These are two disciplines that churches are horrible at. I don't even think we are a little good at them, we simply do not practice either of them. They are actually two elements that I think make Christianity appealing, yet we fail to implement them to our own detriment. Let us look to the text:
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him (verses 3-4)."
Jesus is telling us that when a friend (he uses 'brother' but this means more than biological) sins we should do our best to correct that person. To rebuke means 'to speak severely to someone because they have done wrong.'1 It is interesting that it says, 'severely.' I think this shows the nature of correction. It actually takes harsh words sometimes to bring us back from our sinful ways. If someone simply gently points out a fault it is rather easy to justify or dismiss your behavior. But, if someone comes to you and rebukes you, meaning they speak in a tone and demeanor that shows that if you continue in your sinful ways you will die, then we might actually take it seriously and repent. We need to make a habit of rebuking each other to make us more Christlike. It is a lost discipline that I wish was practised on me more often. I can think back on several follies that could have easily been avoided had a discerning Christian friend pointed out my fault. And, I think the lack of rebuking comes down to courage. We are actually a bunch of chickens. We don't want to say the hard stuff for fear of how it will go. But let me remind you of the Lord's words to Ezekiel in Chapter 3 of the book of Ezekiel, "If you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood." That should me a motivational trump card. For every time Satan convinces you not to have a hard conversation for the preservation of a friendship, or for your desire of comfort, or for the fact that you are not in a position to rebuke others, let the words of the Lord ring in your ear. That persons blood will be on your hands. You will be guilty for keeping your mouth shut. So, let us make a practise of correcting one another.
The second element of this text is forgiveness. I think we are better at this than rebuking. But, I still think we have a long ways to go. Think this morning of anyone that you are harboring bitterness towards. Is there any un-forgiveness in your heart today. Because Jesus says that even if a person is harmful seven times in ONE day that you should forgive them when they repent. Be careful reading too much into this text. In fact I can feel the workings of the Enemy justifying right now, "yeah but it says if they repent... I don't have to forgive if they don't repent." That is a dangerous place to be my friend. If you are justifying bitterness this morning than please take it to the cross. I am not going to be an arbiter between you and your enemy this morning by telling you that you have to forgive or that it is ok to be upset if they will not repent. Simply take it to the cross. Wrestle with God today. Don't allow your reasoning to justify your actions. Sit quietly at the foot of the cross and let Him speak. Let the one that was willing to forgive his captors, mockers, and torturers by saying, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do," speak to your situation.
When we learn these two practices well the church flourishes. Sin is dealt with and grace abounds. Then unbelievers will look to the church and say, 'that is a beautiful thing. Oh, how I would love to be a part of that!'
1Modern Language Association (MLA):
"rebuke." Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary. K Dictionaries Ltd. 05 Jun. 2008. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rebuke
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