Saturday, January 1, 2011

On Public Correction of False Teachers -- A Thought

Paul told his spiritual son Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 

"Unsanctified mercy," is just that-unsanctified. The Bible teaches us that loving someone often requires correcting them. Intuitively, we know this as parents. Unfortunately, we often don't understand this in terms of its spiritual application. As was established in the Garden of Eden, we are our "brothers keeper." As such, we must come to the realization that at times, correction must be done publicly -- 1 Tim. 5:20, 1 Cor. 5:3-12, 2 Tim. 2:14-19, Gal. 2:11-14. Paul himself warned Timothy of teachers whose false teaching would spread "like gangrene" (Paul's words - 2 Timothy 2:15-18) In doing so, he actually calls the false teachers out BY NAME for posterity.

We cannot refrain from applying the recommendations of God's word simply because the person giving the teaching is himelf imperfect. We are ourselves at times also at fault. On this basis we would never be able to correct our own children for doing the very things we did (wrongly) as children. Hopefully we learn from our mistakes and can, as such, teach others. And that is the whole point.

Luv u. Pastor Mario

by Mario Gonzalez on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 6:35pm


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