Rejection Of Correction
As I’ve been searching the Scriptures lately I have been wondering more and more why Christians think they can just ignore certain commands, labeling those who call them on it “legalistic and judgmental”. I have found many Scriptures, whether by study or just by chance, that apply to many events that have happened over the past year. In some of those events a simple act of disagreement with another’s beliefs or an act of admonishment to a friend in the love of Christ was viewed as correcting and being legalistic.
It seems no longer can Christians correct one another in edification. You can no longer tell your brother or sister in Christ anything without them either getting upset with you or being viewed as judgmental. You are supposed to “love and accept” everyone for who they are. Yes, we are to love one another as Christ loved us, but no, we are not to accept everyone as they are in their sin. That is of a new-age religion mindset. We are not suppose to accept sin. We are suppose to turn from it. Paul makes that clear we are not to keep company with those who don’t keep the Word, and we are to not count him as an enemy but admonish him.
2 Thessalonians 3:14-16
Furthermore, if anyone does not obey what we are saying in this letter, take note of him and have nothing to do with him, so that he will be ashamed. But don’t consider him an enemy; on the contrary, confront him as a brother and try to help him change. Now may the Lord of shalom himself give you shalom always in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.
One verse that has been taken out of context and has stimulated this rejection of correction in youth has been 1 Timothy 4:12. This verse has been put in a light that you shouldn’t let adults, elders in the Body, tell you anything. The aged men and women are having their wisdom of the Word rejected because youth aren’t to be looked down upon. I don’t think this is what Paul meant when he wrote that to Timothy, and I think he would be horrified at what is happening today.
A few weeks ago I wrote an article, and then I had a friend email me and tell me she thought something I said “didn’t sound very nice”. She ended the email with “I just know that sometimes I’ve written things without realizing how they really sounded”. Now, this friend is a little older than I am and I respect her greatly. I know she loves me and cares about how other people view me. She also knows my heart and that I am not above correction. I could have done one of two things when receiving her email 1) rejected her correction and just left the post as it was or 2) thanked her for her loving admonishment and took into consideration what she was saying. Whether or not I edited the post or not it did me a great deal of good to not get offended at her “telling me what to do” and to consider her words.
You don’t know me as a real person. You don’t know the heart I have to help my brothers and sisters in Christ follow the Word whole-heartedly. The heart I have to share God’s Word and to bring my dear friends back onto the straight and narrow path. You don’t see how utterly wretched I am and know that I do not place myself above anyone. You don’t know how hurt I am by certain remarks or by the actions of others when they pull the “legalistic, judgmental” card. All you see is what is on my blog.
As a Christian it is my duty to admonish my brothers and sisters in Christ. It is not being legalistic or judgmental. We are to edify the Body (1 Corinthians 14:12), the Bride of Christ, and in doing so edify and admonish one another.
Ephesians 4:12-19
Their task is to equip God’s people for the work of service that builds the body of the Messiah, until we all arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of God, at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah’s perfection.
We will then no longer be infants tossed about by the waves and blown along by every wind of teaching, at the mercy of people clever in devising ways to deceive.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in every respect grow up into him who is the head, the Messiah.
Under his control, the whole body is being fitted and held together by the support of every joint, with each part working to fulfill its function; this is how the body grows and builds itself up in love.
Therefore I say this – indeed, in union with the Lord I insist on it: do not live any longer as the pagans live, with their sterile ways of thinking.
Their intelligence has been shrouded in darkness, and they are estranged from the life of God, because of the ignorance in them, which in turn comes from resisting God’s will.
They have lost all feeling, so they have abandoned themselves to sensuality, practicing any kind of impurity and always greedy for more.
Sometimes people will reject correction. Sometimes they won’t be willing to take loving admonishment, admit they were wrong, and move on. That is alright. You’ve done your job and then it is between them and God, but let us not let our brothers and sisters in Christ walk in sin and stain the pure and spotless Bride, while we stand by.
James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you wanders from the truth, and someone causes him to return, you should know that whoever turns a sinner from his wandering path will save him from death and cover many sins.
Let’s stop the rejection of correction, and once again be a edified, purified, and unified Body. It’s not about who’s right or wrong. It’s about Him. Don’t you think?
