Confrontation

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5:20-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I know I’ve read this several times but in light of some prior conversations with others, I want to say, because of fear or just a lackadaisical attitude toward sin in our members, we have forgotten this instruction from Paul. Are we preferring certain members of our body above others? Not speaking about any certain church or person, I know no one will believe it, but it’s truth!

"Well they pay tithes faithfully and I don’t want them to get their feelings hurt and leave." I would rather them get their feelings hurt than to see them burn in Hell. I don’t want the confrontation. It can be mean and abrasive. But, then are you truly called to shepherding? Because, in my little experience as a associate pastor and now walking in my calling, confrontation is inevitable. There are times you HAVE to say the hard things for the salvation of that soul.

I know I’m not going to get very many likes and, in fact confrontation may come from this as well. The difference is I’m ok with it. But, it’s high time we call sin, sin. Allow grace and love to cover them into repentance. Be consistent across the board toward everyone. Show grace and mercy and call it out without judgment, but in firmness even in love and grace. The main thing is to love people enough to be honest and know the truth, rightly dividing it. Not twisting it toward our finite beliefs.