was wrong for being angry. From the text, the exchange appears to be two individuals reasoning together—an honest dialogue rather than a direct divine rebuke. Understanding and humility are essential here. We should be cautious not to judge motives unfairly or to elevate our own interpretations above others in the community of faith. James 1:19–20 – “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” This is the gospel in miniature: forgiven sinners are freed from condemnation and called to live in grace, not to judge one another under law. True Christian love flows from resting in God’s sovereign mercy, not from wielding the law’s fire.