You’re welcome to take the icon:
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Blessings to you in the grace of our Lord!
27 Comments | Rules of Engagement | What Are You Talking About??
Posted By Miss Jocelyn Tzahala on September 8, 2008 | Category: Editorals, God's Listening Ear, I Follow Yahushua HaMashyiach, The Scriptures
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27 Responses to “Rejection Of Correction”
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Welcome to A Pondering Heart. Blessings to you in your visit here! This site is owned by a 18yo young lady, Miss Jocelyn who is striving to please Yahweh in everything she does. She is the second eldest daughter of two wonderful parents, sister to seven siblings, and "momma" to beautiful Nubian goats. Currently completing her education and serving Yahweh until she further serves him in marriage and motherhood. In hopes she might encourage ladies in a Scriptural-worldview she shares about her daily life, beliefs, and heart’s ponderings. Here you will find stories from life on the homestead, encouragement, the Scriptures, photography, reviews, giveaways, memes, and much more!
Great article Jocelyn! Being your sister, I know that your heart is truly one that wants to help others become who they are supposed to be through loving correction and admonishment!
I hope that as I grow each day I am able to take correction better because when we are correct, most of the time, it is for our own good, so we can become better Believers. Most correction is given so that Christ will be shown better through us!
Great article. I was very uplifted by it and I pray that the masses that read this will be encouraged by it!
Love you sis! Great job on the graphic too! ;)
Love
Amanda
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Oh, how true you are. I think the problem comes with the body not spending true time in fellowship with Christ so that they are correcting others out of His love. They speak quickly instead of considering how powerful their words are. On the other hand, there are people that are truly stif necked and do not want to hear correction. Only the Father knows the hearts and we must trust Him to lead us on when we speak and when we remain quiet. We must also pray for the hearer that their ears would be open and their hearts soft.
Mrs. Joseph Woods last blog post..Celebrating my blessings!
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You know Miss Jocelyn, this is such a common issue among Christians today. We’re told “Stay in your own backyard” But there are times when a true friend can and SHOULD admonish another to look at their life from a different perspective.
I think about your LOTR conviction now. Not everyone will come to the same conviction(yet), but they should most certainly not bash you for sharing how God worked in your heart about it.
We are to encourage one another, especially when wanting to draw closer to the Lord. I think that many women in my own church found my decision to homeschool offensive. I believe it’s because they now have had their eyes opened and they are responsible for responding to the Lord about it with their own families.
Sometimes people don’t want to follow the Lord in an area of their life that they refuse to change in(for whatever reason), so instead of encouraging us they belittle our decision by telling why they think their choices are ok.
Each time I see a friend share something and they say,”The Lord has shown me this…” I think to myself, “Hmm interesting perspective” and I search the scriptures about it myself. When I find that their new perspective DOES line up with scripture then it is I who must face the Lord with that decision.
If someone posts on their own blog how God corrected them that is fine. If someone approaches me with a Pharisaical attitude of condemnation about my life, I have a hard time accepting it, even if it is scripture.
That is where I believe Christians have gone wrong in correcting one another. It is to be done in LOVE. So many Christians now want to point the finger with a high minded attitude of “I’m right and you’re wrong. You need to change now.” It’s like when one person quits smoking after years of addiction and the next day tells everyone else they need to quit too. As good as it is to not smoke, when correction isn’t done in love, it hurts the Body of Christ rather than helping it.
I have friends who are indeed living in a very dangerous way and I have gone to them in love. When they don’t listen God says to take 2-3 witnesses with you. (That is a whole other teaching in itself), but when those who do so are not acting in love, then their condemnation only pushes that sister away instead of helping her.
Yes, we need correction. That’s why we need the Holy Spirit and godly friends who will hold us accountable. Someone who is willing to search scriptures with us and be willing to lovingly hear the other perspective. Keeping the relationship with Christ as the goal of the friendship.
Great article.
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Great post, and you’re so right. Unfortunately that’s how many “popular” church bodies today end up watered down in conviction. It’s considered much more “Christian” to turn the other cheek.
Very good points!
Cheers!
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Thanks for this, Jocelyn! We all need to be a little more thick-skinned and tender-hearted; slow to take offense, and eager to listen to the counsel of others in light of God’s word.
