What Is ONENESS Theology—aka “JESUS ONLY”—and Is It Biblical?
There are variations of Oneness theology, but it comes down to the idea that the LORD is one singular person and thus manifests as Father, Son or Holy Spirit. This belief is unitarian and opposes the tri-unity of God. More specifically, Oneness theology advocates that Jesus is the one true God and can manifest as the Father or the Holy Spirit. Put another way, the LORD manifests as one person in three different ways or modes, but God does not consist of Father, Son & Holy Spirit at the same time, that is, distinct and coexisting persons in the divine nature. This belief is called modalism in theology and is a popular doctrine with Oneness Pentecostals, also known as “Apostolic” and “Jesus Only.”
With any biblical topic it’s important to look at all the relevant passages. We must be careful not to draw a conclusion based on certain passages at the expense of other pertinent ones. Obviously, the more overt and detailed verses on a topic take precedence over the more sketchy and ambiguous ones, not to mention they expand our understanding of them. But its error to ignore or “write off” clear passages on a subject. (For details on common sense Bible interpretation go here).
We know that God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6,18), but the Scriptures reveal that Father, Son & Holy Spirit are included in this divine oneness. This is why the LORD spoke of himself in the plural in the opening chapters of the Bible (Genesis 1:26 & 3:22, not to mention 11:7).
Christ said “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) (see also John 14:9, 8:19 & 12:45), but he also clearly revealed that they are distinct (John 5:19-27 & 15:10). The distinction of Father, Son & Holy Spirit can plainly be observed in this passage:
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:16-17
Something similar happened when the Messiah took Peter, James and John up a high mountain and was amazingly transfigured before them. Notice what Father God says to the three disciples as Peter started babbling:
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Here’s yet another passage in which the Father speaks from Heaven in reference to the Son:
27“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
John 12:27-28
All of these verses disprove Oneness theology. If the plain sense makes sense — and is in harmony with the rest of Scripture — don’t look for any other sense lest you end up with nonsense.
The Son Prayed to the Father
Furthermore, Christ prayed to the Father throughout the Gospel accounts, as shown in Matthew 11:25-26, John 11:41-42 and John 17. For those who argue that he did this merely as a pretense to set an example for believers, this would mean that Jesus was just putting on an act whenever he prayed, which is what hypocrisy is (the Greek word for ‘hypocrite’ literally means “actor”).
Secondly, Yeshua was often ALONE when he prayed, as observed in Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:23 and Luke 22:39-42. Needless to say, you can’t very well “set the example” for someone else when you’re alone with the Heavenly Father. Those who embrace Oneness theology would argue that Christ was setting an example for readers of these biblical accounts in centuries to come but, if this is so, 1. Jesus’ communion with the Father would be fake since he wasn’t literally praying to the Father in Heaven while alone on Earth and 2. there’s zero indication in these texts that the Son & Father’s communion wasn’t real and merely an example for readers of the Scriptures in centuries to come.
Look up any of these passages and you’ll notice that none of them say anything whatsoever about Jesus’ prayers being phony and merely a pretense to set an example for believers. I repeat: If the plain sense makes sense don’t look for any other sense lest you end up with nonsense.
The Father and Son Conversing in the Old Testament
When Christ prayed in the New Testament he was conversing with the Father (remember, prayer is communion with God). The Son and the Father can also be seen conversing in the Old Testament:
So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 16 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
2 Samuel 24:15-16
The Angel of the LORD is the pre-incarnate Christ and both the Father and Son are the LORD — aka YHWH, Yahweh.
Thus when the LORD talks to The Angel of the LORD as a separate person on this occasion, it is evidence of what theologians call “Father or the Holy Spirit”: Father God instructed the Son to withhold his hand from destroying the capital city and the Son complied. This is in harmony with what Jesus testified — He only does what the Father commands (John 8:29 & 15:10).
