I see a strange phenomenon in the body of Christ, so many appear to love to rebuke! And yes we are told to rebuke, at times, such as “Them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear.” (1Timothy 5;20) But some make a ministry (career) of it! Sigh ~ But you know what, of the 79Xs (32 in the NT) rebuke is mentioned not a single verse says it is a ministry. And by the way, many of the verses that use rebuke actually are saying not to. A classic example is “Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;” (1Timothy 5:1) Why do so few want to “exhort” which means to encourage and although mentioned only 25Xs and only in the NT is a clear ministry of encouragement or building up as defined by Paul in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” And you know what folks, so much of what I have seen in my more than 42 years on this Gospel Road that is called (by the perpetrator) “rebuke,” is actually extremely corrupt! Sometimes when I hear someone say “I rebuke you in the Lord.” It makes me want to vomit and I feel like saying, “Ah baloney, you are simply fleshing out at me and excusing it as God! Why don’t you just shut up?” Why do so few want to be encouragers (9Xs in the OT and 2Xs in the NT) or builder uppers (edifiers)? It is sort o like gifts, most people want flashy, everyone sees me gifts. But a gift that is possibly the most important gift and is certainly the most neglected, that being the gift of helps. I can hear some asking, “h Ralph where is that, I have not seen that one.” Well it is sort of right of the middle two ahead of the one so many people are crazy over, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:28) When it comes to false teachers yes, Paul is very clear, he tells Titus in regard to evil teachers, But Paul speaks of evil teachers, “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them gsharply, that they may be sound in the faith;” (Titus 1:13) And yes if we are called to rebuke it must be in the confidence of Gods authority, “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” (Titus 2:15) But remember, even then there are specific steps, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2Timothy 4:2) Reprove to speak Biblical truth; rebuke to make to cease and desist; and, exhort to encourage on the right path (i.e., build up) So let us all set pride and ego aside and practice Biblical correction and encouragement in love, after all is not love the greatest? Baruch HaShem Adonai
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 11:22:47 +0000
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