Correction Done Wrong vs. Done Right

 "... act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God."   ... Micah 6:8

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A heavier post, ok. But part of my calling is to help people find lasting peace, to know the joy which brings dancing--and this, below, is something which can destroy all that.

Really, it's simple.

When it comes to correcting Christians who've gone wrong, God said it should be done this way:

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."   ... From Matthew 18

And---

"... if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ... Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." Galations 6:1 , 2 Thessalonians 3:15

Oh, how far we have wandered from this.

Wandered into a world where clueless Christian ladies sit with coffee around tables and complain about "that pastor of that big church who is doing ____ all wrong and if I was a pastor I would do ____ instead." Forgetting we see in part, only understand in part.

And a world where Christian bloggers and Facebook (and message board) folks hear an Internet story--so it must be true!--about an evangelist or teacher and write 'so to warn their readers', not realizing they've just spread gossip instead of truth. 

People criticizing, by name(!), pastors they've never met (so there is no "between you and him alone," only a disregard of those who God has placed for correction around him.). Judging evangelists who hand up thousands of souls to God each year and pastors pouring out their hearts to save and grow-up that which was lost. Preachers and sharers of the Word, God's kids of whom He anoints and loves with His whole heart.

There is no lasting peace and joy and dancing for those who spread what feels holy, but is only gossip, an awful price paid, for by our words we will be justified ... and by our words we'll be condemned.  (Matthew 12:37)

But oh, to show mercy! To give others room to grow and to allow our own weaknesses to keep us wisely quiet. To pray and love and bleed inside rather than slice others up with our tongues, slicing our own future growth and freedom, as well.... and then wandering in dark, silent valleys, wondering what went wrong and why faith doesn't seem to work, to set us free, as it once did.


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"For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."   ... James 2:13

"How can you think of saying, 'Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye."   ... Luke 6:42

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."   ... Ephesians 4:29

"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."   ... Psalm 105:15