A Reproof of Haters of Reproof and Myths of Reproof

February 8, 2025.

Updated February 24, 2025

You know who you are. God is not fooled, and neither are those who have God the Spirit dwelling in them. In the event you are genuinely ignorant to the truth of reproof and rebuke and correction and instruction in righteousness, we hope the following will help clear up some of that confusion. This is also a good reminder to the saints of God in their responsibility over this matter, in both giving and receiving reproof.

Reproof, rebuke, admonishment, contending for the faith, judging, exposing, warning, and such like are sometimes likened to “stirring the pot” and "creating problems." People who make that false accusation are obviously living by their feelings and extraBiblical opinions, because the Bible is absolutely loaded with these doctrines and commands, which true born again believers obey, while false “believers” reject and despise, because to them it is “unloving,” and not seeking “common ground,” two satanic lies that advance error, sin, lies, false teachings and the damnable destructive ways of false teachers and compromisers. With that said, if someone wants to accuse us of “stirring the pot,” have at’r. It merely confirms that we are doing exactly what we need to be doing in this dark and late hour of apostasy. This subject happens to be a major mark of where one stands with God, and it exposes the false pretenders and heretics amongst Christendom, which is many, most in fact. They don't truly know or do the will of the Father, and walk in disobedience to His words, commands, judgments and decrees, thus don't actually love Him (1 Jn 2:3-5).

The Critical Importance of Reproof

Gods Word declares reproof to be of such importance, He says it’s “the way of life.” THE WAY OF LIFE.

“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Pr 6:23)

“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” (Pr 10:17)

Reproofs of instruction are literally the way of life, and keeping in that way. Of course this starts prior to salvation, where true life begins, when the sinner is receptive to reproof of his sin, evil and wickedness (cf. Jn 3:19-21), allowing the Spirit of God to reprove him or her (Pr 1:20-23; Jn 16:7-11) with the Sword of the Lord (Heb 4:12; Eph 6:17) to grant repentance and entrance into the strait gate. Gods Word and commandment is the lamp and light that guides into the way of life, and then keeps the saint on that narrow path, from which he can never avert.

Thus, the true saint and servant of Christ is not immune or antagonistic to reproof or rebuke, because he understands its critical importance and its absolute necessisty for both reception of eternal life and growth in practical sanctification.

Its critical nature is noted in what God hath commanded, we are obligated to do. We are commanded to admonish one another, and its for our own good.

"And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” (Rom 15:14)

“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” (Ti 2:15)

The Scriptural evidence is very strong that reproof is God's way of bringing men under conviction of sin (Heb 4:12), so that they will see their need to repent and surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. Or if already converted, they will see that God's reproofs will turn them from doctrinal error or sin to obedience to Christ, to fulfil His will and glory.

Defining Reproof and Rebuke and Associated Terms

Reproof. "Reprove" is translated from the Greek word “elegcho,” which means “to confute, admonish.” It is elsewhere translated “convict” (Jn 8:9), “convince” (Jn 8:46), “tell a fault” (Matt 18:15). It carries the idea to show people their false or erroneous ways and to convince them of the right way of God’s Word. This is a difficult task, because human nature does not like to be told that it is wrong. The natural response to reproof is to become offended and to justify oneself and to lash out at the reprover. Giving reproof implies a responsibility on the part of the preacher to make judgments based on God’s Word about the condition of the people to whom he is preaching. Websters dictionary defines "reproof" as to blame; to censure — “I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices and burnt offerings” (Ps 50). To charge with a fault to the face; to chide; to reprehend (Lk 3:7-9). To blame for; with of; as, to reprove one of laziness. To convince of a fault, or to make it manifest (Jn 16). To refute; to disprove. To excite a sense of guilt. The heart or conscience reproves us, through the words of Scripture. To manifest silent disapprobation or blame. The vicious cannot bear the presence of the good, whose very looks reprove them, and whose life is a severe, though silent admonition.

Reproof involves proving. It literally means to bring to proof. The preacher must know the Word of God well enough and be so well informed about the people to whom he is preaching that he can prove to them that what he is saying is true. He disproves error and proves the truth. It involves apologetics. It requires knowledge of whatever error the people might be tempted to follow. It requires a lot of study and preparation. in the even error is taught, that individual's teaching is proven by reproof.

Rebuke. The word “rebuke” is translated from the Greek word “epitimao,” which means “to tax upon, to censure, to forbid.” It is also translated “charge” (Lk 9:21). It means to chide; to reprove; to reprehend for a fault; to check by reproof. The proud he tam'd, the penitent he cheer'd, not to rebuke the rich offender fear'd. To tell people that that they are wrong; to rebuke them for being in the wrong; to charge them before God that they are wrong and that they are obligated to turn from their error. Why bear you these rebukes and answer not? It is to call people to repentance from sin and error. Thus is carries a very similar meaning as reproof.  To chasten; to punish; to afflict for correction. “O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger.” (Ps. 6).

Reproof and rebuke will thus be used interchangeably, mostly utilizing the former.

Convince. The word convince defines rebuke and reproof well: which is to make manifest; to convict; to persuade or satisfy the mind by evidence; to subdue the opposition of the mind to truth (Webster) (Job 32:12; Jn. 8:46; Ac. 18:28; I Cor. 14:24; Ju. 1:15). The Greek word "elenko" most commonly translated “convince” is also translated “tell him his fault” (Matt. 18:15), “reproved” (Lk. 3:19; Jn. 16:8; Eph. 5:11, 13), and “rebuke” (1 Tim. 5:20; Ti. 1:13; 2:15).

Admonish. Admonish means to put in mind; to caution; to reprove gently; to warn or notify of a fault; to counsel against wrong practices; to advise; to instruct (Ecc. 4:13; 12:12; Jer. 42:19; Ac. 27:9; Rom. 15:14; I Cor. 10:11; 1 Th. 5:12; 2 Th. 3:15; Heb. 8:5). The same Greek word "noutheteo" is also translated “warn” (Ac. 20:31; Col. 1:28; 1 Th. 5:14).

In a nutshell, all could be summarized as Biblical correction.

The Hatred for Reproof

We understand. People notoriously hate those that speak the truth (Jer 38:4; Am 5:10). They don’t appreciate their feelings being hurt, or their "pastor" or Big Eva fav (or some other hero exalted about Scripture) being publicly exposed and reproved. They would rather bear these reproofs, hate the reprover, and answer not. Amos knew this all to well, and he was a fiery man for the Lord:

“They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.” (Am 5:10)

The prophet Zechariah would eventually give his life for speaking the truth, which included sharply reproving and rebuking and judging sin and error, without interference of feelings and threats. He stated,

“These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:” (Ze 8:16)

Many others have followed those same steps to their demise, and God is glorified and that is all what really matters.

Reproof and rebuke does also come to its end. One cannot be concerned about the feelings of people and trying to please people who won't listen. It's also an apologetic position. People's problem is mainly rebellion, not knowledge. So I can try to win the argument with knowledge, but that won't solve the problem. I've decided I'll tell the truth and some people will listen and some won't. The change will occur through supernatural intervention, not my manipulation. I can't do anything about the people who won't listen. Their changing will have nothing to do with my attempts to connect with them on their terms. They'll read my reports and they'll believe it or they won't.

They hate reproof because it is judging, which ties into the previous point.

Today the popular cry is “judge not,” but those two words in Matt 7:1 (which maybe exhaust the vocabulary of many neo-evangelicals and such like) are taken completely out of context and made to mean that it is not God’s will to judge sin and doctrine. But in Matt 7:1-5 Christ was warning against hypocritical judgment, which is the judgment of the "hypocrite" (v. 5), which is ALWAYS an unsaved person, a subject we explore here: Corruption of Matthew 7:1-5, the “Judge-Not” Passage, in Two Major Ways, and that is why they hate reproof. Christ was not saying that the true believer cannot judge anything (in fact everything Christ taught was about judging, even in that very chapter vv. 15-20, 21-23, 24-27, but even in that very context, the very next passage, v. 6, which teaches judging of dogs and pigs). Elsewhere we are told that the believer must judge sin and doctrine, and that it is a major mark of a truly converted person (1 Cor 2:15, context vv. 9-16). In 2 Tim 4:2, the preacher is commanded to judge things that are wrong and to reprove and rebuke them. In so doing, he is not exercising his own judgment; he is exercising God’s judgment.

These haters of reproof also do not understand how to judge righteously. Their judgment is according to appearance, feelings, and opinion. They do not judge by the Word of God and that is especially shameful considering they have many opinions about what Christians should and shouldn’t be doing, not however judging from the Word of God and according to the Word of God.

Jesus commanded, "Judge not according to the appearance [the visage], but judge righteous judgment,” (Jn 7:24), a quote from Lev 19:15, 35-37. God loves judgment:

“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice" (Pr 21:3).

Of course judging has to be judged righteously (Jn 7:24), which is judging by Scripture, and not judging with respect of persons, not judging according to the circumstance of the persons plight or privilege, all of which is mentioned in Lev 19:15,

"Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour."

Christ told a man, "Thou hast rightly judged" (Lk 7:43), and always expected judgment from professing believers:

“Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" (Lk 12:57)

Paul demanded his teachings to be judged: “I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say” (1 Cor 10:15), including his gospel (Gal 1:8-9). Those that did exactly that, he called noble (Ac 17:11). Wise men—the saved—judge. Fools—the lost—do not, but believe every word from man (Pr 14:15,18; Rom 16:18) while scorning the truth of Scripture.

Scripture says it’s lost people (hypocrites) that don’t like to be judged, they hate reproof and rebuke, to be corrected (Pr 19:25; 12:1; 13:1). “An ungodly witness scorneth judgment” (Pr 19:28). Hypocritical judgment is one of the “evil treasure[s]” that comes forth out of the lost heart, which “bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Lk 6:45). The counterfeit "believer" doesn't understand judgment: ”Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things." (Pr. 28:5).

They hate reproof because they have seriously misplaced affections.

Reproof and rebuke is not “mean spirited” or “unloving,” unlike the accusations of the haters of reproof, who have misplaced affections, because they do not know the first and second great commandments (Mk 12:30-31). The most loving action imaginable is to raise a testimony for the truth before the errant so they may turn to the true walk of faith through the new birth (Jam 5:19-20) or repent and walk faithfully in the walk of faith they are already on (2 Th. 3:6, 14-15).