This isn’t something peculiar to 2 Samuel 24:16 as we observe the same thing in other passages, like this one:
Then the angel of the LORD said, “LORD Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” 13 So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
Zechariah 1:12-13
This passage shows that both “the angel of the LORD” and Father God were present at the same time. Since we know Christ is The Angel of the LORD this text is simply depicting two persons of the Father or the Holy Spirit talking to each other. This explains why God refers to Himself in the plural in the creation account, as noted earlier:
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…”
Genesis 1:26
And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”
Genesis 3:22
Again, this plurality doesn’t suggest the false notion of polytheism because the Scriptures stress that the LORD is one (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6,18). It simply denotes one God in three persons: Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Addressing the Main Argument for Oneness Theology
Let’s consider the main argument of those who embrace Oneness theology (or lean toward it):
‘Christ instructed his disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). However whenever the apostles applied this directive they always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (e.g. Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48 & 19:5).
Were these disciples disobedient or did they do exactly what Christ instructed?
Jesus commanded to baptize in the name (not names) of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Is Father, Son and Holy Ghost a name? Or are they titles?
If they are titles then when Jesus says to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, doesn’t this plainly mean that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost ALL have ONE name?
And what is this name?’
The Father, Son & Holy Spirit do share a name and that is the LORD, which is YHWH, transliterated from the Hebrew, and pronounced Yahweh (YAH-way) (or YAH-hoo-way for devout Hebrews). This is the name of God, known as the Tetragrammaton, which appears in English Bibles whenever you see the word “LORD” (all capitals). You can read details here.
As for the name ‘Jesus’ (or Yeshua in Hebrew), this was the name the angel Gabriel gave to Mary to call her miraculous God-given son, as shown in Luke 1:31. This name was specifically given because ‘Jesus’ is the transliteration of a Hebrew term meaning “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” So ‘Jesus’ is the God-given proper name for the Son when he manifested in the physical realm while ‘Christ’ — aka “Anointed One” — is his title, signifying that Jesus was sent from God as humanity’s King and Deliverer, our “salvation” and, hence, our Savior.
However, the Son existed prior to his incarnation and before he was known as Jesus (Yeshua), as clearly shown here:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:1-3
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23
This explains the careful phrasing of this verse:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
The human Christ was born, but the eternal Son was given because the Son already existed from eternity.
Whilst Father/Son/Holy Spirit are the LORD, Yahweh — and therefore “share” that name — only the Son has the name Jesus (or Yeshua in Hebrew) and the title Christ or Messiah, aka “Anointed One,” not to mention Immanuel, “God with us.” Remember, ‘Jesus’ literally means “the LORD is salvation.”
‘But why did the apostles baptize in the name of Jesus if the Messiah instructed us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?’
Before the Lord ascended he instructed believers:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19
This is the method for baptizing believers in water. So why do we see so many instances in the New Testament where people were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ without mentioning the Father or Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48 & 19:5)?
The answer is simple: The phrase “in the name of” is one-and-the-same as “in the authority of.” This can be observed in this passage, which takes place after the miraculous healing of a crippled beggar:
They [the Hebrew rulers, elders & teachers of the Law] had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
Acts 4:7-10
The Hebrews asked, “by what power or what name did you do this?” Peter replies that it was by the name of Jesus Christ that they healed people. In other words, “in the name of Jesus Christ” meant by the power and authority in Jesus Christ. This can be observed in several New Testament passages:
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Acts 3:6
She [a girl who had an evil spirit] kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
Acts 16:18
So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 5:4-5
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
The phrase “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” and its variations are synonymous to “in the authority of Jesus Christ.” Thus when a new believer is water baptized in the name of Jesus, they are baptized by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. While the Father, Son & Holy Spirit are one in the sense that they are all three the LORD — that is, Yahweh — they are not indistinguishable. Human salvation is focused on the Son, which is why the most popular verse of the Bible says:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
First, notice that Father God and the Son are distinguished. Secondly, note that it’s necessary to believe in the Son to receive eternal life. While both the Father and the Holy Spirit are the LORD, Yahweh, it’s necessary to believe in the Son to receive redemption & eternal life. Why? Because he is the part of God — or person of God — that died for our sins and was raised to life for our justification (Romans 4:25, 5:8, 5:10; 1 John 4:10; Revelation 1:18).
Thus God, the Father, gave the Son the name that is above all names, Lord Jesus Christ:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:5-11
Observe, incidentally, that verse 11 refers to the LORD as “God the Father,” as opposed to “the Son” in John 3:16 (cited above). Furthermore, verses 5-6 say that Christ is God and equal with God. In other words, both Father and Son are equally the LORD, Yahweh, which corresponds to the afore-noted John 1:1-3.
