Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Rebuke (part 2 of Admonish)

This is just a continuation of scriptures that support our gentle admonishing of each other to keep Christians from going astray. Please read the "Admonish" post first. Thanks! =)



Ecclesiastes 7:5-6---It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Proverbs 27:5---Open rebuke is better than secret love.
2 Timothy 4:2-3---Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but afer their own lusts shall they heap to hemselves teachers, having itching ears.
Titus 1:10-13---For there are many unruly and vain talkers and decievers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.
Proverbs 9:7-9---He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 13:1---A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
Proverbs 19:25---Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
Proverbs 24:25-25---He that saith unto the wicked, 'Thou art righteous'; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Proverbs 28:23---He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue.
Leviticus 19:17---Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke they neighbor, and suffer sin upon him
Luke 17:3---Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent forgive him.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Admonish


Too many times when we don't want to hear something uncomfortable we hide in our box and shut out what's being said. Christians and non Christians alike have all at one point or another used the "stop preaching until you can be less sinful yourself" and "remove the plank from your own eye before trying to remove the mote from mine" cards.
These are tactics used to shut someone up, but they shouldn't be used at all. There is a massive difference between judging someone and admonishing. And to admonish is very much sanctioned by God.
What is Admonish? The dictionary terms are:
To reprove gently but earnestly.
To counsel (another) against something to be avoided; caution.
To remind of something forgotten or disregarded, as an obligation or a responsibility.
A question you might get:
I've never seen it said anywhere that you should rebuke me for anything I've done, especially when you too are a sinner, so why are you trying?
Answer you may give:
If we had to wait until we were no longer sinners before opening up our mouths to "preach to another when they do something", then only Jesus would have been allowed to speak, and the word of God would not have been passed down because we wouldn't have the right to utter a single word.
The Scriptures that justify the use of Admonishing each other to help each other grow are:
Romans 15:14 "And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
2 Thessalonians 3: 14-15 "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."
All of these show that God does want us to point out to each other when something is done wrong, not to judge, because if we don't correct an error, and if that person believes it is alright to keep erring, it may bring about something more dire. We are to keep each other encouraged in love and gentleness and take great joy when we are kindly rebuked, because it shows they care enough for us to let us know we do wrong, even if we don't want to hear it.

What this blog is about

Hello fellow Christians and those who are curious about Christianity. I decided to do this blog because in the last 6 months, I've painfully become aware of something drastic and very important. Many Christians do not know more than the basics. I was one of these, and I admittedly have a long ways to go before I can consider myself "heavily knowledgeable" in my religion.

Q: What do you mean many Christians don't know more than the basics?
A: Growing up, I was taught about God, and how he had sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to us to die on the cross and become our Saviour. I knew that Moses led his people out of Egypt and parted the Red Sea, I knew that Job was tested by God, I knew that Jonah was in a big fish/whale for three days, I knew we all sin and need Jesus for our forgiveness. Any Christian knows these things. But what about the rest? How many know what Judaic Law consists of? How many know what Jesus said other than John 3:16? I've looked around and have found out that the majority of Christians (myself included) couldn't answer more than the basic questions. It's a very scary thought to think. So I felt I would start out a topic once a week or month, and go into detail about each thing. Then hopefully we can all learn together the fullness of what Jesus taught and what God's word encompasses.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.