The servant of Christ will “hate every false way” (Ps. 119:128) and to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Eph. 5:11). That means we must hate this contemporary “Christian” stuff and hate “Churches” that compromise and apostatize with it. We must hate what they do and the way they do it. We must hate the philosophy of ministry that it represents and the way it misrepresents the God of the Bible. We must hate the way it deceives the people with whom it is involved and what it does to churches. We must hate the way that it harms and even ruins discernment and the way that it perverts a biblical or true understanding of spirituality and love. We must not tolerate it or have anything to do with it. We must hate the way that it endorses false worship for churches. It's disgusting.

They say it is unloving when we reprove and expose these things. Are these things unloving? Wasn’t Jesus practicing what He preached? How unkind were the Apostles, especially Paul? The truth is, all these things are the love and grace of God in action, and there are yet many many more examples in Scripture. We are to be as our Master and Lord (Matt 10:25) and like the Apostles (1 Cor 4:16-17). But these false professing "believers" hate this Christianity because it opposes the fake version they have believed and received, the one of the world, that comes only with positivity even though 3/4 of the Bible is negative. The fake “Christianity” that does whatever is right in their own eyes, NOT what God says in His Word.

But what else should we expect of a people and nation that fulfills Jer 5:30-31 and 2:13 to the tittle:

“A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? . . . For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

That is a precise description of modern day Christianity, of evangelicalism and reformed Calvinism and Protestantism, all of which can easily be bunched into the same basket, along with most of fundamentalism. They are there because they reject the reproof of God's truth. They will not judge themsleves by the sharp two-edged truth of Scripture, nor will they receive it.

They hate reproof because they are unregenerate.

When a man cannot see the importance of giving and receiving reproof, he is without a doubt an unregenerate false professor that has drunk long and deep at the wells of man's "wisdom.” Weak, compromised, positive-only, Biblically-illiterate, pansy-footers, hate to be reproved and rebuked, because they have never heeded the reproof of God’s Word unto the salvation of their souls. The churches they attend for the most part, abhor it. They do not even want to know what the Bible says on the matter, and have no ability to rightly divide the Word of truth. All they know is we have to be “kind,” and “loving,” and not “negative,” and “critical” ad nauseam, as if sharp reproof and rebuke is in opposition to these characteristics. Their philosophy is of the world, but it doesn’t even get a free pass there. Their best arguments are those of “culture,” “experience,” or “human logic.” They do not argue Biblically. At. All.

The new birth, or true regeneracy, the washing of regeneration, which is salvation, starts with receiving the rebuke of the Lord. The Lord will pass His judgment upon the lost sinner of his eternal judgment and present curses and separation from God, reproof and conviction of sin, judgment and God's righteousness (and our lack of righteousness) (Jn 16:7-11), with the purpose of bringing the sinner to repentance and faith. We see this throughout Scripture, but one of the greatest indictments of the human nature is found in Pr 1:20-32, a passage that led to the salvation of the famous songwriter Isaac Watts in the 18th century, and played a part in my own:

"Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." (Pr 1:20-23)

Tragically, majority of mankind will respond with what follows:

"Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you." (Pr 1:24-26)

It just might be one of the saddest commentaries on the pride and arrogance of man in all of Scripture. Consider what is written here and be self-scrutinizing.

Why and What We Reprove and Rebuke, Even Sharp and Severe

We are able to Biblically reprove and rebuke because God Biblically reproves and rebukes us.

This of course starts with salvation, as documented above. Before we come to the ultimate fiery rebuke of God in our wicked, unconverted, hell-bound estate, we must be willing to receive it. One can never fear God and come to genuine repentance, without first acknowledging and receiving the truth of what is wrong with us, that we don't fear God or eternity, that we are selfish and lovers of self and haters of God and His righteousness, that nothing good resides in us, that our throats are an open seplchre, and we love evil and darkness, and hate the light and goodness. After our conversion, God deals with us as sons, and not bastards (Heb 12:5-11). He reproves us by chastening and affliction for correction, even as the Psalmist cried:

“O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure." (Ps. 6:1).

Reproving and rebuking is premised upon judging.

Since true born again believers judge (Lev 19:17; 1 Cor. 2:15; 5:12-14; 6:1-5: 10:15; 14:29; Pr. 21:15; 27:6; Lk. 12:57), they will also reprove and rebuke (Lev 19:17; Ps. 50:21-23; 58:1; Pr. 12:1; 13:1; 24: 15:5, 31; 17:10; 24:23-25; 28:23; Ti. 1:12-13; 2:15; 2 Tim 4:2-4; etc) and also receive reproof and rebuke (Ps. 141:5; Pr. 15:12, 35). No, just because someone reproves and rebukes, does not mean they are automatically in need of reproof and rebuke. And attempting to dig for some kind of far fetched evil so you can falsely accuse and charge, is also evil:

“An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.” (Pr 16:27)

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Tim 4:2)

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Eph 5:11)

Reproving and rebuking is judging, and that is a command and a joy:

"But he that is spiritual judgeth all things," (1 Cor 2:15a)

“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” (Pr 21:3)

“It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.” (Pr 21:15)

We reprove false doctrine.

We must rebuke doctrinal error, not only those we know are clearly false teachers (Rom 16:17-18), but also those that we suspect to be true teachers who are advancing error. This was demonstrated by Paul rebuking Peter publicly over compromise and hypocrisy (Gal 2:11-14).

Reproof is to provide instruction to those erring from the truth and under the Devils snare, if God peradventure gives them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth (2 Tim 2:15-26).

Unsound doctrine must be reproved. We rebuke a brother in error to restore him to the truth by the truth (2 Th 3). Everything in the Bible must be followed exactly as God has written it. Saved people actually like the truth, and do not oppose it.

Paul instructed Timothy to “charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:3). Those that were moving away from sound, apostolic doctrine were to be reproved and corrected. The Ephesian elders were admonished by Paul not only to beware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing but also to look out for those “of your own selves” who would speak “perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Ac 20:27-31 cf. Eph 4:11-16). Many today teach “perverse things”—teaching inconsistent with God’s Word, ear tickling fables—and now have a vast following of people who wouldn't dare say a word that could be construed as criticism of “God’s anointed”! (2 Tim 4:3-4; 2 Pet. 2:1-3).

Deborah praised Jael as “blessed above women in the tent” (Jud. 5:24-30) after she smote a nail into the cranial temples of Sisera (Jud 4). Deborah knew how to appreciate a fellow warrior for God. Such are greatly honoured everywhere in Scripture. Consider Phinehas (Num. 25:7-13), Samson (Jud. 13-16; Heb. 11:32), David (1 Sam. 17), and David’s mighty men (2 Sam. 23:8-39). The apostle Paul was one of God’s mighty men. He summarized his Christian life and ministry in fighting terms. He said, “I have fought a good fight” (2 Tim. 4:7). He taught Timothy to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:3). These are not soft-peddling neo-evangelical heretics! These are not snowflake softees and cowards who refuse to plainly reprove, rebuke, and exhort, who let the people draw the lines and set the standards, who tickle the eardrums of the lukewarms (lost, false pretenders) and heretics and apostates (wolves), who encourage and comfort people in their sin and error instead of preaching them out of their sin (Jer. 23:17, 22).

We reprove false teachers.

False teachers must be rebuked publicly so to warn those who may be deceived thereby (Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Tim 6:3-5; 3 Jn 1:9-11).

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Rom 16:17-18)

Error must always be reproved and exposed. None left unexposed. Error is very serious. The Bible commands its exposure, without the need to approach the offender first. So when we don’t name names or if we do first approach the person about it, that is purely an act of mercy and grace that the Bible doesn’t even require of us. On occasion a public sin would be better to treat in a private manner. It could save embarrassment. Sometimes someone needs public exposure. Both the Apostle Paul and John deal with people in public even in the church. Both name names, Paul ten times in 1 and Timothy alone. It's needed even more now with the growth of apostasy in these last days of the last days.

Paul, John, Jesus all named names and called them out before their faces in front of huge crowds, some of which were following false teachers (2 Pet. 2:1-2). Its no surprise that some of the churches hated him (e.g., Corinth: 2 Cor 10-13), a very church that he started!

When someone teaches error and heresy concerning salvation and any other doctrine or twists and manipulates the Scriptures eisegetically or allegorically, that is the greatest of offences, and were I in their shoes my greatest concern and fear would not be about someone offending me by reproving me but about my great offence towards God and His truth and what He says about such that do these things (e.g. 2 Cor. 2:17a; 4:2; 2 Pet. 3:16; Rev. 22:18-19). That ought to make them tremble before God’s Word, for it condemns them as a false teacher. This could well be summed up by Ti 1:9-16,

"Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. [12] One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. [16] They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

It is certainly true that we should be careful about what we say about others, but that doesn’t invalidate the extreme importance of obeying Gods Word in examining and reproving and exposing those that teach falsely or prophecy falsely. We also shouldn’t just accept someone’s statement at face value without facts and truth to support it, this is also true. We must be like the noble Berean’s who tested everyone and everything that came their way by the Word of God (especially those in a public ministry), including the apostle Paul, and he commended them for it (Acts 17:11). Paul and the Lord Jesus (and many other NT writers) commanded judging and commended those as wise and noble that did (1 Cor 2:15; 6:1-6; 10:15; Luke 12:57; John 7:24). Repeatedly the NT commands the testing, judging and discerning of teachings and beliefs, and exposing those that wilfully propagate error (e.g. Rom 16:17; 2 Tim 3:8-9; Jude 1:3), which was exemplified by Paul in naming the names of 10 men in 1 and 2 Timothy, but also by others such as John (3 John 1:9-11). Like all of Scripture, we are to obey what Paul did and said (1 Cor 4:16-17). These things come characteristically to those that have the indwelling Spirit of God, Whom is given to all who are dramatically converted to Christ through the new birth (1 Cor 2:1-16).

We reprove sin.

The Holy Spirit reproves the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn 16:7-11). Who does He reprove? The world, not just a local church. And so must we, if we would preach the Word of God. We must see it as our mandate to reprove the world, since, after all, the second greatest purpose for the Holy Scripture, as documented in 2 Tim 3:16, is that of reproof, which would be both error and sin. Amos, the farmer prophet was sent to the king's court to reprove Israel's sins, and so he did. But he also dealt severely with the sins of the nations all around Israel. There is a simple, but profound truth here. Sin is to be reproved wherever it is found.

