The church is was redeemed by Christ. The church is His bride. His bride will one day be presented perfect before Him. It is said in Ephesians 5:25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”
The church, the family of believers, is to be holy and
blameless. God wants his family to be holy and blameless. He wants to eliminate
sin in His own family. There is a need to confront sin. Here in 1 Timothy
5:1-2, Paul gave instructions to Timothy how to deal with the sins of four
group of people: the older men, the younger men, the older women and the
younger women. I think it is often time thought that confrontation of sin
happens when the sin is already quite obvious or blatant. Confrontation becomes
a curative or remedial effort. But I think that conformation of sin should also
preventive. I hope I could elaborate more on this as I proceed.
In our culture, confronting others is a difficult task.
But whatever is cultural should submit to what is biblical or scriptural. The
authority of the Word of God should supersede all cultural biases or
inclination. So how is it done?
It is to be done with authority. Titus 2:15 says, “These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no
one disregard you.” This is done not necessarily because you are in a position
of authority. But you are doing it with courage and with determination. One is
able to settle issues judiciously. I think one who has trained himself in the
Word of God is one who could practice this well because he is coming with the
authority of the Scriptures.
It is to be done with severity. Titus
1:13 says, “This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so
that they may be sound in the faith.” The word “severely” has the meaning of
abruptness and sharpness in the original language. Confrontation of sin means
cutting to the issue the best way possible. I have experienced in the past that
there’s a tendency to delay or to procrastinate in confronting others in sin.
There’s a tendency to think, “Oh, he will come to his senses eventually.” Or
say, “He’s old enough to know what’s right and wrong.” We even excuse ourselves
and say, “I’ll just pray for her.” A person in sin has already a warped sense
of what is right and wrong. Even a Christian would twist verses in the Bible to
justify his or her sin. So don’t be lazy and don’t be naïve.
It is to be done with great patience and
teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” It has to be done
in words. We talk to the person. It is not done by insinuating or innuendos.
Teaching or doctrine must be used to confront of others of their sins. One has
point others to the majesty and holiness of God. One has to point others to the
sinfulness of man. One has to point others to the grace of God. One has to
point others to the futility of self-made righteousness and sufficiency of
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. One has to point others to the sufficiency of
the Word of God. One has to point others to the gospel.
In 1 Timothy 5:1-2, Paul is saying to Timothy, “When you
are going to confront the sin of an older man, an older woman, a younger man or
a younger woman, do not rebuke but exhort.” Paul said, “Do not rebuke.” Rebuke
hear means chastisement, to strike upon or to beat upon. It implies harshness
and violence. It’s like beating someone with blows from a fist (imagine being
punched by Pacquiao) or beaten by hammer (of Thor). But instead of a fist or a
hammer, you use words to strike or beat others. It’s something we might call a
verbal abuse. So this the reason for the prohibition.
Remember that you are dealing with a family member.
Remember the words attached to it, like care and love. Let me note also that
Paul is writing to Timothy, a young pastor of Ephesus. We don’t know if he’s
married or single. So although this is an instructive letter how this young
pastor should shepherd his church, the instructions resonates so much truth
that can be applied by anyone who wants to grow in his or her church life.
Paul instructed Timothy, “Exhort him.” The verb here is parakaleo (παρακαλέω) and it
means to call near or to call to one’s side. It is translated “exhort” in NIV
and RSV, “encourage” in ESV, “appeal” in NASB, “intreat” in KJV. Since the
original language means that this act is done by calling or coming alongside,
the word “encourage” or “strengthen” seems more appropriate. The imagery is two
persons walking together side by side. Both person that encourages and person
that needs encouragement is walking side by side. It’s not like the encourager
is pulling from the front or pushing from behind the one being encouraged.
Like what I’ve said, confrontation is quite often a
curative or remedial task. The sinful problem have already arisen and we take
measures to redeem or restore a sinning brother or sister. But confrontation
can be preventive. If every minister of the Word would labor to admonish every
church member and teaching every believer with all wisdom and strive or
struggle to perform such task in the power of Christ (Colossians 1:28-29). If
every believer would appreciate those who diligently labor, who have charge
over them, who instructs them in preaching and teaching and would obey their
leaders and submit to them (1 Thessalonians 5:12, 1 Timothy 5:17 and Hebrews
13:17). If all members would really think about themselves as individual
members of one another (Romans 12:15). If everyone would constantly encourage
one another and build one another up (I Thessalonians 5:11).
If these things are done by church members… by family
members, what do you think the church would be like? What do you think how the
life of each would be like in light of their calling to be faithful disciples
of the Lord Jesus Christ? I think there would be less and less until none would
have to stand up before a congregation of believers confessing their sins in
shame and regret.
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