I sincerely question the possibility.
A vindictive man is a man living in sin. He sees the people he opposes as less than himself. He sees himself as the better man, the more noble, the more righteous. Kinda like the Pharisee who prayed, "Thank God I'm not like that publican". That publican-- tax collector who'd cheated people and lied-- and was also wailing about his own sin and unrighteousness and unworthiness before a holy God and the people of God. Not even vindictive-- just piously holier than thou-- yet Jesus used it as an example.
For anyone else to examine another person's expressions and tears and faltering voice when he speaks in honest humility before a congregation of his peers, and then to make sport of it and seemingly compare it as less than someone elses hurt or sadness, is a person who relinquishes any claims he has to any humility, any compassion, or any purity of his own. You see, we can't pick and choose who we have compassion for in God's kingdom. We are to have compassion for all. And when we pick one brother or sister over another and say they hurt more, then we appoint ourselves judge, jury and Holy Spirit over man.
Scripture points out not to boast when a brother falls or stumbles and fails in his own life. Not to rejoice in his humiliation. When one man gloats and points fingers towards another, it exposes the sin in his own life... his own unrighteousness, his own flaws as a Christian. It speaks ill of the body of Christ. Why?
Well, because God is merciful. God wants us to exhibit HIS characteristics, not the characteristics of the father of all lies and deceit. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Satan points fingers and laughs and tries to tear down rather than build up. Satan dredges up and emphasizes pimples and pus. He is the one we honor when we do likewise. When we seek to gain the praise of man by our opinions and sanctimonious gloating, we fail our Lord who bowed down and was obedient unto death.
The prayers of a righteous man availeth much. But he who regards any leaven or iniquity in his heart has no access to the Father in heaven. God turns himself away from we who hold animosity for others. Jesus himself told us if we come to the altar and have anything against another to leave our gift at the altar and go and make amends. When a person clings to that animosity, bitterness, angst or ire then his gifts are not worthy and are unacceptable before the Father in Heaven. His prayers are no more welcome than his gifts tainted with unforgiveness. Forgive us as we forgive others.
Longheld ire towards those we oppose only taints the blessings God wishes to pour forth upon us and those we walk among. What good could come from one who humbles himself before God and man and confesses his sin against another brother? What good could be produced if one would lay down his personal vendettas? I wonder. Do you?