Including those in the ministry:

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. . . observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” (1 Tim. 5:20-21)

We may reprove sharply.

The Lord Jesus spoke very sharply calling out false teachers (Matt. 23:13-29): He called them hypocrites, fools and blind, blind guides, whited sepulchres, children of the devil, receivers of the greater damnation, agents of making others two-fold children of hell, serpents, vipers, etc. The Lord Jesus Christ said things that greatly offended man (Matt. 15:12). When He was told, in this passage, that He had offend the Pharisees, Jesus' response was "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matt 15:13-14). He didn't apologize. He only took it up a notch. The Biblical command to reprove and expose those who depart from sound doctrine of God’s Word and separate from them is not legalistic judgmentalism (as evangelicals say), but Biblical obedience and a mark of someone that is actually genuinely born again.

Sometimes the reproof is much more tender and soft, specifically those who are genuinely seeking the truth and desire to be right with the Lord, people who we deem as non-religious sinners (such as the prodigal in Lk 15) as noted with some of the sinners, publicans and prostitutes that came to Christ to hear the words of truth (e.g., Lk 15:1) at His call (Lk 14:35b). In that same context we have the religious Pharisees and Scribes (Lk 15:2) who weren't really interested in the truth, only in finding ways to condemn the truth and the Lord of truth. These are the ones who receive a scathing and sharp reproof of their hypocritical and unregenerate nature in Matt 21:28-32 and chapter 23, among other places. The account of the younger son (called the prodigal) and the elder son in Lk 15 is a contrast between these two very groups of people, reported here: The Parable of Two Sons Who Hated Their Father (Luke 15).

We reprove the wicked.

God’s Word commands to not exercise respect of persons, which produces false and impartial judgment, for God is no respecter of persons (e.g. De. 1:17; 16:19; Pr. 24:23; 28:21; Jam. 2:1-10).

Pr 24:23-25 explicitly states how the wicked are to be handled:

“These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.”

We don't have respect of persons in judgment. It doesn't matter who the person is before us, whether rich or poor, famous or infamous, clergy or non-clergy; they are judged according to God's Word. The wicked, the context here, will be judged and reproved and that will bring delight and God's blessing.

We must rebuke personal offences and trespasses among brethren in the same local church.

This is finally where Matt 18:15-17 and Lk 17:3-4 come into play. Matt 18 will be dealt with in another area. Here is what Lk 17:3-4 says:

"Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him."

When a professing brother in Christ (or between two Jewish brethren) trespasses against you, your responsibility is to rebuke or reprove him. You should do that with wisdom. When, and if, he repents, you must forgive him. This process of reproving and repenting doesn't stop, even when repeated many times in a given day. We must never let trespasses go, for they will bring unwanted problems down the road, and give the trespasser a free get out of jail card, affecting his fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We must not be afraid of conflict but rather of sin and error, and the leavening damage that both do (1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9).

To reason, debate, persuade, or reprove those under the influence of error or other sin from inevitable destruction and death.

“If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” (Pr 24:11-12).

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15:13).

Then why don't majority of professing Christians do this? They don't because they aren’t actually true born again believers, thus not true servants of Christ, though they profess and pretend to be. That’s the biggest issue with the false accusations. Unsaved charlatans judging falsely and lack understanding, discernment, courage and boldness. And thats the vast majority. The end times will be just like the days of Noah and Lot, Jesus said (Lk 17). Only 8 out of roughly a billion on the earth were saved during the days of Noah. Only 3 out of hundrds of thousands were saved from Sodom and Gomorroah in the days of Lot. Very few will ever find the narrow path, because very few will strive to enter therein (Lk 13:23-24; Matt 7:13-14).

Not every compromiser, false teacher or heretic will be reproved and rebuked.

The Lord leads and guides, and then we have two passages written by the Lord that give opposing actions, judgment based upon varying circumstances:

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.” (Pr 26:4)

“Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.” (Pr 26:5).

The question isn’t whether the compromiser or heretic or apostate at the other end is a fool but whether I answer or not. Different situations will bring different responses. Its really all about being in tune with the indwelling Spirit of God, being yielded to His will and guidance.

Thus we reprove because its required in obedience to God’s Word (1 Jn 2:3-5; Jn 14:15-24), by appearing and standing for the truth (Pr 31:8-9; Ju 1:3; 1 Cor 16:13; Ezk 3:17; Mk 13:34), exposing error, dangerous error, false teachings and teachers thereof (Rom 16:17; Eph 5:6-11; Gal 1:6-9; 2:4-5; Phil 3:18-19; 2 Tim 3:5-9; 4:2-4; 2 Jn 1:9-11), all of which is critically important and necessary in our day of massive confusion and apostasy. Fighting spiritual warfare by pulling down serious strong holds and opposing accepted false teachings and error that is being publicly promoted (and very dangerous and actually reflective of unsaved heretics), is what Gods Word fully expects His servant of Christ to do.

Obeying God’s Word, Confronting Sin and Error

What Jesus did and taught in creating conflict and opposition is exactly what the apostles and prophets have always done. They obeyed God’s will. Paul’s ministry was filled with it (e.g. throughout Acts, post-chapter 9) and he was greatly used and loved by God. Reproof and rebuke must be based upon the truth of God's Word, as noted in passages such as 2 Tim 3:16-17,

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

Reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness is all in accordance to the inspired Word of God. Paul demonstrated this godly wisdom in his epistles to the Galatians (reproof of false teachings) and to the Corinthians (reproof of sin). He commanded all saints, "be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ," and “Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am” (1 Cor 4:16-17; 11:1; Phil 3:17; 4:12). You wouldn’t know that in the lives of most professing “Christians” today. They do not follow majority of apostolic doctrine and despise those that do. People that believe it’s wrong to reprove and rebuke do not understand what Scripture teaches on the subject. Instead of studying out the subject and then believing what Scripture says they are running off their feelings and opinions. Anyone who loves God and His truth (Jn 14:15-24; 1 Jn 2:3-5) who “believe[s] and knows the truth” (1 Tim 4:3; 1 Jn 2:20-21, 27; 2 Jn 1:2) should be actively and “earnestly contending for the faith” (Ju 1:3) and not give any heed to false teachings, doctrines and movements such as neo-evangelicalism and emerging church heresies or reformed theology/Calvinism, etc, but rather reprove them, contend against them and expose them (Rom 16:17-18). To word “contend” means “to argue and dispute earnestly; to reprove sharply; to chide and strive to convince and reclaim; to strive against and in opposition; to quarrel and to dispute fiercely, to wrangle, to do it eagerly, zealously, intently, fervently.” Not only is that good and Biblical, it’s commanded. That is why we do it. It brings glory to God, it shows we actually know and love God about ourselves and man (1 Jn 2:3-5; Jn 14:15-24). Yes indeed it will bring serious hatred, conflict, tribulation, and shame as Gods Word makes clear (1 Th 3:1-4; Pr 9:7-8; 15:12; 19:25) but its greatly blessed of God (Pr 24:23-25).

Biblical examples of apostles and disciples of Christ reproving and rebuking, even sharply:

• Peter sharply reproved the Jews for their crucifixion of their Messiah and called on them to repent of their murder and other sins and to believe on the Messiah and be baptized (Ac 2:36-38).

• Peter reproved Ananias and Saphira for lying to God, with death (Ac 5:1-10).

• Stephen sharply reproved the Jews for rejecting Christ and resisting the Holy Ghost (Ac 7:2-60).

• Peter confronted and sharply reproved Simon Magos for being a spiritual counterfeit, supposing that the gift of God could be bought with money (Ac 8:20-24)

• Paul, filled with the Spirit of God, sharply rebukes Elymas the sorcerer, calling him a child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, and calls upon God to strike him blind (Ac 13:9-12).

• Paul and Barnabas rebuke the people and priests for their idolatry when they attempted to worship the apostles (Ac 14:11-18)

• Paul and Barnabas sharply rebuked the Judaisers with much contention for preaching the false gospel of circumcision for salvation (Ac 15:1-2).

• Paul rebuked the spirit of divination in the damsel, and commanded it to come out of her (Ac 16:16-18).

• Paul reproved Peter for his hypocrisy and fear of man, both of which are gospel issues (Gal 2:11-17), because saved people are not hypocrites (Matt 7:1-5; Lk 6:37-45; Rom 2:15).

Gal 2:11-16 reads,

"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Gal 2:11-16)

Did Paul sin against Peter when he withstood him publicly? This is what the Roman Catholic Church believes. Paul was wrong and Peter was right (after all, they think he was the first, and infallible Pope), but the very opposite is the actual truth, clearly based upon the text itself. They also wrongly suppose that this was the point of divergence where Pauline and Petrine theology parted. What Paul did was not only Biblical but it was the most loving and kind thing he could have ever done for him. The apostle Paul withstood Peter before the saints “because he was to be blamed” (Gal. 2:11-16). Biblical truth was at stake, and when the apostle Peter became identified with a wrong position regarding sound doctrine, he needed to be reproved and corrected. Notice, however, that Paul did not reprove or rebuke Peter in a spiteful spirit. Paul simply dealt with the doctrinal problem, and Peter accepted Paul’s reproof. Later on when Peter completes his second epistle, he refers to Paul as “our beloved brother.” (2 Pet 3:15). Peter understood the value of the reproof, and responded in a Biblical manner — no personal offence, no abiding ill-will, only the joyous, blessed fellowship of brethren in agreement on the Truth.

As much as we believe in the autonomy and importance of the local church, and as much as want to exercise a gracious and submissive care in the way we treat our ministers, the fact is that they are not above the need for scriptural reproofs. The Holy Spirit, in Gal 2:11-17 records for us the reproof of an apostle, the chief apostle of the twelve. Even apostles needed reproving. They were not infallible.

Because of the internet, the ministries of many churches have become public property. Pastors post their sermons on sermonaudio, YouTube, vimeo and thousands watch them. It is rather strange then for them to expect praise for the good they do, and yet reject reproof for the errors they make. Peter made a mistake and Paul corrected it publicly, and Peter took it on the chin, and loved him for his reproof. What great maturity they both displayed in the way they gave and received and responded to reproofs, something largely absent from majority of churches and ministers today.

