I've been taught that I will be cursed by God if I sow discontent within the church, according to Proverbs 6:19. Is that true?
The Bible never uses the word “curse” in describing the consequences for a believer. In the Bible, a curse from the Lord always means death and judgment. It is never correct to say that the Lord curses a believer.
Furthermore, the Bible does not speak of a curse for those who cause conflict or strife, though these behaviors are likely sin nonetheless. Every believer sins, and the Bible commands all believers to put away sin and seek to live by the commandments of Christ. A believer who fails to obey God’s word may receive a rebuke from the Lord as Hebrews teaches:
Heb. 12:7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Heb. 12:8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Heb. 12:9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb. 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
Heb. 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Still, we cannot say that any believer is placed under a curse, for a curse from God always results in damnation. The idea that God may curse people (in the sense of bringing bad luck or terrible experiences in life) comes from pagan religion and false teaching. The Bible says the Lord acts in all ways for the good of the believer:
