As Americans we are taught to be self-focused, to have a faith that is not based on the community of the church, but based solely on individuality. This is wrong. The community of the church which we are all blessed with is there to keep us focused, provide support, and provide rebuke in love. I think that when Christians generally think of the word/action of rebuke/rebuking, it's usually with a negative connotation. This does not have to be the case, and I will share with you why I believe that.
We all know the verses in 1 Corinthians 13 which describes the characteristics of love. Some of the characteristics include patience, kindness, being humble, not being rude, not boasting. We are able to rebuke with humbleness, with patience, being humble, not being rude, and not boasting in our own pride. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to truly love, if we let Him work through us. This doesn't mean that we give free passes to those Christians who sin. This means that our love should extend so far as to make sure that we keep one another accountable, that we walk soundly in our faith. In fact, Titus 1:13 tells us this: "This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in their faith." Luke equally says, "If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." (17:3).
Rebuking someone does not mean that we forever get to hold sin over one another (as I so often forget). Rebuking someone comes from a love rooted so deeply in the Lord that we wholly desire to help one another lead a holy (set apart) life. I for one confess my sin in this area. I am so good at holding other people's sin over their head even after I have supposedly forgiven them. I pray that the Lord forgives me for this, and that they bear with me in love. I know that the Lord has often rebuked me, taught me, disciplined me, for things which I knew were wrong. Revelation 3:19-22 reads, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' " The lord does not discipline us out of anger, He disciplines us out of love! He disciplines us out of a genuine desire to be with us in the end, after everything is said and done, He wants to sit with us on the throne! God didn't send his only Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross in order that we might continue to live in bondage! No. Absolutely not. He died in order that we might overcome, in order that we might be reconciled with God through the death of his son.
Now is the time for the church to rise up! Now is the time for the church to live in boldness with one another. In order for others to see the Christ in us, we must walk through the refining fire, we must rebuke one another in love, we must have a genuine desire to help one another live holy lives. This is our charge. I'll end much like I began, with a verse from 2 Timothy 4, "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the WORD! Be ready in season and out of season. convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." Amen.
