The
following 8 Principles and their related scriptures show the
importance of this approach by the Apostle Paul in his own ministry.
1.
Be Firm And Bold:
2
Corinthians 7:9 says
“Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because
your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God
intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.”
2
Corinthians 10:2 says “I
beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to
be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this
world.”
2.
Affirm All That You See That Is Good:
2
Corinthians 7:4 says
“I
have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.
I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.”
3.
Be Accurate And Honest:
2
Corinthians 7:14 says
“I
had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But
just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you
to Titus has proved to be true as well.”
2
Corinthians 8:21 says
“For
we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the
Lord but also in the eyes of man.”
4.
Know The Facts:
2 Corinthians 11:22-27 says
“Are they Hebrews?
So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s
descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my
mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been
in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been
exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the
Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods,
once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent
a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the
move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in
danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the
city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from
false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone
without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone
without food; I have been cold and naked.”
5. Follow Up After The Rebuke,
Confrontation, Or Discipline:
2
Corinthians 7:13 says
“By
all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we
were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his
spirit has been refreshed by all of you.”
2
Corinthians 12:14 says
“Now
I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a
burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you.
After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but
parents for their children.”
6.
Be Gentle After Being Firm:
2
Corinthians 7:15 says “And
his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you
were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.”
2
Corinthians 13:11-13 says “Finally,
brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration,
encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of
love and peace will be with you.
Greet
one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their
greetings.”
7.
Speak Words That Reflect Christ's Message,
Not
Your Own Feelings Or Ideas:
2
Corinthians 10:3 says
“For
though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.”
2 Corinthians 10:12-13 says
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who
commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and
compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however,
will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to
the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that
also includes you.”
2
Corinthians 12:19 says “Have
you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to
you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ;
and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.”
8.
Use Discipline Only When All Else Fails:
2
Corinthians 13:2 says
“I
already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now
repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who
sinned earlier or any of the others.”
Sometimes
rebuke, confrontation, and discipline is necessary, but use them with
caution. As a Christian, your purpose for any rebuke, confrontation,
or discipline should be to help the person(s), not hurt them!
And,
you may need to humble yourself and receive rebuke, confrontation,
and discipline from your brothers and sisters in the Lord who may see
shortcomings in your life that you don't clearly see.
The
Point Of All This
That
we may all be refined and conformed to the image of God's Son, Jesus
Christ and improve our relationships with fellow Christians and
others we know.
End
Of Post