Sunday, March 16, 2014

Confronting

When you see someone--a fellow Christian--continually and deliberately sinning, you need to confront that person in a spirit of love. Just be sure that you go in love. Unfortunately, often the sin of spiritual pride exhibited by those in the right does as much damage as the failure of those in the wrong.
There is a proper biblical reaction to sin seen in the life of another believer. First, you must pray, praising God for His righteousness--and His mercy. Then, you must confess your own sins and humble yourself before God. Finally, you must settle the sin-matter in your own life. As someone has said, "admitting your sin is never a substitute for quitting your sin."
So, when you feel that someone has reacted to you in anger and with bitterness, remember the times that you have reacted in the same way and confess your sin before God. When you are sure that someone has gossiped about you, remember the times that you have done the same--spreading rumors or being a ready ear to a gossip's tongue--and confess your own sin before God. If you react like the Pharisee--denouncing others and thanking God that you're "not like one of them"--then don't confront. God can't use you. There will be no mending of hearts, no confession of sin, no revival. Before you confront another about sin in his life, always begin by asking God to search your own heart and cleanse you from sin. If you haven't prayed, "God, be merciful to me a sinner," keep your spiritual arrogance to yourself and go home.
Pray. Confess. Quit sinning. Then approach your brother and sister in Christ. Set the example before you try to lead the way. And it is vital that you do so. Paul clearly warns us that unrepentant, continual sin in the body of Christ is contagious. Highly contagious. The purity of His people begins with the examining of our life. Then, comes the necessity of going to the brother or sister in Christ who is living in deliberate disobedience.

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