Actually rest of the verse reads "of power AND of love and of a sound mind". These are the "spirits" that the Bible promises that God will give believers instead of fear.
Here is a question better suited to Journeys, but what happened to the "spirit of love"? Why are Bible Based Christians so much about damnation and judgement and "the weapons of our warfare"?
I did a great deal of personal witnessing during my time in the Family and my time as a christian, and the ability to empathise and articulate god's deep concern for each individual person despite any faults they have won a lot more "souls" (and it wasn't just the "Jesus Come Into My Heart" crap prayer) than the hellfire and "OT prophet" routine.
Also a question better suited for the Journey's board, but I have wondered this recently: Do you exer christians see those who have moved on from christianity as "backsliders"? Do you see exer atheists and agnostics as "having not received the love of the truth"?
Some of the interactions and the In Your Face "corrections" is often very similar to those I have had with current family members. Yet family members can be very compassionate when they don't think that someone is "damned [because they] believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." However, when it comes to the people who already Know The Deal, according to their beliefs, those who signed on at some point and then reject their own understanding of religion and faith, then these people are not just poor lost sheep any more, but become "backsliders" and that's when the claws and fangs really come out.
I've been thinking about this issue a lot lately. Perhaps this is really what triggers me sometimes.
Jules
PS: Forgive me, the KJV bible verses are off the top of my head and I can't remember (and can't be bothered to look up) the references. But if you want to check them out, I am sure they are accurate. Hey "train up a child"...