The Bible commands the reproof of teachers of error and expose of false doctrine to protect those potentially affected by it, for there is no greater evil or danger than false doctrine. When Jesus engaged with false teachers and religious hypocrites, He responded with righteous fury and bold conviction and we are to do exactly the same (e.g. Ac. 13:6-12; 15:1-2; Gal. 2:4-5; Ju. 1:3-4). The truly saved saint and servant of Christ and watchman of God sends out a warning over false teachers, over error and sin that is public. It’s meant to silence the mouths of false teachers. To be faithful to God’s Word. For Gods glory. Read for instance: Pr. 24:11-12; 28:1, 4-5; 31:8-9; Matt. 7:15-17; Ac. 13:8-12; 20:28-31; Rom. 16:17-18; Gal. 1:6-9; 2:4-5; Phil. 3:17-19; Col. 2:8, 18-23; 1 Th. 5:14; 1 Tim. 1:5-7, 19-20; 4:1-3; 6:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:15; 2:16-18; 3:13; 4:1-5; 14; Ti. 1:9-16; 2 Pet. 2:1-22; 1 Jn. 2:18-23; 4:1-3; 2 Jn. 1:5-11; Ju. 1:3-16; Rev. 2-3; etc.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark [expose] them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid [separate] them.” (Rom. 16:17).

Like Jude and the apostles and the prophets of old, we are fierce toward heretics. We are not content with embracing and preaching “positive truth.” Like Paul, we care nothing for avoiding controversy and conflict. Like the Psalmist, we don’t merely love truth, we hate error (Ps. 119:128) and evil (Ps. 97:10). I am a contender, a warner, a reprover, a sharp rebuker, plain spoken, even severe in my denunciations. I am in the middle of the fray, just like the prophets of old, such as Enoch, John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John the apostle, to name a few.

Silence is Not an Option.

Being grounded in the truth with discernment and moving unto perfection (Heb 6:1-2) isn’t enough on its own — it demands a response. Spiritual discernment is predicated upon obedience (1 Cor 2:15-16; Pr 21:15; Lk 12:57), and silence is seen as consent (e.g. Lev 5:1; Ps 39:4; 116:10). Abraham Lincoln once said, “To sin by silence when they should speak in protest, makes cowards of men.” Amen to that. We have to stop allowing our feelings to dictate what is right and what is wrong. The Bible is to be our authority, alone, and that is very, very clear on what must be done. Therefore we give heed to Jer 1:17,

“Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

What the Bible says About Receiving or Rejecting Reproof.

What Scripture says about those who are reject rebuke and reproof.

Proverbs 9 clarifies the potential response of those under reproof and rebuke.

“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” (Pr 9:7-8).

Rebuking a scorner brings shame. Scorners hate and despise reproof and rebuke and will smear you for it (Pr 9:7-8; 15:12). Rebuking a wicked man brings a blot. Shame and blotting out is what they attempt, because their nature is evil. The scorner and the wicked will hate you but the wise man will love you. They walk by their feelings and emotions and humanistic opinions, which is all flesh, rather than by Scripture. They profess Christ but their misplaced affections reveal they don’t possess Him. Scorners and the wicked are unsaved people, so this is the expected result. It still doesn’t stop obedience of speaking out and reproving and rebuking error and sin when we see it. We are “in nothing terrified by our adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to [us] of salvation, and that of God.” (Phil 1:28). We personally believe it is a badge of honour to be hated by these haters. Jewels on our crown of glory.

Not receiving rebuke and reproof is the mark of a brutish man (Pr. 12:1), a poor man (Pr. 13:8), a fool (Pr. 12:15a; 17:10), a scorner (Pr. 9:7-8a; 13:1a; 15:12), a wicked man (Pr. 9:7b), one who despises his own soul (Pr. 15:32), a hardened man (Pr. 29:1). The word ”Brutish" means insensible; stupid; no feelings; savage; ferocious; brutal; gross; carnal; bestial; ignorant; uncivilized; untaught.

"He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding." (Pr 15:32)

There are consequences in not receiving rebuke and reproof and they include poverty and shame (Pr. 13:18a), destruction (Pr. 13:13) without remedy (Pr. 29:1), death (Pr. 15:10).

Scorners and the wicked hate and reject reproof.

Scorners hate reproof and rebuke, and reject it. Pr. 13:1 says “a scorner heareth not rebuke.”

The word “scorner” contextually as used in following verses refers to someone who expresses disdain or contempt for the one who reproves and rebukes him. He is not of the truth and disdains the one who is, which is how false teachers and their masses of supporters flow (2 Pet 2:1-3). The scorner not only hates the reprover, he will not go unto him, the wise. He will lamblast the reprover and attempt to shame him, further reflecting his wicked nature.

“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.” (Pr 9:7)

“A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. . . . “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. . . . A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.” (Pr 15:12; 9:8; 13:1).

Scorners, those who scorn the truth or elements of the truth, though they may profess to be Christian, need to be punished with sharp reproof and public exposure and more:

“Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.” (Pr 19:25)

“Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.” (Pr 19:29)

“When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.” (Pr 21:11)

The truth one derives here from these passages is that simple reproof and rebuke of the scorner isn't even enough. They need to be dealt with a heavy hand.

Scoffers reject reproof.

The scoffer is a mocker (the only other word this Greek word is translated in the NT) and a false teacher, by very defintion. They do not recieve reproof and rebuke that opposes their vain philosophy and carnal imaginations and erroneous doctrine:

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts," (2 Pet 3:3)

Most neo-evangelicals (and others today) are scoffers living after their own lusts. When they are reproved for the evil and sin or error they believe and are promoting (publicly), they frequently go off in a ballistic frenzy of hatred, logical fallacies and irrational mental psychosis, further proving their unregenerate nature, since truly saved people actually receive rebuke and reproof and have godly wisdom, while unsaved scoffers reject and hate reproof and respond with “bitter envying and strife in your hearts,” of whom James says to “glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (Jam 3:14-16).

I have heard a well-known IFB preacher state that we should "never criticize any man that's trying to get people saved. It doesn't matter who they are." This philosophy is foreign to Scripture. Peter, a preacher and follower of the Lord, was sharply rebuked by the Lord Jesus for his un-Scriptural rebuking statements, Jesus calling him "Satan" because he was "an offense unto [Christ]" (Matt 16:22-23). Later, the same Apostle was "withstood" by Paul for his wrong practice regarding the Gentiles (Gal 2:11). The Holy Spirit of God saw it fit to have these criticisms written down as inspired Scripture for people all over the world to read and see billions of times over! But this heretical idea that as long as a man or ministry has a certain label then he or it is not to be judged in any way, only accepted, is very contrary to Scripture. The concept is so foreign to the warnings of the Lord Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, and Jude that it just boggles the mind, doesn't it?

False professing "believers" and the wicked who hate the truth will hate those who reprove.

Those who live in error and sin and are in fact unsaved will always say reproof and rebuke is unloving and unkind, and will hate reprovers of their error and sin. Am. 5:10 declares:

“They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.”

People accused Jesus of the same (see Matt. 13:57; 15:12) and He certainly wasn’t afraid to create conflict (see Lk. 6:6-11; 12:51; 13:10-17; 20:45-47).

A persons response to reproof and rebuke exposes their actual spiritual condition.

“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish [i.e. literally means stupid].” (Pr. 12:1).

Most professing Christians today mock and malign and ignore reprovers. They hide behind the impressive size of their denominations or churches and the brilliance of their scholars and refuse to heed godly reproof. They are like the rich man whose wealth is his strong city (Pr. 18:11). Like the Laodicean Church, they are “rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing,” so what possible need would they have of correction? They should give careful heed to their dangerous, lukewarm (which is always unsaved), estate.

"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." (Pr. 29:1)

Fools, scorners, scoffers, and the wicked will not receive reproof.

Your rejection of reproof and rebuke is bad enough on its own; don’t make it worse by imagining evil in your hearts and speaking slander, for that only increases the wrath of God toward you. Do read here if you reject the reproof of God’s Word: The Fearful Position of Those Who Reject God’s Reproof and Drawing — Expressed in Proverbs 1

Will you be of those who listen?

“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. . . . Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.” (Jer 6:16a, 17a)

Or will you be of those who listen NOT? 

“But they said, We will not walk therein. . . . But they said, We will not hearken.” (Jer 6:16b, 17b)

The wise receive reproof.

God’s faithful servants will be receptive to Biblical correction, because they know "iron sharpeneth iron," (Pr 17:17). One’s attitude toward reproof reveals volumes of his true spiritual condition. Whenever someone feels they are above such a need, they have chosen a dangerous path.

“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” (Pr 10:17)

". . . rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." (Pr 9:8b-9)

"The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise." (Pr 15:31)

Born again believers are required to suffer rebuke and endure the reproach and persecution of men.

“O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.” (Jer 15:15)

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2 Tim 3:12-13)

The wise man loves rebuke and reproof. He is not proud and arrogant anymore, unlike those that hate it, for he humbled himself under the mighty hand of God and surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ, thus lives a life of humility post-salvation (cf. Jam 4:1-10). He denied himself to be saved and took up the cross of death (Mk 8:34-35; Matt 16:24-25; Jn 12:24-25) and thus can easily deny himself and be humble in life as a true believer, for “A wise son heareth his father's instruction:” (Pr. 13:1). Pr 9:7-9 is all about reproof and rebuke, but notice how the context starts and ends. Verse 6 declares, “Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding,” which is explicity referring to salvation, as is v. 10, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Without fear of the Lord, no man can be saved. It is the beginning of wisdom because wisdom is received at the very moment of conversion (1 Cor 2:7, 13; 1:30; cf. Col 2:2-3) and leads to the repentant sinner forsaking the foolish and living. He at that very moment becomes a wise man, and loves the rebuke and reproof that leads to his growth in wisdom and learning of the Triune God and His truth.

"A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool." (Pr. 17:10)

Just to avoid any confusion, the wise in Scripture is always referring to the saved. The foolish to the unsaved. These terms are synonymous in the Bible. When we receive salvation, we receive wisdom (1 Cor. 1:31; Col. 2:3). Of course one grows in practical wisdom through contnual fear of the Lord and obedience to God's Word, so God’s Word says. v. 10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

Receiving rebuke and reproof is the mark of wisdom (Pr. 9:8b-9; 12:1,15; 13:1; 15:31; 17:10), understanding (Pr. 15:32b; 19:25b), prudence (Pr. 15:5), love for instruction (Pr. 9:8; 12:1), honour (Pr. 13:18b), obedience (Pr. 25:12).

