Open a Can of Rebuke

(Proverbs 27:5 KJV)  Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Two unfortunate realities are expressed here.  It would seem that both are common to the nature of man, not just modern culture.  The first is that we are afraid to express honest correction to those who are in error.

Too often we are afraid to express “open” (1540) “rebuke” (8433b).  Think about it.  What has become the most frequently quoted scripture of the 21st century?  “Judge not...”  Actually it is a fragment of a scripture and just as we cannot build a Bible from a fragment of Dead Sea Scroll, we cannot build a life of righteousness on an isolated scrap of the Sermon on thee Mount. 

One of the responsibilities we have as members of the body of Christ is correction of the brethren.  It is often ignored, frequently misused and subject to abuse.  It is also commanded.

So?  Don’t go around looking for people to correct but be aware that there are times when one believer must help another stay on track.