I love that passage in Ephesians…about being built up as a body. God’s plan is so beautiful!
Blessings!
Lauren @ PearlsAndDiamonds
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Great post! I’m snagging the icon. :)
Thanks so much for your comment on my blog! It really brightened my morning. :)
Have a wonderful day!
Miss Maddy
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Very true. My husband was an assistant pastor at a church with people we just adore, love, care for to this day. Many of the 18-25 age group there was hurting and struggling with sin in so many areas. When my husband preached, he preached sermons that hit home, about sin and righteousness. These young adults would come to him after and tell him how much they needed to hear what he said, how it’s so hard to hear but they need to hear it and seek God for help in the areas in their life in which they were struggling. They were tired of watered-down sermons about it’s ok, you’ll be fine, at least you’re saved. They needed the Truth. Our time there came to a close and the Lord led us elsewhere, but my prayers are for them. They need Truth with compassion, such as my husband gave them, as do all of us. We need more people willing to give it.
Amys last blog post..Wrapping it up
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This is truly a day and an age where people do what is right in their own eyes. Everything they do wrong they want to blame on someone or something else… or justify for a myriad of reasons. They think their situation is “different” somehow.
You are right that we all need to have a teachable spirit and to be aware that something we cling to ferociously today we may be asked by God to re-evaluate tomorrow!!! Right?
I know I have been there many times and sometimes when someone speaks the truth it hurts, but I am learning to love the faithful wounds of a true friend!
Keep shining, young woman and be of good courage because HE has conquered the world!!!
Auntie Christinas last blog post..Growing in Grace
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Amen Jocelyn!
Wow I have been on many sides of correction in my day as yet. I agree you do need to search your heart when someone is speaking to you of correction. I have found that sometimes they are incorrect in what they want to correct in you for the beam in their own eye is so great they are blind. And then there have been times I was dead wrong in what I was doing and very thankful for the correction. Well I probably wasn’t thankful at that moment but in time as I heeded the correction I knew God’s heart and the change mine needed!
I will gladly place your icon in my sidebar. From experience I have also given correction in which the Holy Spirit led me to give. Which was completely ignored and when that person came back to me crying I gave correction again. My flesh wanted to say…”I told you so” but the HS again led me elsewhere. Thank You Lord :)
Love you sweetie
AJ
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Very good post, Jocelyn….Amen to all of the above comments….I just want to add that it is difficult to speak the truth in love sometimes as we are searching for the right words to say. I always pray that the Holy Spirit will speak through me so I will not appear to be “holier than thou”…
Love You, Grandma Starr
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[...] am reading… Stepping Heavenward, Rejection Of Correction, and the newest edition of The Homesteading Carnival #64: The Proverbs 31 Woman [...]
Thank you, I hope they are fruitful too. -grin-
I sometimes have that problem too, especially with speaking truth in love. =P Mostly with my brother really, we don’t get along the best. -sigh-
Very good post! =)
luvdogs07s last blog post..Singing and Acting and Being Excited; These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things
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Great post !
I know what you mean ! I have a hard time with this !
Funny enough my Dad is doing a sermon series on this same thing right now!
Well I need to go do some baking so talk to you later!
I hope you are having a lovey day!
love,
Miss Ellie
Miss Ellies last blog post..It’s here
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Excellent post, Miss J. This was one of the key items our pastor taught on this weekend. Thanks for sharing your heart. :D
Mrs Gs last blog post.."Show Me" Redirect
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Thank you for writing about this, Jocelyn. It is a message we all need to hear.
It rare that I have caught mistakes in the writings of other bloggers, but there is one I intend to write about soon.
Maria Pauline
Maria Paulines last blog post..The Dock
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That’s a good point, I know I don’t like being corrected, correction means that your failing in some way and a lot of people (including myself) don’t like failure, but I am trying to learn to take direction and gentle correction,I’m not going to let somebody come up and publicly humiliate me, but gentle loving Christian correction is something we should embrace not reject. I know that’s a problem in many churches now days people don’t want their sins or problems pointed out to them and they retaliate and it causes issues. My dad has been telling me for a while now, that as Christians we are to judge our fellow believers, not judge them like telling everybody that they are sinning and that they should be reprimanded, but telling THEM that they need to correct themselves or say that you noticed something not to other people, not talking behind their backs, but letting them know. We as Christians should not be ashamed to keep each other in line that’s why God put us here to help one another in our Christian walk with Him. Good point.