The true humble heart who is indeed subject to the Lord Jesus doesn’t mind being judged and examined (Ac 17:11; 1 Cor 10:15; Jam 3:17), as long of course its according to Scripture (Jn 7:24) rightly divided (2 Tim 2:14-18) and not according to personal attacks (ad hominem) or other logical fallacies such as straw man and red herring arguments. And, when someone does personally attack and argue logical fallacies, they need to be sharply reproved for their foolishness.

“Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.” (Pr 26:5).

What we warn those under the reception of reproof and rebuke (that we've been commanded to sound), as quoted — (“These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:” Ze 8:16) — is the passage that follows immediately after:

“And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.” (Ze 8:17).

Obliterating Myths of Reproof

Myth # 1 — Reproving and Rebuking is Unloving, Uncaring and Unkind.

They would claim that reproving and condemning sin and wickedness and error is unloving. These individuals would tend to believe that God is love alone, and that He never rebukes, judges or punishes sinners. The Bible however is loaded with Jesus condemning and demanding the same of His servants. Hundreds of examples, way, way more than not condemning, and Jesus is very clear that "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord." (Matt 10:25a). Read Matt 23 for instance. Hell is mentioned by Him 8x more than Heaven. 2/3 of the Bible is negative. It is true, Jesus does have a certain love for everyone (Jn 3:16) but people are very confused about what that love is, and confused iver the fact that His wrath and condemnation is upon those who are sinners and rejecting Jesus Christ and His truth (Jn 3:17-18, 36) and also the wicked (e.g. Ps 37) and evil (e.g. Pr 24).

God Himself always reproves and rebukes, and He does it because of His love and because justice demands it. Lets consider a few examples:

• God lovingly confronted Adam and Eve in the garden when they sinned, the worse sin any human has ever committed, resulting in billions and billions of people fallen and cast into the eternal fires of hell, and then provided a sacrifice to cover their nakedness (Gen 3:9-24).

• The Lord Jesus Christ reproved Peter for obstructing the purposes of God in His crucifixion, calling him "Satan" (Matt 16:21-28).

• The risen and glorified Son of God rebukes and chastens all those He loves through the new birth (Rev. 3:19; Heb 12:5-11).

• The Holy Spirit's work as Comforter includes Him reproving the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn 16:7-11).

• John the Baptist reproved Herod for his adulterous marriage of Herodias (Matt 14:3-4)

• The Spirit filled apostles reproved and rebuked error wherever they found it.

If we didn’t care about you (Pr 24:11-12), we wouldn’t speak out. We wouldn’t prove all things (1 Th 5:21) and henceforth speak the truth in love (Eph 4). If you are truly a born again Christian and we weren’t filled with all goodness and knowledge, we wouldn’t admonish you as a brother (Rom 15:14) or reprove you when you sin or err (Lk 17:3-4). If we only cared for ourselves, we wouldn't "reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim 4:2). Pr 24:11-12 speaks to this:

“If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?”

We cannot be silent or forbear when we see critical error. That would be sin, for "him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (Jam 4:17). Love for man causes us to speak the truth. We are commanded to “contend for the faith” (Ju 1:3), so we will, and what a wonderful blessing it is indeed!

Being unkind is never the intention at all, just like it wasn’t the Lord’s. Speaking the truth can be and will be offensive to those that are corrupting it, but it’s not unkind and rather loving—loving God first and foremost (De. 6:5; 30:6; Matt. 22:37) which produces obedience to His Word (Jn. 14:21-25; Rom 16:17; I Jn. 2:3-5).

Perversion of “love” and “grace” doesn’t help the cause either of the gainsayers — it doesn’t change the truth of Scripture. Love and grace are not contrary to reproving and rebuking, but the very opposite. True Biblical love and grace reproves and rebukes, because God commands and demands it everywhere in Scripture. There is a vast difference between the “love” and “grace” of majority of evangelicals and Protestants today and the rest of contemporary Christianity, and that of what God says these words actually mean. They corrupt what either word means Biblically. Their definition and description are snowflaky and corrupted, tainted with the culture of this world.

We are most certainly not unloving or unkind in exposing error, people, groups, and naming names. Warning of error and false teachers and contending for the faith is actually very loving. It’s loving because it stems out of obedience to Gods Word (Ju 1:3; Rom 16:17; Ju. 1:3; Eph 5:11) and from a testing mindset (Ac 17:11; 1 Th 5:21), which puts God and His Word above mere man and his word. All born again believers are to give themselves to the continual study of God's Word (2 Tim. 2:15; Pr. 15:28a; 16:21, 23), to study to answer (Pr. 15:28) and have a testing mindset (Ps 1:1-3; Matt 7:15; Ac 17:11; 2 Cor 10:5; Eph 5:6-17; 1 Th 5:21-22; Heb 5:14; 1 Jn 4:1) which in truth is actually a mark of a true convert (cf. 1 Jn. 2:20-21, 27; Pr. 22:20-21; 14:15, 18; 16:21; 1 Cor. 2:14; Ps. 19:7; 119:130; Rom. 16:17-18) and in so doing, they will naturally have a hatred of things that are false and a love for things that are true (Ps 119:127-128; Rom 12:9). “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good,” and that is “love . . . without dissimulation.” (Rom 12:9). In so doing, one has the same godly attitude as our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, of whom God the Father said, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;” (Heb 1:9a).

“Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” (Ps 119:127-128)

The renunciation of separatism, which is at the heart of modern evangelicalism, is a renunciation of a testing mindset. That associates directly to this ungodly false “love” attitude and a rejection of Biblical reproof.

Those that hate and malign reproof and rebuke, should give careful attention to the woe pronounced upon them in Is 5:20,

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

In the reports What is True Biblical Love? and You Say You Love Jesus, but Do You Really Love Jesus? we cover what the Bible teaches on the crucial life-altering subject of love.

Not only is this myth wrongheaded, the Bible teaches exactly the opposite. Love reproves and rebukes, even when it create wounds, for “faithful are the wounds of a friend.” (Pr 27:6).

Myth # 2 — Reproof that Involves Calling People Things Like Satanic, or a Child of the Devil or an Antichrist, or a Dog, etc, is “Harsh,” “Hateful” and "unBiblical."

First of all, we are unapologetic for doing so. If we have called you that, its because your behaviour resembled the label, which label is found in the Word of God and used in similar circumstance. Your character was in line with what we was calling you, and in that we are only following the examples of the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles and other Biblical writers. If you are lying, deceiving, bearing false witness, manipulating and intimidating by mockery and scorn, all behaviour likened to Satan, what should you expect? It must be called out, so the mouth is stopped (Ti 1:11-13). So we won’t apologize for speaking the truth about heretics and ungodly behaviour. Nowhere in Scripture did Christ or the apostles or the prophets ever apologize for speaking truth, even when it was “harsh” and offensive, even when it hurt or resulted in persecution.

If you find yourself still teary eyed and hurt, maybe even more so now, here is a form you can fill out, called THE HURT FEELINGS REPORT. Feel free to send the completed form to us . . . not. Keep it for yourself, put it in a glass frame, to console your hurt feelings whenever you are reminded of them. We have zero sympathy towards those who are rejectors of God's truth, perverts of Scripture, heretics, false teachers and the like, and in that once again I am following the example of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who responded to such people in such circumstances with righteous indignation and wrath (e.g. Jn 2; Matt 23).

Secondly, let’s consider some Biblical examples of reproof, rebuke, dealing with error and sin, and then understand that to be consistent with corrupted beliefs you must also smear the apostles Paul, Peter and John and the Lord Jesus Christ with “Harsh,” “Hateful” and "unBiblical" speaking.

Apostle Paul. He said this “witness is true” concerning the professing believers at Crete, that they were “liars, evil beasts and slow bellies.” What to do with them? “Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Ti 1:12-13). Ouch. I guess Paul is “harsh” and “hateful”?

How about when he said to a professing believer: “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Ac 13:10). The guy actually wasn't a true believer, but man was he ever rebuked. More ouch.

How “unloving” and “hateful” and “harsh” was Paul when he labelled followers of error or teachers of error as “grievous wolves,” “ungodly,” liars,” “evil beasts,” “beasts,” “slow bellies,” “child[ren] of the devil,” “enemy of all righteousness,” “blind,” ministers of satan, “dogs,” “antichrists,” “vain talkers,” “deceivers,” unruly,” “wicked,” “enemies of the cross,” “evil men and seducers,” etc (Ac 13:8-12; 20:29; Ti 1:10-12; 1 Cor 15:32; 2 Cor 11:12-15; etc). He warned just a “little leaven” will “leaventh the whole lump” (Gal 5:9). He denounced people for less than the error and corruption of Scripture that is so prevalent in evangelical and reformed Calvinist “churches.”

Paul didn’t warn in generalities either. In 1 and 2 Tim alone, ten times he names names of compromisers and promoters of error by name (1 Tim 1:20; 2 Tim 1:15; 2:17; 3:8; 4:10, 14).

Apostle Peter. He referred to false teachers “as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;” (2 Pe 2:12). Did you notice that? He called them “natural brute beasts” that are “made to be taken and destroyed.” In v. 22 he calls them “dogs” and “pigs” just like Jesus did (Matt 7:6). In Acts 8 he very sharply reproves a man professing to be saved, who had been immersed and continued in Philips ministry (v 13), of his lost estate, saying he had “neither part nor lot in this matter” obviously concerning salvation because his “heart is not right in the sight of God,” but “in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity,” and commanded him to repent of his wickedness, and pray to God for forgiveness of his sins (vv. 20-23).

Apostle John. Will you remain consistent and also charge “the apostle of love,” with "harsh" and “hateful” speech? He called false teachers “evil” and of the devil, their teachings the “doctrines of devils,” false professors as “children of the devil” and of “that wicked one,” etc (1 Jn 3:10-12; 4:1-5; 2 Jn 1:9-11; 3 Jn 1:9-11; etc). He also called out a false teacher and false pastor (by name) in 3 John for his evilness of speaking malicious words against them and casting people out of church that he didn’t like, all of which sealed his unsaved estate, “he that doeth evil hath not seen God” (vv. 9-11). John exhorted “Beloved” Gaius to “follow not that which is evil, but that which is good” (v. 11) and to follow a good man (v. 12).