But the Holy Spirit is the LORD too, as observed in the afore-cited Matthew 3:16-17 (and Mark 1:10–11), as well as the fact that Peter said Ananias “lied to the Holy Spirit” followed by “You have not lied just to human beings but to God” (Acts 5:3-4). Bear in mind that Christ plainly distinguished the Spirit from both the Father and Himself (John 16:7). For those who argue that the Holy Ghost is merely the “force of God” and not a person, the Spirit is referenced with personalized pronouns (John 16:13), has a will (1 Corinthians 12:4-7), an intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10-13), personally guides/directs (John 16:13; Acts 16:6), speaks (Acts 13:2) and can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). Hence, the Holy Spirit is not merely a force, but a divine person, coequal with the Father and Son.
Whilst Father/Son/Holy Spirit are equally the LORD, Yahweh, there is subordination in an economical or relational sense. For instance, the Scriptures very clearly show that the Father is the head over the Son and this is explicitly stated (1 Corinthians 11:3 & 15:27-28). While the Father and Son are equal in being, the Son is subordinate to the Father in function or relationship. Hence, Jesus would never contradict the Father; in fact, he can’t contradict the Father because, as he said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) (see also John 14:9, 8:19 & 12:45).
This all ties into the point of this section: When Christ instructed that we are to baptize believers “in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” he meant in the authority or power of the LORD — Father/Son/Holy Spirit. And since the Son, Jesus Christ, is the obvious focal point of human salvation (remember, Jesus’ very name means “Yahweh is salvation”) the apostles baptized believers in the name of — the authority of — our Lord Jesus Christ.
Obviously baptizing believers in the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit and baptizing them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ are acceptable when performing this ordinance.
I’m sure you’re seeing how Oneness theology is unscriptural. But this doctrine creates other glaring problems…
In Oneness theology God is currently the Holy Spirit on Earth, which would mean that the Father is not in Heaven. If this is so, who are we praying to?
Christ instructed that we are to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus (Matthew 6:9-13; John 14:13-14, 15:16 & John 16:23-24), but in Oneness theology God is currently the Holy Spirit on Earth, which would mean that the Father isn’t in Heaven and the Son isn’t at his right hand interceding for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1). This begs the question: Who are we praying to?
It’s clear in these passages that the Father is on the throne in Heaven with the Son at the Father’s right hand, interceding for us as our Advocate. Meanwhile the Holy Spirit is on Earth indwelling spiritually-regenerated believers and guiding them into all truth, amongst other things (John 14:16-17, 14:26, 15:26 & John 16:7-8). In other words, the LORD, Yahweh, is indeed one, but is not functioning as one of these three; rather the LORD functions as all three due to the tri-unity of Yahweh — Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
Other Arguments by Those Who Question the Tri-Unity of God
It was pointed out earlier that the LORD spoke of himself in the plural in the opening chapters of the Bible (Genesis 1:26 & 3:22, not to mention 11:7). Someone wrote me by first citing this passage:
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.Genesis 1:26-27
The man followed-up with this understandable question:
‘In one verse it says “our image.” In the next verse it says “His image.” Which is it — Our or His?’
The answer is both, as explained earlier: The Scriptures teach that the LORD, Yahweh, is one (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6,18), but other clear passages denote one God in three persons: Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). You can read clear details about the tri-unity of the LORD here.
This is an example of what theologians call “truths in tension,” which refer to two biblical truths that seemingly contradict and, yet, are both true. In the case of God’s oneness on the one hand and tri-unity on the other, these truths are paradoxical, but they’re not contradictory and actually balance each other out. How can we explain this paradox? Think about it in terms of the clover, which is one small plant, but consists of three petals; or the human being, which is one being, but consists of spirit, mind and body.
The man then cited a couple other passages:
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
Revelation 4:2-3
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
Revelation 5:6-7
Followed by this comment:
‘If Jesus sits on the right hand of God why does John only see ONE throne with ONE Person on the Throne and in the MIDST of the throne we see Jesus stand up and take the book out of the hand of Him that sat upon the throne. We see also that Jesus has the spirit of God symbolized as eyes and horns which are a part of and not external to Him.