I had to switch the picture thing over to photobucket that’s most likely why you can see it. LOL Purple…yea, gotta love purple hair :D What are you going to do if I do ever end up doing that??? LOL JK Knowing me I will never do my whole head, possibly just like that picture (except not black hair I’m keeping it brown). LOL we’ll see I’m not old enough yet. :P
Love ya!
GB~
sharla~
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It is hard sometimes to deal with correction especialy when it comes from someone who doesn’t really know you. I know that when I recieve correction I don’t always want to be nice and thank someone for it. Sometimes I have to spend time praying and listening to God to see if the correction is of Him, if it is then I find a way to let the person know that while what they said may have hurt me but that God was using them to work on my heart. If it wasn’t of God then I have to make a decision as to whether to respond to the individual or to just let it all go.
Elaines last blog post..Book Give-A-Way
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Excellent words of Wisdom Miss J. It breaks my heart that we’ve almost gone to this, “as long as I’m happy than God’s happy” mentality, rather than realizing that God cares more about our holiness and adherence to HIS truth.
Chelseys last blog post..Word Filled Wednesday
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Thank you for posting that. I’ve been thinking about this, too; another area I need to work on!
I can’t wait to get to see you all again! We are really looking forward to the visit. I’ll have to share with you girls the story I’m working on (although I only have the synopsis down so far).
See you tomorrow!
-Breezy
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[...] Do I have the right to consider this when I consider how I feel about casting my vote for this candidate? Yes I do. I have received emails from the Sarah Palin and the John McCain asking me for my vote. I have the right and the obligation as an American citizen to look at all things I apply to the Word that is reflected in their beliefs, no matter the sex of the candidate or the position they are running for. Sarah Palin is not above that because she gives a good speech or sells a jet on Ebay or kicks the good ‘ol boys outta her town’s government. Also not of consideration is whether this knowledge is liked by other Believers or not. [...]
What a great post. What you said is so true, my young friend. And it is
such a blessing to see a young lady searching Scripture like you are doing.
Keep it up!
God bless,
Jen
http://afjen.blogspot.com/
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I really appreciate this blog post. It is encouraging, really.
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I also appreciated this post. It’s hard to take correction, but it is necessary and helpful, sort of like medicine. :) I’ve had people call me judgmental and legalistic before, and it does hurt. At times they could have been right, because I’m sure I didn’t always have a proper loving attitude toward others. However, by God’s grace, I think I am seeing others in a more loving light these days. I get a little hesitant about correcting others, but if done in the right attitude, it really is to help another person. :) I also wonder if it’s right for a woman to correct a brother in sin, as a woman is not supposed to usurp authority over a man, but in certain cases it might be all right, in general ways. Something I’m still thinking about/studying.
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Great post. I was shocked to have a blog post dedicated to me when I tried to privately correct a blogger once. I added your icon to my blog a while ago but I thought I ought to leave a comment too. This is a well thought out and well written post which many of us should take heed of.
Susans last blog post..A Book Meme
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Great post, I to am snagging the icon ,thank
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I just found this by clicking on the icon on your Mom’s blog. This is so true! The church has fallen into the world’s sin. I think it reflects that we live in a world where there are no longer moral absolutes. Our society is unraveling because of this.
Theresas last blog post..The Simple Woman’s Day Book
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When I read your post I couldn’t help but think of 1 Corinthians 5. Paul was saying that God judges the world but the church has the responsibility to disipline its members. It is sad that you don’t see this much today. What usually ends up happening in churches today is that if someone does say something to a church member who is living in sin that person usually will leave the church and find one that accepts their sin. It’s really sad.
I think that in the modern North American church repentance has been taken out of the Gospel. People want to hear that God loves them (which He does) but often don’t want to hear that they are living contrary to what the Bible teaches. Members of the church are content with just living the “sinners prayer” over and over again. How can we be conformed to the image of Christ if we continue to live our old lifestyle and resist the Holy Ghost when we are convicted?
.-= Josh´s last blog ..An Example of Christ in Sports =-.
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