Loving Correction

The Bible tell us to pursue things that lead to peace. Let brotherly love continue. That includes correcting someone when they are in error. It is the loving thing to do. To allow someone to keep going down a sinful path is not God-honoring. Let's look at the Bible.

2 Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant[e] must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Arguments occur when people impost their will and desires on someone else. It is, therefore, very important that we address wrong deeds in a biblical way.

Correct at the Right Time

The time to correct is as soon as possible. Putting off correction will only make it harder. It is just as important to correct someone at the right time as it is to correct them and love. If you attempt to correct someone at the wrong time your whole mission will be in vain. For example, when emotions are running high that is not a good time to correct someone. In the heat of their anger and frustration you will simply cause them to not be able to concentrate on what you are saying. They will be very defensive and cannot hear you at that time. However, if you choose to correct when tensions are lower then people can hear you better. They are more likely to see your point of view and to reconcile.


Correct Boldly

Bold correction is going out of style. Most people who share biblical correction find themselves in the hot seat where they are continually defending what they believe is true. However, when you are sharing the word of God, the defense is not yours to handle. If it is God's word it is his defense against their accusation. You can speak boldly when you are correct. However, we need to be very careful because the enemy also knows the word of God. Remember how the enemy attempted to use God's word against Jesus during a time when he was being tempted? We can be bold when we are on God's side, but be careful, the enemy will attempt to convince you that you are not standing where you think you are. Be ready to say I'm sorry if need be.

Correct Correctly

There have been times when we have attempted to correct our boys and had to later rescind what we thought was proper correction. Children are so good for reminding you that you are only human. Imagine how God feels when his children attempt to correct one another only to find out that they are both wrong! This is not about judging people it is about correcting them and love as we are instructed to do. Judgment is the Lord's alone. We cannot determine what a person's motive is, however, we can judge the fruit on their tree.

Just remember to get that big fat beam out of your own eye before you attempt to move remove the speck in someone else's. 

Be a peacemaker. Do things that lead to peace not controversy. You do not need to speak everything that you think. We also have to be careful because our emotions can lie to us. Guard your heart. Watch your mouth. Let's speak when we should and do not speak when we should not.