How would you explain this scripturally?
This is why I said God is not three persons like stated in the Trinity.’
These verses establish the tri-unity of the LORD: Father God is on the throne while the “Lamb” refers to the lamb that was slain, the Son, Jesus Christ. This reflects what was established earlier: The Heavenly Father is on the throne in Heaven with the Son at his right hand interceding for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1). Just because Christ is at the Father’s right hand doesn’t mean he can’t get up and walk in the midst of the throne from time to time. Meanwhile the Holy Spirit is represented by “the seven spirits of God sent out into all the Earth.” The number 7 is figurative of completeness, so John — by the Spirit — is simply identifying the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Revelation 4:5, 5:6; Zechariah 4:1-10). The book of Revelation is full of symbolic language and that’s the case here.
‘We see also that Jesus has the spirit of God symbolized as eyes and horns which are a part of and not external to Him.’
That’s because the Lamb (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit are one just as the Father and Son are one (John 10:30), which explains why the Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of Christ in Scripture (Romans 8:9). As far as the Holy Spirit not being external to Christ, the text plainly says that “the seven spirits of God” — aka the Holy Spirit — was “sent out into all the earth” while the Lamb was in Heaven in the center of the throne of the Father. So the Spirit is one with the Lamb, but also external to the Lamb.
This man concluded with this point:
‘God is not three persons like stated in the doctrine of the Trinity and neither is He “Jesus Only” as the Oneness people believe.
The truth according to the Scriptures lies somewhere in between these two extreme views of the Godhead.’
This presumes that those who embrace the tri-unity of God deny the oneness of God, which simply isn’t true (as explained above). Again, the fact that the LORD, Yahweh, is one consisting of Father/Son/Holy Spirit is an example of “truths in tension”; it’s a paradox, but not contradictory. They balance each other out. Please remove from your thinking that those who embrace what theologians call the Trinity are opposed to the Oneness of God. They’re not.
If all of this is clear in the Scriptures, why do some believers staunchly embrace Oneness theology?
Answer: Because of an unbalanced approach in their scriptural studies, as well as the social pressure of sectarianism.
Regarding an unbalanced approach to theology, anytime someone ignores or plays down clear, relevant passages on a subject they’re violating the hermeneutical rule of Scripture interprets Scripture and thus they inevitably wind up with error, even if it’s partial error. Error by its nature cannot set people free (John 8:31-32); on the contrary, it will put you into religious bondage. For more on common sense Bible interpretation, go here.
But why would anyone ignore or play down plain, explanatory verses on a topic? Usually because of rigid sectarianism. This is faction-ism wherein believers get stuck in a particular sect and refuse to think outside of the box of the indoctrination thereof, regardless of what the Scriptures clearly teach on the topic in question. In other words, their loyalty is to their sect/assembly/pastor to the point that it overrides clear and balanced biblical teaching, which isn’t healthy. It’s a myopic mentality that tends to hinder the apprehension of truth — and therefore freedom — but also fosters spiritual dependence & immaturity. You can read details here.
Closing Word
While Oneness theology & its various interpretations (e.g. “Jesus only”) is a false doctrine, I have no doubt that sincere believers who embrace this belief are genuinely saved and therefore brother & sisters in the LORD. After all, you don’t have to properly understand someone’s nature in order to have a relationship with him/her. For instance, does a person have to properly grasp my physical/mental/spiritual make-up to have close fellowship with me? Of course not. Just the same, you don’t have to have a perfect understanding of the Creator’s nature to have a genuine relationship.
T.D. Jakes is a good example of a genuine minister of God who embraced Oneness theology for decades, but came to see the scriptural truth of the tri-unity of God and publicly acknowledged it in January, 2012. Does this mean he didn’t really know the LORD before that or that he wasn’t a true believer? Obviously not.
Nevertheless, Oneness theology is a false doctrine and cannot be condoned. Once a believer who adheres to this doctrine sees the truth God expects him/her to change their mind accordingly, whatever the consequences, including persecution from staunch Unitarians or getting kicked out of a Oneness group.
