The Lord’s servant must not be a man of strife: he must be kind to all, ready and able to teach, he must have patience, and the ability gently to correct those who oppose his message. He must always bear in mind the possibility that God will give them a different outlook, and that they may come to know the truth. They may come to their senses and be rescued from the power of the devil by the servant of the Lord and set to work for God’s purposes.

2 Timothy 2:25-26 (Phillips)

 

The Apostle Paul was concerned about false teachings and heresies spreading throughout the church. He wrote numerous letters to various Christian communities, warning them that embracing these dubious doctrines could lead to selfish pride and immoral behaviour. This is why he told Timothy to “correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Being correct is not enough; we must correct with love and discipline with gentleness.

Today, many self-proclaimed theological experts and self-appointed heresy hunters have taken to the media to herald their latest exposé of another alleged bogus preacher. In most cases, they are personal attacks rather than constructive criticism or discussion of the issues at hand. Their approach has the potential to hurt our witness to the gospel and divide the body of believers.

While protecting and defending the truth is every Christian's duty and responsibility, we must avoid seeking controversy and starting an argument without good reason. We must confront or address the issue at hand, if necessary, but only with much patience and pastoral sensitivity. According to Paul, we are to teach those who hold erroneous and even false beliefs the truth so that they can be warned and given the opportunity to repent. In doing so, we are denying the devil any place to ruin our unity and love for each other.