Matthew 7:15-16 "15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?…"
Matthew 18:15-16 ". 15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’…"
If we are to "beware of false prophets" as God tells us, that means that we are going to have to discern their attitudes and actions. If the culture sees doing this as an attack, then how are we to warn others.
I notice that we are not accused of "attacking" someone if we say only good things about them. Why does our culture consider it good to tell the good things about a person but see it as bad to tell the bad things?
As a culture we have been programmed to believe that we should only see the good and ignore the bad. Is it any wonder that sin goes unchallenged and people as a whole never grow emotionally or spiritually.
Emotional and spiritual growth only occurs when the sin is exposed and dealt with, through rebuke, correction or discipline.
If sin in any form is allowed to go unchallenged then it grows. If the people are not warned to be discerning they will be fooled and used, even abused by those who are evil.
Would a facebook friend be angry at me for warning them about a scammer who is trying to take the money from the bank accounts of those they scam? My guess is that I would be thanked for warning them.
When we like someone so much that we refuse to see the need for correction or warning about their sinful nature, that person becomes an idol to the one who will not look at truth.
Luke 17:3 " 3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
We should never be so in taken with anyone that we hang on every word they say without evaluating it for truth. If we love our friend, our country, our church, then we will care deeply that they not fall into error or engage in questionable things that might destroy them and others.
Sadly, too many people think that a rebuke, correction or discipline is hate, but in fact it is just the opposite. To correct others is to do so hoping they will listen, change their course and pray about what they are going to do out of protection for them.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
Rather than becoming angry when our favorite person is criticized it is best to take it to prayer, remembering exhortation is not hate but love. Also remembering that exposing evil is love toward those who may fall into a trap and even love for the offender, that they might learn and turn.
Our culture of praise and flattery has driven us into a pit of evil that seems impossible to get out of, since many people in our culture come unglued at the suggestion that they may have the wrong idea, the wrong actions or even the wrong attitude.
Titus 3:10-11 "10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.…"
Psalm 141:5
"Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds."
I have encountered more people in our culture who are convinced that speaking truth when it is corrective, is negative and should not be spoken. This is a very clever ploy of the devil to intimidate righteous people into silence. If the righteous can be silenced, then sin can reign supreme.
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