If We Love People Tell Them The Truth

God never says to hope someone will become what they should and act on that basis.

We deal with people the way they are, not what we hope they might become.

When we pretend someone might become something they are not now, we thwart the discipline and correction that God might have for them to improve and repent.

Someone who accepts rebellious people to avoid conflict is lazy. When we are lazy and do not obey God out of fear of being rejected, we will never grow, and neither will anyone who spends time with us.

The person who gets away with sin without accountability falls deeper and deeper into their rebellious heart, eventually will become hardened.

Ephesians 4:18 "They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."

Proverbs 25:18-20 "18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor. 19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. 20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart."

Jeremiah 17:5 "This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD."

Isaiah 30:1-3 "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:"

There is only one solution to avoid a hardened heart.

Matthew 13:14-15 "Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’"

Those who walk in rebellion against the Bible must repent to be cleansed by God.