Correcting Faults In Others
Matthew 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
There are some Christians who constantly seek to find faults in others, but Jesus Christ instructed us not to do so. There is nothing to be accomplished by finding fault in others, and it only causes all kinds of bitterness in everyone involved. When we judge others unfairly, they will also judge us in the same way. Only God is perfect, without any fault of any kind; therefore, He is the only one who has the right to judge each of us; furthermore, He is the only one who has the knowledge to pass a just judgement without making a mistake.
Matt 7:3-5 And why beholdest thou the mote ( speck ) that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam ( large plank ) that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Some Christians are constantly condemning others while at the same time they are totally unaware of the unloving attitude of their own heart. They are always aware of every little fault in others but are totally unaware of the much greater fault in themselves. Looking for faults in others is a great fault in itself, it is a beam size fault. Before we criticize others for some fault we should first be sure that we do not have an even greater fault in ourselves. Removing a speck from another Christian’s eye must be done with humility, gentleness, and love. Remember the cure can be worse then the disease; it may sometimes be best to ignore the speck in your brother’s eye.
Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
We must always take the approach of a peace maker and not a warrior. Many times another Christian’s fault is none of our business; but when it is, we must keep it private. We must be careful not to openly criticize others, to do so only compounds the problem and can cause harm.
Matthew 18:16-17 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
When your private efforts as a peace maker have failed, it becomes a matter for Church discipline. Church discipline must always be based on facts and not on unproven accusations.
1 Tim 5:19-20 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
When an elder, a leader in the Church, has been proven to have sinned in some way, he must be rebuked publicly, by the other elders. Because the elder is supposed to be an example to all, he must be rebuked before all, as an example to all. This is not done to destroy the elder that sins, but for the purpose of showing the Church that sin is not acceptable.
2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
The word of God is to be our guide for living and must be our guide for reproving, rebuking, and exhorting others. Many times Christians need correcting and it is the job of the elder to do the correcting, but with patience and the truth of the word of God. Only the knowledge of the word of God can qualify a person to reprove or rebuke another; and all reproving and rebuking should be followed by exhortation.
Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
The word of God must always be our standard for living. The word of God is our only authority for reprimanding another Christian. Those in position of authority must always rely upon the word of God for all correction and instruction.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
We must not ignore sin, to do so may encourage it. We must always confront the sinning Christian regarding their sin.
Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
True love demands open rebuke. It is better to speak the truth in love than to ignore sin in another Christian.
James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
James is speaking to Christians about Christians. When a Christian practices sin, he is in danger of being disciplined by God, even to the point of death.
1 Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Therefore, correcting a sinning Christian may save his life as well as delivering him from a sinful habit and a life filled with sin.
Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
We must not judge others but we must correct others with a spirit of humbleness, recognizing that we could also do even worse than they have done. The purpose in correcting others is to restore them, not to destroy them. We should help others with there weaknesses, but we must not condemn them and we must not forget our own vulnerability.
Judgement and condemnation of other Christians is sin and must be dealt with as sin. Reproving and rebuking of other Christians is demanded of elders in the Church, and must be done in love.
Exhortation should always follow correction; our goal should be to build up and not to destroy.
This is my sermon for tomorrow, you have perfect timing on this brother.
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