REBUKE PUBLICLY or PRIVATELY?

REBUKE PUBLICLY or PRIVATELY?
-by Andrew Strom.

Some Christians claim that any correction or questioning of ministries
should always be done PRIVATELY - and only to the leaders
concerned - never in public. (It is important to note that many such
approaches have indeed been made to Prophetic/ Apostolic leaders
over the years. They have basically been ignored). But either way,
I am afraid I cannot agree that public deception is only to be
opposed behind closed doors. It seems to me that false teaching
would thrive in such an environment. In Scripture we see clearly
that there are occasions when private correction is appropriate,
and other occasions when a more public airing is necessary.
There is the quiet "Matthew 18" approach, and then there are
others. After all, shouldn't we have the love and care of the
precious sheep uppermost in our minds? Are we just supposed
to say nothing and let the "leaven" spread and spread?

We must not forget that in the New Testament the elders were
commanded to correct severely (Titus 1:13) and to rebuke for sin
publicly (1 Tim 5:20), though in 2 Tim 2:24-26 they were instructed
to correct with 'meekness'. Remember, the apostle Paul rebuked
Peter publicly in Galatians 2 for his hypocrisy, Jesus rebuked Peter
openly in Matthew, and He even whipped the sellers out of the
temple publicly in Mark (for making God's house a 'den of thieves').
In extreme cases the apostle Paul actually wrote to everyone that
he was turning people over to Satan for correction (see 1 Cor 5
and 1 Tim 1:20). The Bible is very clear that one of our major tasks
is to "expose" the deeds of darkness (Eph 5:11). In 1 Cor 4:21
Paul asks the people, "Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love?"
The same apostle used 'boldness' in 2 Cor 10:1 and said that he
would not spare anyone in 2 Cor 13:1-2.

Many Christians insist on applying Matt 18:15-17 to every situation.
But what about false teachers? The above passage in Matt 18
says that if my brother "sins against me" then I should go to him
privately about it - then with one or two witnesses - and then to the
whole church if he does not repent. This is a very important process
for resolving issues where a brother has sinned against me personally.
But what about FALSE TEACHING of a serious nature? What if it is
spreading or starting to infect entire sections of the body of Christ?
Is it still just a "private matter"?

My understanding is that in the New Testament we NEVER see
Jesus or the apostles treating false teaching as a "Matt 18" scenario.
We see them publicly rebuking and correcting - trying to arrest the
'cancer' before it spreads any further. This is an act of LOVE towards
the body. It is trying to stop the damage before too many precious
sheep are harmed. False teaching and false prophets are never
treated "nicely" or "sweetly" in the New Testament! (By the way, I
am not advocating today's "heresy hunters", whom I believe often
go about things with entirely the wrong spirit. But I am just laying
down a few biblical guidelines here).

This is certainly an important issue in these Last Days, when we
are told that false prophets and false teachers will 'abound', and
that the deception will become so great that "if possible it would
deceive the very elect". It is vital that we get a grasp of what is at
stake here. The false teachers and false prophets in Acts were
rebuked very bluntly, and Paul even "named names" in some of
his letters to the churches. So surely we cannot continue to claim
that this is all a "Matt 18" situation? Surely it is more serious than
that - and requires a more drastic response?

Of course, we must always be "speaking the truth in love" - and
have the protection of Christ's precious sheep uppermost. But
surely we must speak out if we see real danger to the Body?

Comments, anyone?

God bless you all!

Andrew Strom.