Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.
I charge you in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. But be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry (2 Tim 4:1-5).
I have not heard these verses in a sermon in years, decades maybe. So, for those deprived of this vital teaching: "Reprove" means correct, it is impossible to correct anyone about anything without telling them they are wrong; "rebuke" means to forcefully set him straight when he refuses to correct the sinful behavior; "exhort" means to encourage and can and should be done at every stage of the process as well as between corrections. It says much about how far "we are drifting" that I cannot recall when they were last used in a sermon. "Be urgent" demands that we add immediacy to the mix. These are not things to mull over for weeks or months. Someone's soul is at stake! Do not be calm, do not wait hours or days to think up the best way. Those methods might work when helping someone improve their prayer life or scripture reading, et al. They are sinful when correction is needed regarding a breach of sound doctrine.
The greater danger comes when needed correction is not given and people become entrenched in their "own desires" to have teachers who "prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things." Often leaders care more for smooth relationships than the ugly destiny of the person they are so afraid of offending that they do not reprove them. It speaks much that the only reproof I know of from any church/spiritual leaders is of me for "doing it the wrong way." They admit that it needed doing. Many will even admit that for many sinners, there is no "right way." They always weasel out of any such unpleasantness. I admit that it could have probably been done better. But, it the final analysis, at least I got it done. Finally, most often I have given the method much thought and done my best.
"The time will come." Such times always come. Members become more affluent, more educated, more tolerant as is demanded by society. No one likes unrest and trouble. So the elders' chief duty is to keep things smooth, no upsets, no fusses. The preacher is careful to phrase his messages in ways that tell the truth but no one becomes offended. The members are satisfied that all is well with their sousl and destiny since their toes have not been stepped on.
J.D. Tant often closed his reports to the Gospel Advocate with, "Brethren, we are drifting." If any of the above even remotely describes your church, you have drifted out of sight of the land of sound doctrine.
They have healed also the hurt of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace (Jer 6:14).
Keith Ward
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