We live in a culture that walks on eggshells. We are sometimes afraid to correct someone because of the backlash we might receive. The world continues to spin out of moral control and it seems as though everything is permissible. However, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not called to be like the rest of the world. That means that there is going to come a time when we need to reprove someone and help correct their sinful action or there may be a time when we need to be corrected of our sinful actions. Either way, reproof is necessary to grow in our relationship with God.
We must examine what our response might be if we are confronted reproof. There are several responses that are brought up in this episode about the improper response to reproof. One should never reject reproof, we must examine our lives to see if there is any truth to what is being brought to our attention and we must accept the reproof. There should not be a time when we ignore reproof, someone is going out of their way to help us grow and we should not ignore that individual. There is a punishment that comes with forsaking, rejecting, or ignoring reproof. If we think of ourselves as having no sin we are making God a liar. There must be self-examination taking place, the book of Proverbs tells us that there may be punished if we choose to ignore that reproof.
As you listen to this podcast you will hear Pastor Jeff and Dr. Alfred talk about the proper response to reproof. The proper response is love. When you correct someone it is because you love them. If someone is correcting you it is because someone loves you. We are called to stir one another up, we are called to refine each other. This is the proper response to reproof, it is to be kind and loving. How will you respond when reproof is necessary?
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