The English poet Rudyard Kipling once said: "Never praise a sister to another sister in hope of your compliment reaching the proper ear." Unfortunately, what is known as innocent "sibling rivalry" often grows into something more destructive. For example, it is well known that a majority of murders are committed by someone the victim knows. Often, it is a relative with hostile aggressive tendencies that evolve into a raging jealousy that blinds reason.

   This "jealousy and the brotherhood" syndrome has been a part of the religious landscape since Cain slew Abel in a fit of rage. It was there when no less than the "patriarchs moved with envy, (and) sold Joseph (because he was different) into Egypt" in Acts 7:9. And don’t forget it was there when the religious Pharisees plotted the crucifixion of a perfect man on a cross that was far away from their temples of prejudice and hypocrisy.

   It is unfortunate that still today jealousy reveals itself in the religious brotherhood as brothers continue to destroy spiritual siblings (some of whom they deny are even brothers) because they are different. This differentness appears as a threat to the status quo who have egos that rest quietly beneath their robes of religious piousness and sectarianism. "Joseph must go", they assert and so, instead of embracing or at least accepting their dreamer brother, they plot ways to get rid of him.

   Sadly, this "jealousy in the brotherhood" causes enormous pain and loss beginning at the local church level, thus causing talented dreamers like Joseph to be put in some kind of pit for the "status quo challenged." It then moves into the clergy realm causing ministers to actively distort and mislabel other clergy they feel may be another "Joseph."

   And then finally, "jealousy in the brotherhood" works in denominational settings, engendering sectarianism that manifests itself in putting more effort in destroying other denominations that may have a "coat of many colors" than they do in reaching the truly lost with the gospel.

   Bottom line truth: While we should never expect churches to agree on every cultural and doctrinal tradition, we should make an effort to identify and eradicate "jealousy in the brotherhood."