Proverbs 3:11, 12 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof: For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
My goal and objective in this article is to provoke you to think about correction and all the various aspects of it. I won’t linger with any particular point, but rather – I’d like to give you a broad overview of the correction that happens in our lives and the correction that is intended to help save our souls.
There are a number of activities happening within our ranks that are going to require correction within the coming months and years. For years a movement has been underway by some to modernize the Lord’s Church. Keith (Minter, fellow elder) and I plan to publicly address many of these issues in future sermons. It’s very important that our congregation be aware of the dangers that lurk because souls are at stake.
Recently, the OPA issued a special issue on the role of women in the Lord’s Church. This issue became a special edition put out in tract form. They’re on the tract rack at the rear of the building and I want to encourage every home in our congregation to read the instruction found in these articles. We have numerous problems that are coming about as a result of women seeking roles of leadership in the Church.
Brethren, we only have to know what the genuine thing looks like. We know what the Bible pattern for authority is. We know what the Bible pattern for worship is. We know what the Bible pattern for leadership in the Church is. We know what the Bible pattern for the work of the Church is. Our brethren who advocate organizations in addition to the Church must prove them lawful before they can claim it as their liberty to build such organizations. Our brethren who have constructed so-called Church camps have to prove them scriptural before they can call it their liberty to have them. Our brethren who have cancelled Wednesday night worship services so they can all assemble in a private home where women can speak, have to prove that’s scriptural before they can claim they have the liberty to do that. Our brethren who have permitted women to arrange services have to prove that it’s scriptural before they can claim the liberty to do such things. Some who argue that missing some occasional Lord’s Day morning services isn’t equal to forsaking the assembly as mentioned in Heb. 10:25 are going to have to prove that. Britney Spears’ influence is being seen all over the world, even in the Lord’s Church. Modest apparel, including women wearing pants, girls wearing clothing that’s too tight, hemlines that are too short, necklines that are too low…this battle is all but lost in too many places. Brethren, we’re determined to not lose these battles here at Fossil Creek. These and many other things are happening in our brotherhood. We must be on guard. And we must be aware that sometimes correction is necessary in order for us to continue our path toward heaven.
This eldership has very serious concerns about these movements and activities and we owe it to God (first) and to this congregation to give ample, strong warning about these things lest souls be lost. These are all very serious matters and we don’t want any souls to be lost, but most especially our concerns are for the souls of Fossil Creek! Our preaching will be strong and supported by the Scripture. If our pulpit grows weak, we’ll all grow weak. If we can keep our pulpit strong, we have a better chance of growing stronger. We’re going to be doing some things to work with the teachers of the congregation to elevate the strength of our teaching, both in subject and delivery. We must have solid, Bible-based teaching that does the job for us.
It’s with these concerns in mind that I want to share with you some Bible thoughts about the simple subject of CORRECTION. Remember our motive is to help every soul of Fossil Creek achieve heaven.
Our congregation must serve like a lighthouse to the members. We want to warn, direct and assist every member so we can all arrive safely on shore. With all these things in mind, we embark on the subject of correction.
People don’t like to be criticized or corrected, but the value of correction is very plainly taught in the Bible. Sometimes people do things that require correction. Sometimes we need help to get back on track toward being what God wants us to be. For that reason, I hope you’ll give careful consideration to the role that correction can play in helping you reach heaven!
As kids we needed the guidance and correction of our parents. It wasn’t fun and few (if any of us) bought the idea that those whippings hurt them as much as it hurt us. What kid ever bought that line?
When we grew older and had kids of our own we understood it much clearer. It does pain us to have to use corrective discipline on our kids, but we know that we must – IF we love them. The failure to correct them will result in having unruly and undisciplined children who won’t obey us. And if they refuse to obey us, what chance do you think we’ve got of helping them obey God?
Consider correction as God sees it.
A general definition of correction is to remove the errors of mistakes from something. It means to adjust and meet a standard. It always involves the idea of making something right or improving something.
In the Bible you’ll find some words that are closely related to correction.
1. Admonish – means to warn, to point out something that was forgotten or disregarded. For example, 2 Thessalonians 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
2. Reprove – means to blame for a fault. Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
3. Rebuke – means to criticize sharply, to reprimand. Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
4. Exhort – means to urge by strong argument, to admonish earnestly. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
What provokes correction?
Self-examination sometimes causes correction.
Sometimes we know our shortcomings better than anybody else. During moments of quiet reflection we’re able to give ourselves good advice, if we’re honest with ourself.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
The Word of God causes correction. Of course, all godly correction is based on the Scriptures.
We believe the Scriptures are infallible and unbiased. We believe it’s the inspired Word of God.
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; And the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
2 Timothy 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.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Other people can also cause correction to take place.
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
The Church has good people who can give us advice and help correct our path according to the gospel. We’ve got family, friends, elders and many people in our life that can help us when we get off course.
Ultimately, God is the primary cause for correction in the life of every Christian. God desires our salvation. That’s why we suffer His instruction and correction.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Our text reading comes into play once again to help make the point that God causes correction for His people…
Proverbs 3:11, 12 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof: For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Who is responsible for giving correction?
Let’s start in the home and consider the role that parents serve. God created the home to be a correctional institution of sorts. The role and function of the home is to correct and provide godly discipline so the members of that home will be what God wants.
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13, 14 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Proverbs 29:15, 17 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame…Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Let me add here that fathers and mothers can both provoke kids to anger when they FAIL to correct them. Have you ever seen a child get mad at a parent who wasn’t stern enough to drive home the correction? We’ve all seen that. A mother or dad mildly and meekly tells the child to stop and the child completely ignores that instruction. Folks, sometimes you must drive home the point that YOU’RE going to have the behavior you want. Parents, if you fail to demand the behavior you want, then blame yourself – not the child.
