“It does not seem to me that you have the calling of elder—or team leader. Perhaps in the future, but not now,” wrote Jack Miller to a young man who wanted to be a missionary. “A leader must have more evidence of a broken will and the humility that has gone deep into the soul with it. I don’t mean you have no humility, but there is a need for growth in this matter in your life.”
I was struck by the candor of Jack Miller’s letters in his book The Heart of a Servant Leader. Miller practiced the ministry of rebuke, a ministry that’s needed but that’s often practiced poorly or not at all. Miller also encourages. Rebuke best takes place in the context of a culture of encouragement and love. “We have a love for each other that does not overlook faults and sins, but leads us to accept correction and rebuke from one another,” he writes. “As we pray, correction from one another ceases to be a threat and becomes a way of release from the bondages of our small visions, self-centered motives, and lust for pre-eminence.”
We’re called to this ministry. “Reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching,” Paul instructs Timothy (2 Timothy 4:2). “Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you,” says Paul to Titus (Titus 2:15).
If Paul hadn’t reproved the Corinthian church, it’s unlikely that they would have repented (2 Corinthians 7:8-9). We need the ministry of reproof.
Prone to Wander
We need reproof because we — individually and corporately — are prone to wander.
For believers, sanctification begins at the point of regeneration, increases during life, and is completed at death. We’re all in process now. That means we have blind spots, mixed motives, and wayward desires. Like sheep, we’re prone to wander off. “Ah! believers, you are a tempted people,” said Robert Murray McCheyne. “You are always poor and needy. And God intends it should be so, to give you constant errands to go to Jesus.” We’ll never outgrow our need for grace in this life.
Churches, too, are prone to get off track. “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert…” (Acts 20:29-31). Many churches started out well but have drifted into trouble. I wonder if timely correction may have made the difference.
When we understand our propensity to wander, we’ll see reproof as a necessary part of life and ministry.
What to Reprove
We need reproof in three areas: doctrinal, moral, and relational.
Doctrine matters! Paul writes to the Galatians, for instance, to correct errors in their doctrine. Lose good doctrine and you lose the gospel. I’ve seen a number of my friends drift doctrinally, and the results are devastating. As J.I. Packer writes, “Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.”
When we dishonor God morally, we also need reproof. “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). We’re all in danger of dishonoring God through disobedience. We need friends who care enough to pursue us.
We also need reproof when we sin relationally. “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth,” John writes (1 John 3:18). “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice,” Paul instructed the Ephesians. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).
We shouldn’t be quick to reprove, but whenever someone strays theologically, morally, or relationally, we should respond. “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).
How to Reprove
I attended a church well known for practicing church discipline. The teachers presented case studies to those who attended. “How would you handle this situation?” they asked.
We carefully considered each case and came back with our recommendations. In every case, this church — which I thought was strict — was more gracious than we were. We will never regret being gentle, they taught. We always err on the side of patience. Whenever we’re in doubt, we always extend more grace.
I’m convinced that the ministry of reproof best takes place within a church that practices the ministry of encouragement. When we honor others, love others, encourage others, and pray for others, we’ll create an environment in which reproof can lead to repentance. We’ll learn to check our motives, think the best of others, and demonstrate patience and gentleness in what we say. Our goal will always be restoration. Even though it’s hard, we’ll love others enough to say hard things.
Reproof is hard. If you enjoy it or find it easy, you probably shouldn’t do it. But when practiced well, it’s a ministry that’s a gift to individuals and the church that, as James writes, can save souls from death and cover a multitude of sins.