The Lord Jesus Christ. Lastly, we get to God in the flesh, though there are more examples that could be given. Jesus called Peter the “Devil,” for saying something contrary to Gods Word (Matt 16:23); how is that for “hateful” and “harsh”? What about His fiery and “hateful” indictment and reproof on the false believers in Matt 23? He called them “vipers,” “children of the devil,” “fools,” “whited sepulchres,” “hypocrites,” etc, all of which would be “harsh” indictments to some. In Jn 8:30-31 Jesus sharply reproved false “believers” to be “of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (Jn 8:44).

In Matt 19 Jesus refers to an unforgiving man as a ”wicked servant” (v. 32) who was inciting God’s wrath and judgment (vv 34-35). He called Gentiles “dogs” (Matt 15:26), saying it’s not Gods will to take the Word of God “and cast it to dogs.” In Matt 7 he speaks of false believers/teachers as “dogs” and “swine” (v. 6) and warned of these “wolves . . . in sheep’s clothing” (v. 15), “corrupt trees” (vv. 15-20). In Matt 16 He called false believers/teachers “wicked and adulterous” (v. 4) and warned His disciples to “beware of [their] leaven” (v. 11). But that was only for Jesus, I can hear the naysayers and the gainsayers cry. Jesus said, “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord” (Matt 10:25a). That means do as the Master.

Would you say Jesus acted “hateful” and “harsh” when He made a whip out of leather and whipped false believers/teachers out of the temple, who had made His house a house of merchandise and den of thieves (Jn 2)? What Jesus did was in fact an act of love and justice, regardless how severe it might appear. False believers and teachers today do much worse and indeed, the scorner needs to be smitten (Pr 19:25, 29).

Jesus intentionally created conflict (see Lk. 6:6-11; 12:51; 13:10-17), for those who are afraid of their own shadow and abhor conflict. He called Gentiles “dogs” (Mk. 7:27) and false teachers “swine” (Matt 7:6). Paul did the same: “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers,” (Phil. 3:2a). He also called them “liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;” (Ti. 1:12-13). Jesus called lost religious folks very “harsh” things in Matt. 23, such as children of hell (v. 15), “blind guides” (vv. 16, 24), lovers of money (vv. 16-18), “fools and blind” (v. 17), “blind” (v. 26), “clean” externally but “within . . . full of extortion and excess” (v. 25), “whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness” (v. 27), “full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (v. 28), “serpents” (v. 32), “vipers” (v. 32), persecutors and murderers of the righteous (vv. 34-35) condemned to the “damnation of hell” (v. 32). He even whipped people out of the temple (Jn 2:15-16).

Again, I think I hear the peanut gallery chirping — ‘but that was Jesus’ or ‘that was the apostles.’

Jesus said this:

“It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.” (Matt 10:25a)

It means exactly what it says, with nothing contradicting it. Believe it.

Paul, by the way, said the same, follow his words and ways:

“Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.” (1 Cor 4:16-17)

God’s Word demands sharp reproof of error, evil and sin (Ti 1:9-16). Jesus had righteous anger towards sin and error. Most don’t, and they don’t really care. They are too busy looking after number 1—self—and building coalitions and friendships to further their materialistic wealth and bank accounts and coalitions and popularity. Was Jesus not concerned about “winning them over to Jesus [himself]” (apparently that requires a specific type of speech and trumps obeying the Scriptures).

This sets up a terrible reality. The people who are responsible for being lights in this dark world (as they allegedly confess, but in reality are not because they are unregenerate fakes), end up as the most craven class of obsequious simps on the planet earth. These people ought be humble and obedient and bold — we need them to be — but in practice they are the complete opposite.

If I what I’m doing is “hateful” or “demeaning” people, than the Lord Jesus Christ was also hateful and demeaning people (such as in Matt 23 or when He whipped people out of the temple in Jn 2) and so were all the apostles (dozens of examples such as Paul exposing false believers ten times by name, and the church at Galatia, and the very terribly compromised church of Corinth). We are commanded to do what Jesus did (Matt 10:25) and the apostles did (1 Cor 4:16-17; Phil 3:17). Nothing I’m doing is any different than what we see in scripture or are commanded to do. And there are hundreds of further examples.

The big issue with the hatred towards Biblical reproof and rebuke is the “Jesus” majority of “evangelicals,” reformed Calvinists and others like them, which is most of contemporary Christianity, have been deceived into believing and receiving “another Jesus” and “another spirit” (2 Cor. 11:4).

Do be careful what you call “harsh” and “hateful.”

Myth # 3 — It is wrong to reprove outside your local church or publicly, it must always be done in private, according to Matthew 18.

Matthew 18 deals with private transgressions between church members. First of all, misusing Matt 18 doesn’t help the cause of those who despise reproof. Matt 18 has nothing to do with reproving false teachers and teachings that are public, influential, or popular.

The passage reads:

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” (Matt 18:15-17)

Matt 18 provides instructions on dealing with private or personal sin or issues between brethren or professing Christians of a local church. That is obvious when we read verses 15 and 17. Note that the offence is between two individuals, not between groups of people, it is not a public matter. It does not deal with public teachings or actions by Christian leaders. One brother has trespassed against another. So the offended brother is required to go to his offender and reprove him in person. There is no need to take out a full page ad in the local paper and hang out all the dirty linen he can dredge up. Public error and sin should always be dealt with publicly, not privately, like we see everywhere exemplified and also commanded. Public is not private. Unrepentant public error and sinning is done in public, before a public audience. Matt 18 doesn't apply to that person. Someone can still go to him one-on-one, to take the most charitable approach, but it isn't required. One could also leave out names, another charitable option, but it isn't required and rather in most cases necessary. Public exposure is also not talebearing or sowing discord or something else; it is dealing with error like the Bible states I should (Rom 16:17; 2 Tim 3:5-9; Eph 5:11; Gal 2:11-14; etc; cf. Ac 17:11; 1 Th 5:21; Ju 1:3-16). If someone promotes his sin or unBiblical behaviour or error or false teaching in public, it is appropriate and loving to deal with it in public. It isn't gossip, it isn't talebearing, if it isn't secret or private. Secret is kept secret with going one-on-one (Lk 17:3) and not talebearing or gossiping. Public is already public. If I warn people about an error, or someone's false teaching that he puts out in public, or repudiate his behaviour, that isn't gossip or sowing discord. That is required in scripture out of love. Calling it gossip is actually where the wrong is committed. It isn't gossip. Gossip reveals secrets, doesn't expose public and many times, add to that, unrepentant behaviour or teaching.

The apostle Paul reproveed people outside his local church, and publicly. He mentioned the names of false teachers 10 times in 1 and 2 Timothy (see 1 Tim 1:19-20; 2 Tim 1:18-20; 2:15-18; 4:10, 14-15) and these letters were not intended merely for Timothy. They are part of the canon of Scripture and public record and millions of times they have been read by people the world over. This is the example and command throughout Scripture, including by Moses, Jeremiah, Peter, John, John the Baptist, Jude, the Lord Himself, and others, exemplified by the brief list given under myth # 1. This isn't difficult, but it seems to be to many, especially when it’s convenient.

1 Tim 5:20 reads,

"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."

First of all, there are occasions, or offenses, or issues that need to be reproved, rebuked, and confronted publicly. Secondly, not only is a corrective action to be taken, but there is also a preventive action in the verse ("That others also may fear."). Open rebuke issues a warning to those who hear the sinner publicly reproved, in the same sense illustrated when God through Peter killed Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Ghost (Ac 5:1-10), which resulted in "great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things." (Ac 5:11). Thirdly, the command to rebuke them that sin or teach error (which is also sin) and to do it publicly is found in the same context of dealing wisely with pastors (1 Tim 5:17-20).

Local church autonomy? This is another popular argument used against those who publicly reprove the compromise and error and sin of influential Baptist or Neo-evangelical or Calvinist or other preachers. In other words, the affairs of a pastor and his church are no one’s business outside of that congregation’s membership. Its a very common argument especially when an outsider tries to point out sin and error in a preacher and/or congregation, and that preacher or congregation refuses to repent.

To claim that a pastor and a church does not have to give account for their influence is contrary to sound reason and Scripture. If a church’s doctrine and practice remains its own business and it doesn’t influence any other people, that is no business of mine. But if and when a church’s doctrine and practice influences other churches, which is the case in every single church and ministry that is poubic (on the internet, at conferences, in bible schools) that ceases to be a matter of “local church autonomy” and becomes a public issue that can and must be dealt with in the public forum. A good example is Paul Chappell and Lancaster Baptist Church/West Coast Baptist College out of California, which has massive and purposeful influence on other churches through its college, its conferences, its publications, and its web sites and blogs. It influences churches everywhere around the world, even to the extent of underground churches that we have been part of in the Middle East. It is absolute nonsense to argue that the business of such a church is its own business and is off limits to Biblical critique by others and that those who do so are somehow disobeying the biblical doctrine of church autonomy. The size of church or who the public minister is doesn't actually matter, whether it is large or small; what matters is its influence through such thing as music programs, Bible conferences, youth activities, website, etc. This makes it no longer a “local church” affair. If a pastor’s error and compromise and worldiness and other things influences other professing Christians and churches, there is a very real obligation to reprove him and to warn about him in such a way that all people potentially under his influence know and are protected.

This is 100% Biblical. The apostle Paul dealt with the sins and errors of churches in public letters. The NT Epistles were not private letters that were intended for select eyes only. They were public letters that were intended for the use of all of the churches (Col 4:16), and in those letters Paul dealt with a wide variety of sins and errors. He even warned church members by name (e.g., Eudias and Syntyche -- Phil 4:2). The same is true for Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, wherein the two epistles to Timothy he warns of ten men by name. These were personal letters in one sense, but they were very public in another. They weren't intended for the eyes of Timothy and Titus only. Every preacher is commanded to “reprove, rebuke, exhort” (2 Tim 4:2), which reproof is nowhere ever limited to his own congregation.