Generally speaking, older people bear a responsibility to correct. Now it doesn’t always hold true that with age comes wisdom. We hope that’s the case, but there are some older foolish people in the world. However, the principles of age, wisdom and experience are not lost on God’s people. The saint who maintains steadfast to the Truth should be wise enough, experienced enough and tactful enough to be able to give correction to those who might be less experienced.
Titus 2:1-5 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
The elders in the church also bear a responsibility to correct. This is clearly taught in Titus 1:9-11 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.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Evangelists also have an obligation to correct. Preachers of the gospel must be able and responsible to instruct others in the Truth. Often that involves correcting error.
2 Timothy 4:2-5 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Titus 1:13, 14 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.
Every Christian owes it to others to provide correction when necessary.
Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
Romans 15:14 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.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
As you can see all of us have the responsibility of correction because all of us assume various roles in life. The scriptures teach us that we don’t live to ourselves. We have an impact on others.
Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
Why is correction valuable?
According to the Bible correction helps give us a good life and happiness.
Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Without correction we cannot become what God wants. We’ll wander aimlessly if we don’t ever get correction. All of us have the responsibility to be what God wants.
2 Timothy 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.
Hebrews 12:9-11 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
What should be our attitude toward correction? This may be the most important question because it’s very possible for our reaction to be wrong.
First of all, what should be our reaction when we’re giving correction?
We know that love has to be the motivator for Christian correction. We want souls to be saved. Our love for the souls of men has to motivate us to help change them so they’ll comply with what God wants.
Hebrews 12:5, 6 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
That’s the example that we should follow. The Lord loves us and corrects us based on love. We should do the same whenever we correct others.
Nobody who corrects scripturally should desire to hurt, but rather to help. The whole point of correction is so that we can help somebody live better, be stronger and find heaven.
We pray for wisdom, because wisdom is exactly what we need so we’ll know how to correct and when. Let’s face it – there are times when we all need to mind our own business. We’re not talking about meddling where we don’t belong or meddling when we don’t belong. We’re talking about a correction that SAVES SOULS. This is a correction that is at all times appropriate.
1 Timothy 5:1, 13 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;…And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
Proverbs 9:7, 8 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.
Correction should be done gently and with humility according to 2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Some correction must be powerful while other correction can be softly spoken. Even so, correction can be made without gendering strife.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
No wise person gives correction without thinking of himself and the possibility that he could be led astray or fall into temptation, too.
Anybody who corrects or attempts correction must be aware that we may not always be appreciated for it. It’s doubtful that we’ll suffer anything as severe as John experienced, but it does prove the point.
Luke 3:19, 20 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
Our correction must be fair without double standards.
Matthew 7:1-5 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
What about when correction is aimed toward us? What should our attitude be? This is clearly a more difficult circumstance.
The child of God should not resent it. Admittedly, this might require some work on our part, but we should welcome the correction understanding that heaven is at stake.
John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Saints have to be grateful for correction that can save them from a devil’s hell.
1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
True saints not only appreciate correction, but they look for it. We should have a desire to keep people around us who will tell us the truth, who can influence us for good and who will gladly help correct us when we need it.
Honest and realistic should also describe our attitude toward correction when we’re on the getting end. Strong and growing people readily admit when correction needs to occur in their life. We need to make up our mind to welcome the opportunity to learn, grow and overcome the problems that might keep us out of heaven.
The contrasting reaction is for us to become defensive and dig in. We’ll never grow if we take that attitude. Rather, we want to apply the correction we get so we can get better and stronger.
Have you ever gotten some good advice from somebody who doesn’t always live up to it himself? Sure, we all have. Like that splinter and plank talked about in Matthew 7, we don’t want to be hypocritical in our correction, but there may be times when the correction we’re getting is very good ~ even if it does come from a source that is less than perfect in living by that same correction. Smart people will look at the value of the correction itself and use it for their own good. After all, good advice is good advice no matter who gives it.
Matthew 23:2, 3 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
The wise man and the foolish man respond very differently to correction.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The wise man is teachable. He wants instruction and correction so he can improve his life to God.
Proverbs 9:9, 10 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Foolish people reject correction. They don’t care who gives it, how it’s given or whether it’s valuable or not. They simply don’t want to hear it because they’ve got their mind made up that they don’t need it.
Proverbs 29:19 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
Proverbs 15:12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
Anybody who refuses correction is flirting with disaster. All of us suffer the consequences of that refusal…sooner or later.
Proverbs 13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
We want to be people who REGARD correction – people who value correction.
It’s important for every Christian to be teachable.
Proverbs 25:12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
In conclusion, correction contributes to our improvement. It benefits us and we should welcome it, not avoid it. We should surround ourselves with good people, God’s people. We should associate with fellow Christians who can help us by having the same goal of heaven that we have. Most of all, we want people to give us correction that is based on God’s Word because we all know that His Word is what can save us.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Repentance is something we all have to be constantly doing. It requires a strong willingness on our part to make positive changes in our life so we can constantly comply more and more with what God wants ~ while we work to get our own will in alignment with God’s Will. In short, it’s our willingness to obey God by making the changes that are necessary so we can stand justified in God’s sight.
Ezekiel 18:23, 30, 32 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?…Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin…For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
This article was adapted from a sermon delivered at Fossil Creek on Sunday, September 22, 2002.