Related Topics:
“BE MERCIFUL, Just as Your Father Is Merciful”
What did Christ mean when he said “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful? Let’s read the full quote:
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Luke 6:35-36
The Lord was stressing here that, if we do good to our enemies and show them mercy we are being “sons (or daughters) of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” In other words, he’s encouraging us to imitate our heavenly Father, which is a scriptural principle (Ephesians 5:1 & 1 Peter 4:11). Since our Father in Heaven is kind and merciful to thankless evildoers we should extend them the same grace.
This is an awesome general principle to live by, but it shouldn’t be mistaken to mean that we’re obligated to perpetually offer sweetness and mercy to wicked ingrates who repeatedly spit on our genuine efforts of goodwill and peace. After all, God showed Herod Agrippa much patience and mercy even though he was a pompous persecutor of the Church, but when he imprisoned Peter and put James to death, as shown in Acts 12:1-5, Herod’s days were numbered and he was dangerously nearing the limit of the LORD’s tolerance (1 Thessalonians 2:15-16). When Herod arrogantly accepted praise that’s only due the Most High at a political speech he was swiftly wiped off the face of the earth by “an angel of the Lord” (Acts 12:23).
What should we make of this? God showed this wicked unbeliever much patience and mercy, but when Herod foolishly chose to spurn his awesome grace, time after time, the Sovereign Lord withdrew his mercy and decisively executed stern judgment. This occurred in the New Testament era and this is our heavenly Father whom the Messiah said we should emulate. Chew on that.
Christ himself acted the same way when he walked the earth. He prayerfully and patiently extended mercy and peace to his unbelieving enemies, avoiding conflict at first, but when they refused to yield to God’s grace and repeatedly responded with murderous antagonism and unrepentant legalism he radically rebuked them to their faces (Luke 11:37-40 & Matthew 23:13-33), not to mention fearsome deeds, like clearing the temple of greedy fools (John 2:13-17 & Mark 11:15-18).
Or how about the occasion where Paul openly confronted Elymas the sorcerer? He “looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?’ ” (Acts 13:8-12). The passage clearly states that Paul was “filled with the Spirit” when he said this, not filled with the flesh. But there’s more: The apostle also pronounced the Lord’s judgment in the form of temporary blindness (!), obviously in the hope that the sorcerer would be humbled and wisely repent (verses 9 & 11).
In light of Paul’s instructions in 1 Timothy 2:1-3, he no doubt researched the areas he was assigned to minister, in this case Cyprus, and subsequently bathed the peoples in prayer, which would include the proconsul and Elymas, the latter of whom was a celebrity of sorts. This is what I always do before I minister at a location. Hence, before even meeting the people of Cyprus the apostle prayed for them and blessed them, including the well-known magician.
My point is that Paul extended love and peace to this man before even meeting him, but when the fool responded with persistent stubborn antagonism, trying to steer people away from God and the gospel, the apostle reacted in a decisively stern manner, led of the Spirit. I think we can all agree that Paul wasn’t Mr. Christian Nice Guy on this occasion.
So, yes, by all means “love your enemies” and “be merciful as your Father is merciful.” Repeat as necessary. This should always be our initial response to unbelieving opposition. But this doesn’t ludicrously mean we’re bound to perpetual sugary sweetness. Ministers who advocate this aren’t being balanced with the Scriptures; either that or they simply don’t know how to read.
When some fool repeatedly spits on your gracious attempts of goodwill and peace you’ll feel righteous anger stir up within you; obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit and act boldly and decisively, just like Christ and Paul did, not to mention Peter (Acts 8:18-24). You’re being a faithful Christian when you do this. In fact, you’re emulating God Himself. Don’t let any misguided religionist convince you otherwise.
Related Topics:
Handling Personal Offenses vs. Handling Criminal Acts
Turning the Cheek — What it Means and Doesn’t Mean
What Does “GO THE EXTRA MILE” Mean?
“If Someone Takes Your Cloak, Do Not Stop Him From Taking Your Tunic”
Judging—When SHOULD You Judge and When SHOULDN’T You Judge?
Forgiveness—Should You Forgive EVERYONE for EVERYTHING ALL of the Time?
Absolute Pacifism (Unbiblical) vs. Limited Pacifism (Biblical)
Jesus Christ — Milksop or Mighty Lord?
