Should we use
scripture only to bless others and rule out its use for correction or rebuke?
Sugar-coated messages are soothing to the ear. By nature, people like to hear words of comfort, encouragement and blessing.
Speaking positive
words from scripture to bless and encourage others has been the usual practice.
Out of politeness or fear of upsetting good relationships, we are afraid to use
the Word to correct or rebuke.
We say to ourselves, “It
is better not to rock the boat.” Let the status quo remain. Let
sleeping dogs lie. Let us not ruffle some feathers.
Let's enjoy the cruise. Better not to rock the boat.
It is sad but true
that God’s word is seldom used for correction or rebuke—whereas it is meant to be positive and negative.
Let’s consider these
two references in Paul’s teaching:
“All
Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may
be competent, equipped for every good work” (2
Timothy 3:16-17).
“Preach
the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come
when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires,
they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away
from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
Love is not all soft and mushy. It is not all candy floss. Unless truth is upheld, we are just being wishy washy with our faith, fearful of confronting error or sin—whether it is in us or others.
God is love. He is slow to anger, quick to forgive and chose us
while we were yet sinners. He loved us so much He sent Jesus to die on the
cross to pay the penalty for our sins.
But He is also a God
of justice and righteousness. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of
your throne; love and faithfulness go before you” (Psalm 89:14).
We ought to speak the truth in love so that error or
sin will be exposed for what it is and set aright (Ephesians 4:15). Eventually
the whole body of Christ will attain maturity.
A serious
blunder is the failure
to acknowledge that we
need correction. It was this sin—which
smacks of pride and spiritual
blindness—for
which the church at Laodicea was condemned: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a
thing.’ But you do not realise that you are
wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17).
Another
blunder is refusing
to allow God’s word to “perform
heart surgery” on us.
“For
the word of God is alive and active. Sharper
than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul
and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and
attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews
4:12).
If we
merely espouse “feel good” teaching and fail to expose sin or error, we are
heading the wrong way.
Sometimes,
we may have to rock the boat. Rebuke and correction are never easy tasks to
undertake. It may upset people when we try to change the situation. But, for
the sake of truth, whatever is necessary must be done.
"Faith is good only when it engages truth; when
it is made to rest upon falsehood it can and often does lead to eternal
tragedy." – A. W. Tozer
Caveat: Before proceeding with correction, it is important to first build a relationship out of love and respect. Furthermore, it's not merely the words used in correction that matter; it's also about attitude and tone of voice.
Caveat: Before proceeding with correction, it is important to first build a relationship out of love and respect. Furthermore, it's not merely the words used in correction that matter; it's also about attitude and tone of voice.
Footnotes:
Some
assert that those who preach and teach God’s word are to be more
“seeker-sensitive”. If that’s the case, does it mean we’re supposed to give
them what they would like to hear?
Did Paul bend over backwards to try to please
others? Yes, in a sense. But it was not at the expense of truth, which was never
compromised:
For though I
am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more
of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those
under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the
law) that I might win those under the law. To those
outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the
law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the
weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become
all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it
all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
(1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
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