Correction is Love

The church and its members are required by God to confront sin. We are to confront sin within the church (1 Corinthians 5:1-13) and within our society (Ezekiel 3:16-21). In fulfilling this obligation, Christians are sometimes accused of being hateful, hypocritical or phobic. In reality, the greatest act of love we can perform is to offer salvation to the lost by presenting the Gospel.

The Gospel warns people that their present behavior has eternal consequences [spiritual death and hell] and informs them how they can have eternal life as children of God, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 3:23).

The parable of the sower teaches us that not everyone who hears the Gospel will believe it (Matthew 13:3-9). However, God reassures us that His words “will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

Proverbs 27:5 states, “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed.” We often grieve for family members, friends and others who are living in sin and are not saved. Because we love and care about them, our desire is to see them come to faith. That love remains concealed when we withdraw from pointing out their lost condition because we fear offending and alienating them with the truth.

Ecclesiastes 7:5 explains, “It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear

the song of fools.” The world wants to tell the lost that there is nothing wrong with the way they are living and that there will be no eternal consequences for their actions. Calling people to repentance requires us to instruct them to live differently – we rebuke the way they are currently living.

When those we confront repent and are saved, they will understand how our “rebuke” was for their good, and the world had been lying to them. “He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue” (Proverbs 28:23).

It is important to share the Gospel in a loving manner. We are instructed to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Proverbs teaches “A gentle tongue is a tree of life” (15:4) and “sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness” (16:21).

Peter encouraged believers to “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15).

Rebuking sin is always motivated by love. We cannot condone sin in ourselves or others. “Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Also, “Let love be sincere. (without hypocrisy). Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9).

Let us love by sharing the Gospel, by praying for those who reject it, and discipling those that respond.