Public ministry must be publicly critiqued and criticized. This is reproof. We do not address private or personal matters, what Matt 18:15-17 and Lk 17:2-3 speak of. Matt 18:15-17 is about private affairs and transgressions between brothers of a local church. I do not publicly reprove or expose matters that aren’t committed in a public forum of some sort. Lk 17:2-3 is an issue between two professing brethren, regardless of what church they belong to.

The philosophy of not being able to reprove or expose people outside the local church is egregious and heretical. Church service itself is never private unless it’s truly private where no one is allowed entrance except for certain people. I have been in an environment such as that. I couldn’t even enter the round building without windows in it, the gathering of a highly influential secretive professing Christian group. A service doesn’t have to be live streamed for it to be public. Every church service is considered public that is open to the public. Thats what makes it public. People use the “private” card as a straw man, because they don’t like it when they or someone they know, are reproved publicly for sin or error. They are more interested in their coalitions and feelings than the actual truth and the damage error and false doctrine is causing amongst the people.

On the other hand, there is public sinning (that includes teaching error, whether wittingly or unwittingly) about which someone is unrepentant. He does it in public. When confronted, he doesn't change. Matt 18 doesn't apply to that person. Someone can still go to him one-on-one, to take the most charitable approach, but it isn't required. If someone promotes his sin or behaviour or his false teaching in public, it is appropriate to deal with it in public. It isn't gossip, it isn't talebearing, if it isn't secret. Secret is kept secret with going one-on-one and not talebearing or gossiping. Public is already public. Again, this isn't really that difficult, but it seems to be, especially when it is convenient or when it is utterly rejected and despised.

This folktale like the others previous to this, falls apart when we consider the Bible and even basic logic. Do these pastors and teachers and churches and ministries have far-reaching influence beyond their home or  congregation? Do they have a website accessible by any person in the world on the World Wide Web? Do they maintain a blog on his website? Do they broadcast their services online, even live? “Join us online” it may say on the home page. Do they supply an archive of sermons for the whole world to watch? Don’t they maintain a YouTube channel, a Facebook page or some other social media account? When these things happen, even just one of these things, that professing Christian’s ministry or church or whatever they may call it ceases to be merely a local church affair. It becomes a public affair. Where does the Scripture limit the scope of a preacher’s reproof and warning? The preacher is instructed to preach the word, “reprove, rebuke, exhort,” to “speak, exhort, and rebuke with all authority,” and “to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints” (2 Tim 4:2; Ti 2:15; Ju 1:3; etc). Where does the Bible say that this ministry can only be performed by a pastor of a church and only to his own congregation or by some other “qualified” leader? Will they continue to twist these verses out of their meaning, increasing the indictment of their wicked estate (2 Pet 3:16-17)? Only a spineless coward and lording Diotrephes would even fathom protesting someone critiquing a sermon or article or message that they published on the WWW for the whole world to give accolades to. You love the praise of men but not the critique. Go figure. That also speaks to a certain nature. You shouldn’t “love the praise of men more than the praise of God” (Jn 12:43). Rather, you should be as one who is truly saved, who has been “circumcis[ed] . . . of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Rom 2:29).

Consider a few Biblical examples among many of public reproof:

1. In Gen 3 God reproved Adam, Eve, and the serpent publicly. 100% of the sentient beings an earth heard the reproofs, and everyone that has ever read the Scriptures since then.

2. Enochs sermon is recorded in Ju 1:14-15 and its all about public reproof, like all good preaching does.

3. In Gen 12 Pharaoh rebuked Abraham, and in Gen 20, Abimilech did likewise.

4. In Gen 31 Jacob and Laban reproved each other in front of their family and in front of Laban's servants.

5. Consider the prophets' reproofs of Israel, whether Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Amos, and Malachi, and the list goes on.

6. John the Baptist openly reproved the Jews, including the leaders of the synogogues and Temple, and also "king" Herod.

7. The Lord Jesus Christ openly rebuked Peter in Matt 16 for thinking like a lost man.

8. Paul publicly and very sharply and severely rebuked Elymas in Acts 13 for perverting the right ways of the Lord.

9. Later Paul would withstand Peter before the entire church in Antioch and before their guests from Jerusalem and before billions of people that have read the account.

10. The Lord of the seven churches of Asia reproves almost every church and does it in print so that every reader of Revelation can see it and be warned.

Is that public or what?

Reproofs are more important than we know. Show me a preacher that welcomes reproof, including public reproof, and then loves his reprover for his reproofs, and I will show you a man that has a Biblical ministry and a future.

Myth # 4 — Reproof Can Never Be Given to the “Lord’s Anointed”

Time and again we hear this cry parroted as a counter to those who attempt to alert the unsuspecting of the dangerous, unbiblical teachings of a particular man or ministry. Using this misused label, key religious figures fall into a category that is apparently safe from scriptural examination. Since they influence many people, hundreds or thousands or maybe even millions, they must be God's anointed — thus, don't you dare "touch" them! Don’t you dare speak against them! Don’t you dare reprove them!

In this myth it is implied that Christians in leadership are the "Anointed," especially those who seem to be very successful, and must never be reproved by us lesser mortals. This myth and red herring meant to shield influential preachers from public reproof is lifted from the OT situation in which David refused to touch King Saul who was hunting his life, though he could have killed him at that moment in the cave. David said,

“"And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. . . . Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed” (1 Sam 24:6, 10)

Other verses used to support this myth are 1 Ch 16:22 and Ps 105:15, "Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." David refused to slay King Saul with the sword, even though in doing so, he would rid himself of his arch enemy, and also clear the way for his own ascent to the throne of Israel (1 Sam. 24:1-15). God, not David, would remove Saul in His time and in His way (1 Sa, 26:8-10). But some say there is another application found in this text which would also bar any negative comment about another's far-reaching ministry, for this, too, would constitute "speaking against" one of God's servants and is, in essence, "touching God's anointed." Is this a viable application? Absolutely not!

In no way at all in any shape or form do any of these passages speak to not reproving or rebuking someone in a church office for error or sin. A look at the actual context from which this phrase is lifted provides clear-cut proof that scriptural reproof and rebuke does NOT constitute "touching God's anointed" at all. The context of this verse has only to do with killing an anointed king of Israel, since Saul was anointed by God to be the king. By applying this phrase to themselves, apparently some preachers, including Independent Baptist preachers, think they are kings! ‘You cannot reprove me, I am an earthy king!’ It follows they must believe, strangely, that someone who reproves them is trying to kill them. Jack Hyles certainly fit this caricature. He thought himself to be a king and acted as such, putting himself WAY above reproof and discipline, and since he led by example, majority of men who were taught by Hyles or the school have the same philosophy as Hyles, including Sullivant and majority of IFB preachers in Canada (and America for that matter), imitating this exceedingly unscriptural and ungodly type of pastoral model, which fits precisely into what Christ was warning of, unregenerate Gentiles exercising lordship over the people. As did Jack Schaap, Hyles son-in-law and successor in the pulpit of First Baptist Church of Hammond.

A Baptist pastor is not an Israelite king, but even if they were, kings could be reproved by God’s preachers, and certainly not only in private. No Israelite king was above reproof. Azariah the high priest, joined by eighty other priests, confronted King Uzziah when he arrogantly usurped the priesthood by offering incense in the temple (2 Ch 26:16-19). Though David did not kill King Saul, the prophet Samuel did not draw back from reproving Saul. Samuel certainly "touched God's anointed," if by that you mean speaking out against his disobedience (1 Sam. 15:20), of which billions of people have read ever since. God told Saul to "Smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not..." (1 Sam. 15:3). But under a pretext of pious intention, he "spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord" (v. 15). Partial obedience—Samuel said it was tantamount to witchcraft and idolatry! To obey is better than sacrifice! If reproving the disobedience of Saul is "touching God's anointed" then Samuel sinned in doing so, and since God told Samuel to reprove Saul, those who criticise Samuel make God the author of sin. The direct cause and effect of those that embrace this heretical lie, is accusing God of sin. Saul had a very visible testimony that affected all of God's people. When he failed to minister according to the absolute standard, God's faithful prophet obeyed the command to cry out against the error. Take his life—no, rebuke his sins—yes! Let's get straight what the Bible forbids in this account, and what it demands. Scriptural reproof and rebuke of a disobedient brother is not "touching God's anointed." It is compliance with God's order. The prophet Nathan did not draw back from reproving King David. God made sure that Saul was forced to face up to his compromise. The ministry of the King of Israel was judged according to the Lord's commandments, and no man today is exempt from this same kind of biblical scrutiny. Saul had a very visible testimony that affected all of God's people. When he failed to minister according to the absolute standard, God's faithful prophet was commanded to cry out against the error. Take his life—no, rebuke his sins—yes! Let's get straight what the Bible forbids in this account, and what it demands. Scriptural reproof and rebuke of a disobedient brother is not "touching God's anointed." It is compliance with God's order.

The level of "success" a pastor/evangelist/missionary/Bible college president must achieve before he can be considered to be one of the "Anointed" ones varies from group to group. The legendary and great fundamentalist John R. Rice used to honour pastors who had baptised more than 200 converts a year. Those that give large sums of money to church or Bible colleges, are elevated to the "Anointed" status. Notoriety, charisma, flattery, accent, numbers, educational achievements and of course membership inthe Big Camp for the Big Boys all contribute to the status of being "Anointed," but there is probably nothing that elevates an IFB preacher more than having a large church. If he can add to that a Bible college, well, he's got it made. You can always tell if he has attained that  superduper level of Christianity "Anointing." He will be an honoured guest on many conference platforms. His photo will be everywhere, at least in all the approved denominational literature. Everyone will want to be the invited guest preacher in his church. He will be awarded honorary doctorates, he will become the criterion for every other pastor, yea the benchmark, and his church the measure for every other church, also the benchmark. Once his "Anointing" is recognised by peers he will gather a following that just grows. Oh, there is one other quality that pertains to the "anointed ones." They actually never need reproofs. They have become infallible, inerrant, impeccable, even perfectly irreproachable.

Paul the apostle wouldn't fit into this crowd, seeing he didn't see himself as one of the "anointed." Of himself he stated he was less than the least of the apostles, that he was the chief of sinners, that his past life was filled with hubris, and asked to be proven (Ac 17:11) and commanded to be judged 1 Cor 10:15). He said God gave him many revelations, and a thorn in the flesh to go with them, lest he should be exalted above measure.