“If Someone TAKES YOUR CLOAK, Do Not Stop Him From Taking Your Tunic”
What did Christ mean by this instruction:
“If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.”
Luke 6:29-30
Years ago there was a woman at my (then) place of employment who would leave her purse lying around. Sometimes money could be seen at the opening, usually just dollar bills. I informed her that she shouldn’t leave bills hanging out for all to see and she shrugged, “If someone takes it they need it more than I do.” She wasn’t even a Christian, but this is the general idea the Lord was conveying here.
I am reminded of the many times over the years my wife and I allowed people to borrow books, cds, dvds, apparel & tools and never getting them back; we usually conclude, “They must need it more than we do” and let it go. (And, no, I’m not saying you shouldn’t get your stuff back from borrowers, particularly expensive items). Here’s how Messiah put it in Matthew’s gospel:
“And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well… 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Matthew 5:40,42
Back in those days there wasn’t a Walmart or Goodwill nearby to purchase inexpensive clothing; decent apparel was worth more, which explains why Jesus’ executioners cast lots for his soiled garments (John 19:23-24). This helps make sense of Christ’s statement: “if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic…” If people are in such dire need that they’ll resort to legal measures to acquire clothing, give them another item as well; that is, as long as it’s within your power to do so. After all, there’s a limit to how much you can give.
A minister was serving in Haiti years ago and he noticed some needy people while going back to the mission compound. He gave away his shoes, shirt, tank top and socks. All he had left were his shorts and that’s as far as he would go, otherwise he’d have to streak naked to the compound! He had more clothes back with his luggage, of course, which is why he was able and willing to give away everything but his shorts.
Yet, I believe Christ’s teaching goes deeper than this. The Lord was advocating being in control of the situation: If a man takes your jacket he’s in control, but if you respond by willingly giving him something else you are in control. You just usurped control of the situation. We could put it like this: Don’t be a passive victim and don’t be a rash brawler; but be assertive and led of the Spirit. Maintain an attitude of love, wisdom and self-control in all circumstances, just like the Messiah.
I think it’s also important to stress that Jesus was referring more to people in genuine need rather than hardcore thieves, which is substantiated by verse 42: “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” The motive for giving on such occasions is generosity and compassion. You sympathize with the person’s needy situation just as you would want others to sympathize with you if it were your plight. This is the golden rule or “royal law” noted in Matthew 7:12 and James 2:8.
Yet there’s a huge difference between needy people wanting to borrow from you — or taking things and never giving them back — and hardcore criminals who routinely commit crimes, whether stealing, murder or otherwise. The latter should not be tolerated.
For instance, why did some of Yeshua’s disciples have swords in their possession as shown in Luke 22:49-50? They had ministered with Christ for over three years by this point, which indicates they carried swords because Jesus permitted it. Why did he permit it? Because they traveled with a money box that contained all their ministry earnings as they journeyed from town to town. The swords were obviously for protection from potential thieves, particularly in the many desolate regions they had to travel.
Furthermore, if the Lord meant we should be doormats to every thug that comes down the pike why did he note the obvious right of protecting oneself from criminals in Matthew 24:43 and Luke 12:39? Why did he radically chase the “robbers” from the temple twice during his three-and-a-half-year ministry, as depicted in John 2:13-17 and Mark 11:15-18? Why did he refuse to allow murderers to apprehend and kill him on multiple occasions, as illustrated in Luke 4:28-30, John 7:30,44, 8:59 and 10:31,39?
The only time Christ submitted his life to the hands of people with ill-intent was when he was arrested in Gethsemane because it was God’s will for him to suffer and die for the salvation of humanity. It goes without saying that we have to be balanced with Jesus’ teachings and his example in the Bible, otherwise we’ll fall into error and embrace ideas he never actually taught.
Related Topics:
What Does “GO THE EXTRA MILE” Mean?
Handling Personal Offenses vs. Handling Criminal Acts
Turning the Cheek — What it Means and Doesn’t Mean
Turning the Cheek — What it Means and Doesn’t Mean
Judging—When SHOULD You Judge and When SHOULDN’T You Judge?
