Because I am not mad and still call you guys very gullible dummies! : ) Have a good one!
Does Roy Masters consider "pride" a sin or is he only talking about the outward, bad stuff?
What does being mad have to do with it? Upon review of the passage, I did relate the wrong section to your use of "dummy," but the essential point stands. In Matt 5:22, Jesus cites three different conditions, any of which would constitute sin.
The first is unjustified anger. The second is calling someone stupid (apparently, raca = dummy). The third is to call someone a fool, which is more an accusation of spiritual wickedness. Only the first condition relates to anger. The other two are actually worse, but are not necessarily based on anger, though certainly they are based on an attitude, which I believe boatbums suggests to be pride, and I would agree.
Pride is such a horrendous evil it got Lucifer evicted from Heaven. Likely it lies at the bottom of every other sin in one way or another. When it takes the form of hurtful words, the words do their harm, even if the one saying them is cheerful and at peace. Consider James:
Jas 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. [9] Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. [10] Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
You see, the greatest commandment is love, and we can hardly be showing love by calling people rude names. They are made in God's image, every one of them. Falling short of that loving respect for others is falling short of the glory of God. It is sin, plain and simple. Even more so when hurtful words flow easily from a heart full, not of anger, but of hubris. Such a heart is cold, void of passion, too hard for love to establish a root. This is nothing to brag about.
As for meditative self-healing, it is a road I have been down, when I was young. I had a pastor who was into Edgar Cayce, and other spiritual add-ons to basic, old-fashioned Christianity. I didn't know any better. I didn't know I was opening myself to profound spiritual evil. By God's grace, I escaped that period of my life, that time of darkness.
But I also came to know how impossible it was to live up to the extremely high standards set by Christ. Not a day goes by but what I see thoughts and motives in my heart that fall short of the fullest love for God and my neighbor. I am not proud of these things, but they fill me with an eager longing for the day when, as Paul, I will be set free from the frailties of this mortal life, and will live immortal with Him:
1Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. [13] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Peace,
SR