If I say to the wicked man, you shall surely die; and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his wicked conduct so that he may live; that wicked man shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death. If, on the other hand, you have warned the wicked man, yet he has not turned away from evil nor from his wicked conduct, then he shall die for his sin, but you shall save your life. ~Esekiel 3:18-19
Don't you just hate it when someone points out your faults or criticizes your actions? No one wants to hear negative feedback whether it be in the form of job evaluations, parental guidance, (or, as teens usually feel, parental nagging), friendly advice, or downright admonishment from strangers (hint: long, loud honks on the road)! But the person in most need of guidance is most resistant to it: the obstinate sinner.
Someone who believes they are doing nothing wrong are the hardest to reach when it comes to sin. Almost always, they use the Bible or Christian guidelines against us..."Do not judge, lest you be judged." But as Christians, we have a duty to warn sinners; don't fall into the trap of letting sinners use your own faith against you. Arm yourself with knowledge to know the difference between being judgmental or prideful and being charitable and loving. The trick is, how to go about counseling a wayward person without coming off as superior and condescending. For, after all, the greatest sinners throughout history included those who called themselves Christians as well!
Christ demonstrated many forms of gathering souls for God: preaching to crowds (Sermon on the Mount), one-on-one conversations (Samaritan woman at the well), and anger (moneychangers at the temple). In today's world, priests, reverends, pastors do the preaching to crowds - some people feel compelled to stand on corners and boisterously preach to strangers, but they are usually viewed as emotionally unstable. There is a place for righteous anger, but it takes a special person to know exactly when to use it. This form of admonishment is usually best used by parents and respected leaders. However, there are obvious times when it is appropriate, such as expressing indignation at civil rights issues (human trafficking, abuse, genocide, etc.) The average Christian's most viable opportunity to serve is during one-on-one conversations. Read the Gospel and pray often for guidance in using this tool. The purpose is one of charity, not pride.
As our faith teaches us, it is good to admonish the sinner. As the passage that lead into this blog well points out, not only will the sinner suffer, we will be held accountable for his or her sins if we turn a blind eye. We are called to be courageous and to spread the Word for the sake of our fellow man. If the sinner rejects the message, we have done our duty and are to let them be on their way. It is a very difficult thing to do...watch a loved one continue on in their sinful ways, especially one's adult child or children. But we have to let it go of our need to control and know that we did our best and never stop praying for them. (Prayer, that's a powerful tool, but better left for a whole blog to itself.)
So, fellow Christians, learn the art of "admonishing the sinner" through unceasing prayer and scripture reading. Only through a sincere and true love for God can we fight the sin of pride in dealing with those who do not know or accept the truth. And know that, even with the most humble approach, there will be times when you are viciously attacked for your charitable work. But remember God's precious regard for you when performing this act of love that he has commanded...Reward: Matthew 5:11-12 and 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Strength: Matthew 10:17-20; Victory: 1 Corinthians 10:13; Encouragement: Philippians 1:12-14; and most importantly, His presence and companionship: Romans 8:35-39 and Hebrews 13:6.
Don't you just hate it when someone points out your faults or criticizes your actions? No one wants to hear negative feedback whether it be in the form of job evaluations, parental guidance, (or, as teens usually feel, parental nagging), friendly advice, or downright admonishment from strangers (hint: long, loud honks on the road)! But the person in most need of guidance is most resistant to it: the obstinate sinner.
Someone who believes they are doing nothing wrong are the hardest to reach when it comes to sin. Almost always, they use the Bible or Christian guidelines against us..."Do not judge, lest you be judged." But as Christians, we have a duty to warn sinners; don't fall into the trap of letting sinners use your own faith against you. Arm yourself with knowledge to know the difference between being judgmental or prideful and being charitable and loving. The trick is, how to go about counseling a wayward person without coming off as superior and condescending. For, after all, the greatest sinners throughout history included those who called themselves Christians as well!
Christ demonstrated many forms of gathering souls for God: preaching to crowds (Sermon on the Mount), one-on-one conversations (Samaritan woman at the well), and anger (moneychangers at the temple). In today's world, priests, reverends, pastors do the preaching to crowds - some people feel compelled to stand on corners and boisterously preach to strangers, but they are usually viewed as emotionally unstable. There is a place for righteous anger, but it takes a special person to know exactly when to use it. This form of admonishment is usually best used by parents and respected leaders. However, there are obvious times when it is appropriate, such as expressing indignation at civil rights issues (human trafficking, abuse, genocide, etc.) The average Christian's most viable opportunity to serve is during one-on-one conversations. Read the Gospel and pray often for guidance in using this tool. The purpose is one of charity, not pride.
As our faith teaches us, it is good to admonish the sinner. As the passage that lead into this blog well points out, not only will the sinner suffer, we will be held accountable for his or her sins if we turn a blind eye. We are called to be courageous and to spread the Word for the sake of our fellow man. If the sinner rejects the message, we have done our duty and are to let them be on their way. It is a very difficult thing to do...watch a loved one continue on in their sinful ways, especially one's adult child or children. But we have to let it go of our need to control and know that we did our best and never stop praying for them. (Prayer, that's a powerful tool, but better left for a whole blog to itself.)
So, fellow Christians, learn the art of "admonishing the sinner" through unceasing prayer and scripture reading. Only through a sincere and true love for God can we fight the sin of pride in dealing with those who do not know or accept the truth. And know that, even with the most humble approach, there will be times when you are viciously attacked for your charitable work. But remember God's precious regard for you when performing this act of love that he has commanded...Reward: Matthew 5:11-12 and 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Strength: Matthew 10:17-20; Victory: 1 Corinthians 10:13; Encouragement: Philippians 1:12-14; and most importantly, His presence and companionship: Romans 8:35-39 and Hebrews 13:6.
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