Myth # 5 — You Need to Tun Your Own Race, and Not Criticize the Race of Others

Though this is addressed loosely above in the various points, we will briefly make a mention of this hertical and unBiblical and nonsensical myth here. The myth goes somthing like this: “I would suggest you focus on the race God has given you to run rather than criticizes how another believer runs his."

This is very similar to the "judge-not" heresy and very likely embraced by the same individuals. The Bible actually does command us to “criticize how another believer runs his“ race, to test, prove and criticize if necessary when that (alleged) race is not being run in accordance to God’s Word, especially when that so-called racer is influencing others in the race. Many passages tell us that, most of which we have already covered, to not only judge and criticize but expose the errors of that criticism, to expose heretics and false teachers (i.e. Rom 16:17; Eph 5:11; Ac 17:11; 1 Th 5:21; Ju 1:3-4; Ti 3:10-11) to judge others (i.e. Lev 19:17; 1 Cor. 2:15; 5:12-14; 6:1-5: 10:15; 14:29; Pr. 21:15; 27:6; Lk. 12:57), to reprove and rebuke others (Lev 19:17; Ps. 50:21-23; 58:1; Pr. 12:1; 13:1; 24: 15:5, 31; 17:10; 24:23-25; 28:23; Ti. 1:12-13; 2:15; 2 Tim 4:2-4; etc) — so the advice, “I would suggest you focus on the race God has given you to run rather than criticizes how another believer runs his,” is actually a Satanic lie. A lie concocted by the father of lies (Jn 8:44), who comes as an “angel of light” and his “ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness” (2 Cor 11:12-15). Many of these are “deceitful workers” (2 Cor 2:13), “dogs,” “evil workers,” (Phil 3:2) whom Jesus also called “dogs” and “swine” (Matt 7:6), but they must have missed all this judging and criticism taking place in the Bible. I suspect an intentional blindness to this and maybe to the entire Script of Holy Writ except that which tickles their fancy?

This is derived out of a hatred for reproof, which then means they are scorners. And Scripture says:

“A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.” (Pr. 15:12)

“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” (Pr. 9:8).

There are other myths (such as "only a fruitful Christian is qualified to reprove error"), but these are the more popular ones. I think I have dealt with the myths sufficiently. What I wonder is whether those who proclaim these myths actually consider the Word of God even in the least when they ink or cry their myths? As the gears and shaft’s at the molecular level operate together, does the Word of God filter into any of those processes? There is a reason why they never provide no Biblical support for any of their myths. They can’t. They can only twist and abuse and wrest the Scriptures. Those that do this only deserves ridicule, rebuke and public exposure. This is precisely the reason why errors and lies preached from the pulpit to a public audience need to be exposed. It will help prevent this “God-like” exalted man-centred man-worshipping ungodly attitude that seeps out of the pores of many lords of congregations. Mark them and avoid them (Rom 16:17), “Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.” (Ti 1:11). “But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” (2 Tim 3:9).

The Goal of Haters of Reproof and Rebuke is to Silence by Censorship, Intimidation and Slanderous Defamation

This is true irregardless of the environment. Whether sacrilegious or religious.

Of course the unsaved, non-religious, leftist woke, “liars, evil beasts, slow bellies” (Ti 1:12) such as the liberals, demoncrats, lefties, are absolute champions at this. They win the gold, hands down. Not even a competition. They demonically hate when someone speaks the truth and facts, and they will do whatever they can to censor that individual and destroy their lives through evil witchhunts and kangaroo courts. There are so many historical and present day examples of this, an entire volume of Encyclopedia couldn't cover it all. Additionally, everyone knows of way to many people where this has occured, to have to go into any detail. The present President of America is example enough. Naturally their best line of defence is the logical fallacy, “hate speech.” No, they are actually the ones displaying “hate speech” since they hate the one speaking the truth and censor them. Yes, that is hate! We long for Christ's return, to slaughter these evil beasts and usher them into the eternal fires of hell where they belong (and yes, that is Biblical: Ps 2:1-5; 37:1-40; Lk 19:27; 2 Th 1:8-9; Rev 14:16-20; 19:21).

In union and unison with the evil beasts above, to advance their diabolical cause, is another group of demented wicked beasts, and that is the Moslems. They absolutely demonically hate anyone exposing their “doctrines of devils” (1 Th 4:1), but that will never stop us from doing so. Their hatred is also driven by Satan, for these false worshippers in fact worship Satan himself, whom they call "Allah," as we expose here: Contrasting Islams god (Allah) with the God of the Bible (Jehovah) and the god of this World (Satan). All of these great enemies to freedom and peace should be immediately deported from western nations.

Those that aren’t resisting evil, are assisting evil. Thats the two avenues (Pr 24:23-25).

But sad when its occurring amongst so-called professing Christians. The very vast majority of individuals (I leave them with the label of “individuals” because the Word of God is clear that the vast majority of them are actually unsaved) of the Reformed Calvinist camp are filled with demonic hatred, malice, envy and scorn. Like their hero’s and role models, the ungodly and heretical church fathers and reformed fathers, they will not tolerate any criticism, opposition, or contention against their heresy. Both of the most well known reformers, Luther and Calvin, were extremely hateful and prejudiced towards those who opposed them and rebuked them, even violently to the point of murdering their foes. Calvin is believed to have murdered at least a hundred people, many of whom opposed his teachings or even simply reproved his hesrsies, info you will note if you click the links above.

Many of todays neo-reformed Calvinists portray this very same diabolical behaviour. Over and over this is illustrated when someone publicly challenges them on their heresy and attacks on truth and Gods Word (e.g. denigrating and mocking the Word of God). Their only argument is logical fallacies, including ad hominem, and malicious mockery. That is their specialty because they hate reproof and rebuke.

By thy way, here is a brief overview of what Logical Fallacies are, which are a form of lying and bearing false witness:

Many a man puts his ex-cathedra office way above reproof, rebuke and above correction, which is much more in line with a pope than a man of God. When someone denies the Word of God by smokescreen and mirrors or other logical fallacies (which are merely another form of lying and bearing false witness), and refuses to receive reproof or debate the charges brought before him because one is to dogmatic (and not compromised enough) or not hierarchically privileged enough, he is putting himself about God and His Word.

What compromised man-centred professing “believers” want to do more than anything is to silence the mouth of the watchman, of the contender for the faith, of the one who will warn of evil, of sin, of doctrinal error, of the one who will criticize their heresy and challenge it. Of course this is instigated by Satan himself for he has the most to lose and he does hate God and God’s desire for people to have their eyes opened from their self-deception and blindness, and be truly saved to bring Him glory.

But this is a great evil and God will reward it in due time. And alas, it is nothing new. This was happening in the days of Israel, where they would kill the prophets or torture them and throw them into prison. It happened in the days of Christ, Him being the supreme example of this. He reproved sharply, aggressively (e.g. Matt 23; Jn 8:31-59; ; 13-17; etc) and they ultimately killed Him for it. The great denunciation by Christ was against His earthly superiors in the temple by the way, the chief priests and elders and religious leaders. The apostles fared no better. The examples we have in the NT churches the same pattern is noted, especially in the epistles to the Corinthians and Galatians, both contain rampant attacks on Paul.

Hence, the label of Satan for they are reflecting his work:

“But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Cor 11:12-15).

Paul reproved evil behaviour in calling a professing believer, a child of the devil:

“And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Ac 13:10)

Jesus in His rebuke of Peter called him the devil, and Peter was actually saved:

“But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” (Mk 8:33)

These things occured prior to Peter being indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God.

Mostly one hears crickets and then the excuses come flying. ‘But that was the Lord Jesus Christ’ or ‘that was the Apostle Paul or that was for then but not for now.’ Excuses for disobedience and denial.

Jesus said this:

“It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.” (Matt 10:25a).

It means exactly what it says, with nothing contradicting it.

Paul said the same, follow his words and ways:

“Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.” (1 Cor 4:16-17)

Unlike many of our accusers and detractors, our “exhortation [is] not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:” (1 Th 2:3), nor do we use “flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:” (1 Th 2:5), and therefore “so [we] speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth [our] heart[s]” (1 Th 2:4), with the desire to “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” (Ti 2:10).

People need to stop twisting the Word of God for their own personal liking, opinions and agenda and start fearing God. Study the Word of God and be wise.

“Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” (Pr 8:33)

Conclusion

Another pertinent article is The False Philosophy of "Judge-Not" and “Don't Reprove.”

See also the many diverse arguments that people concoct so they don’t have to give heed to reproof and rebuke, by way of Q&A: Answering False Accusations of Warring Spiritual Warfare.

Born again believers are tasked with many things, such as being ambassadors for Christ (1 Cor. 5:20), preaching the gospel to every creature (Mk. 16:15), earnestly contending for the faith (Ju. 1:3), reproving sin and error (Eph. 5:11), shining as lights in a dark world (Phil. 2:14-16), being skillful with and teaching God’s Word (Heb. 5:12-14), to suffer for Him (1 Pet 1-3; 1 Th 3:1-4; Phil 1:28), etc, all of which is magnified in the ministry of the evangelist. There is a battle raging between truth and error, God and the devil, and those who neglect God’s will and live selfish lives and try to avoid trouble and persecution for Christ’s sake, who do not serve Him enthusiastically, who do not bear His reproach, cannot avoid the judgment seat of Christ (if they are actually saved that is), where every man’s work will be revealed by fire (1 Cor. 3:13-15).

God has commanded us to obedience, and we are thankful He approves (Ju 1:3; Rom 16:17; Ti 2:15; 2 Tim 4:2-5; Eph 5:6-11; Pr 24:11-12, 23-25), for our motive is to please God and do His will:

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Gal 1:10)

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16).

Are we arrogant? I would appeal to you reader to not confuse Biblical confidence with arrogance. Some, maybe even you, might think this as “arrogant.” It’s not. We are confident, but our confidence comes from our position in Christ, our standing in grace, and our certainty of Scripture, not in ourselves. Our conscience is clear on the arrogance front.

There is also no “superior tone” — boldness and confidence comes from the indwelling Spirit of God and it is Biblical. “And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by [Paul’s] bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Phil. 1:14). Like Paul, we are “set for the defence of the gospel” (Phil. 1:17).

Lastly, our desire most importantly is always what Pr 28:23 and Jam 5:19-20 declare:

”He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.” (Pr 28:23)

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (Jam 5:19-20)