Correction is a godly act

I grew up in my Christian walk with a skewed understanding of walking in love and being at peace with all men. Somehow, I got it in my head that Christians are to just accept anything and everything done to us by the world or fellow Christians. However, as I read the letters of apostle Paul to the churches, I see a different image emerge. Paul wrote whole chapters that were a rebuke to a person or a church; he even wrote about rebuking/correcting apostle Peter. In 2 Timothy, he asked that Gd repay Alexander the coppersmith according to the harm he caused him. What about “father forgive him for he knows not what he does”? In first Timothy 1, Paul delivers two people to Satan  for blasphemy. There are many other examples. So, there is no one size fits all situation when it comes to correction in the body of Christ or how we respond to actions. I use to also believe that love is an action, not a reaction, but this goes against some of what we’ll see from the scriptures. Yes, love is primarily an action, but also in love is reaction to specific situations. For example, brother Paul instructs us not to eat with a Christian that is acting like an unbeliever; that would probably be called hate speech in our day. Walking in love and being at peace with all men remain commands, how do we walk through the nuances? First and foremost, the letter kills but the Spirit gives light. The Holy Spirit guides us to better understand the situation and what is needed.

When do we correct?

1. Correcting someone is not about having our way, it should primarily be for the person’s benefit.
2. Correcting should be to help the person to be aligned with the Word of God and calling of God. This could be about being in line with the Word of God in how to treat others, an authority figure, a doctrine etc. it is not to be used to manipulate a person to agree with us.
3. Call out hypocrisy like brother Paul called out apostle Peter.

Do we apologize for correcting? I know of someone that finds it difficult to receive almost any form of correction, no matter how carefully you present the correction. The individual typically finds how they are right and what the other person could have done better. Is this the right approach? In 2 Cor 7:8-10, brother Paul did not ask for forgiveness, he was sorry they were sad, but he did not ask to be forgiven for speaking the truth. In this case, the correction led to repentance, which is the purpose of the correction. Godly repentance leads to salvation. Unfortunately, some go down the route of the sorrow of the world, which produces death. Correct with the Word of God, repent based on the Word and there will be godly repentance. However, no matter how well you correct, some will never receive it which leads to the sorrow of the world that leads to death.

Proverbs 15:10 - Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die.

Proverbs 12:1 - Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.

How do we correct? Correction is based on the Word, not our preference… Yes, that simple. But not from a place of anger or negative emotions. A wise person will receive the correction, but a stupid person hates correction no matter how well it is presented. You can only control you, so make sure not to be one of the stupid ones; Proverbs 15:10b says he who hates correction will die.