If you are a believer, do not bother watching the movie "The Passion of the Christ." There is so much wrong with it, but so subtle that it will distort Christianity for those who don't know their Bibles.
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Discerning When to Correct or Expose Something or Someone
Often, correction is based on the feelings of the one who corrects. Whether or not they like us is a big factor. Very few people actually know us; they have observed a couple of things, listened to some gossip, made a judgement, and they are the ones who shout "don't judge" the loudest.
Correction is only legitimate if the one who wishes to correct saw the whole matter and has a discussion with us. It is not valid to correct someone with half the information and without discussion to discover truth.
Matthew 18:15 "“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother."
This pertains to when someone sins against you personally. If you see or hear about someone sinning against another person, this is not your business unless you are a part of what is going on. And even then, there must be a discussion about the matter with all parties involved.
Guessing what others are doing from afar is nosiness and is based on gossip, not facts.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."
1 Timothy 5:13 "At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention."
This principle of "minding one's own business" does not mean that we neglect warning others about false prophets or public celebrities.
False prophets and prominent public figures are accountable to the public and must be exposed when in grievous error.
Ephesians 5:11 "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
Romans 16:17-18 "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."
2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
When we know the Bible, we will be able to see when to act and when to remain silent. We will judge righteously rather than in error based on personal opinions or prejudices.
May each believer seek the Holy Spirit in everything so that we will be pleasing to God in our judgements and communications.
Correction is only legitimate if the one who wishes to correct saw the whole matter and has a discussion with us. It is not valid to correct someone with half the information and without discussion to discover truth.
Matthew 18:15 "“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother."
This pertains to when someone sins against you personally. If you see or hear about someone sinning against another person, this is not your business unless you are a part of what is going on. And even then, there must be a discussion about the matter with all parties involved.
Guessing what others are doing from afar is nosiness and is based on gossip, not facts.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."
1 Timothy 5:13 "At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention."
This principle of "minding one's own business" does not mean that we neglect warning others about false prophets or public celebrities.
False prophets and prominent public figures are accountable to the public and must be exposed when in grievous error.
Ephesians 5:11 "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
Romans 16:17-18 "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."
2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
When we know the Bible, we will be able to see when to act and when to remain silent. We will judge righteously rather than in error based on personal opinions or prejudices.
May each believer seek the Holy Spirit in everything so that we will be pleasing to God in our judgements and communications.
The Way to Grow in Holiness
The only way to grow in holiness is to confess often and immediately to be cleansed by God when we falter or sin, even the smallest matters in the mind, before they become actions that need to be confessed to God. If we have offended someone without realizing it and they tell us, then we should be ready to apologize to them for hurting them.
1 John 1:8-10 "8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…
One way to discern if someone is not confessing is if they do not seem to grow. This is someone who can never admit they were wrong, even defending bad attitudes or behavior to justify themselves. These people never consider the feelings of others, they only care about remaining dominant over others.
These people refuse correction, even raging when confronted with something in them that needs to change. They will even rage when someone merely expresses their own opinion that differs from theirs.
Those who walk in humility appreciate honest correction and make changes. Humility demands that we consider the well-being of the other person so that we are not doing harm.
A kind person does not practice pride and disrespect toward anyone. They do not have it in their character to be unkind.
Someone who is kind to some people and unkind to others is an unkind person but is selective so as not to damage their reputation toward those they wish to impress, while having no concern for those they disrespect.
We can see growth in those who are sensitive to offending God and confess to be cleansed. We can also see a lack of growth in those who wish to elevate themselves above God and others through their absence of love toward those for whom they have contempt.
Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
When we have a discerning heart, we will see things in ourselves and in others that need work.
1 John 1:8-10 "8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…
One way to discern if someone is not confessing is if they do not seem to grow. This is someone who can never admit they were wrong, even defending bad attitudes or behavior to justify themselves. These people never consider the feelings of others, they only care about remaining dominant over others.
These people refuse correction, even raging when confronted with something in them that needs to change. They will even rage when someone merely expresses their own opinion that differs from theirs.
Those who walk in humility appreciate honest correction and make changes. Humility demands that we consider the well-being of the other person so that we are not doing harm.
A kind person does not practice pride and disrespect toward anyone. They do not have it in their character to be unkind.
Someone who is kind to some people and unkind to others is an unkind person but is selective so as not to damage their reputation toward those they wish to impress, while having no concern for those they disrespect.
We can see growth in those who are sensitive to offending God and confess to be cleansed. We can also see a lack of growth in those who wish to elevate themselves above God and others through their absence of love toward those for whom they have contempt.
Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
When we have a discerning heart, we will see things in ourselves and in others that need work.
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