Forgiveness—Should You Forgive EVERYONE for EVERYTHING ALL of the Time?
Absolute Pacifism (Unbiblical) vs. Limited Pacifism (Biblical)
Jesus Christ — Milksop or Mighty Lord?
What Does GO THE EXTRA MILE Mean?
Christ instructed believers:
“If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”
Matthew 5:41
What did the Lord mean by this?
At that time, the Holy Land was under Roman control and Roman soldiers, who walked everywhere, were permitted by law to enlist non-citizens to carry their packs or equipment, but the limit was one Roman mile, which is close to the length of a contemporary mile. So why did Jesus encourage his disciples to go an extra mile carrying the gear of enemy occupiers? The Messiah was teaching how to maintain control in an unjust world filled with people who will take advantage of others if it’s within their power to do so. When a Roman soldier forced a man to carry his equipment for a mile he was in control, yet if the victim willingly insisted on going another mile he would be in control, not to mention he would be ‘doing good to his enemy’ (Luke 6:27).
If you find yourself in a situation where you’re being taken advantage of and the perpetrators can get away with it due to position or perhaps the law or hierarchy backs them up, consider how to “go the extra mile” and consequently usurp control of the situation. This links to the principle of overcoming evil with good (Romans 12:21). Sometimes in an ungodly world we can’t stop such abuses from happening, but we can choose not to be victims; we can assume mastery of the situation in a way that slyly stumps the perpetrators. Didn’t Christ say “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves”? (See Matthew 10:16). And, who knows? You might just leave a life-changing impression.
But we don’t have to get so deep as the principle works on a very basic level: When someone in authority tells you to do something, simply do more than expected. You’ll be blessed. It’s “the law of the second mile.”
I should add that this data should not be misinterpreted to mean that believers are to be passive ‘doormats’ to abuse or crimes. See this article for scriptural instructions on how to handle offenses, whether personal offenses or criminal attacks.
Related Topics:
“If Someone TAKES YOUR CLOAK, Do Not Stop Him From Taking Your Tunic”
Turning the Cheek — What it Means and Doesn’t Mean
Judging—When SHOULD You Judge and When SHOULDN’T You Judge?
Forgiveness—Should You Forgive EVERYONE for EVERYTHING ALL of the Time?
Absolute Pacifism (Unbiblical) vs. Limited Pacifism (Biblical)
Jesus Christ — Milksop or Mighty Lord?
Was Jesus Christ HOMELESS?
Christ was a carpenter up until the age of 30 and his erstwhile neighbors in Nazareth recognized him by his prior occupation (Mark 6:3 & Matthew 13:55). The Greek word for ‘carpenter’ is tektón (TEK-tohn), which refers to a craftsman, carpenter or artisan. Tektón is where we get the words tectonic and architect. In 1st Century Israel, a tektón was a general craftsman who worked with wood, stone or metal in building projects, small or large. In other words, Christ did more than make tables & chairs.
Quality carpenters/builders/architects today make good money, as do people of any profession that takes skill and is in demand (Proverbs 22:29). Imagine how skilled the Messiah was as a builder since he created everything that exists (Colossians 1:16-17)!
Scholars say that families involved in a trade in Israel back then would’ve at least been of lower-middle income status. Tradition suggests that Christ’s’ stepfather, Joseph, died a few years before he entered public ministry at the age of 30 and thus, as the eldest son, Jesus became the one primarily responsible as the family breadwinner. His four brothers would’ve worked too of course.
After entering fulltime ministry and serving as a traveling minister, there’s indication that Christ had a home in Capernaum (Mark 2:1). In John 1:38-43 we observe John & Andrew visiting Jesus’ abode with Andrew wasting no time encouraging his bother Peter to come over as well. Mark 1:29 shows that Peter lived in Capernaum. Did Christ own this home or rent it? How long did he have it? The Bible doesn’t say.
It’s true that Christ said “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20 & Luke 9:58), but ‘Context is King’: Who was the Lord talking to, what statement was he responding to, and what exactly did he mean by his answer? Let’s read the full passage:
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Matthew 8:18-20
The Messiah was explaining the cost of being a disciple to a well-to-do scribe who claimed “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” In this particular case, following the Lord wherever he went meant traveling from town to town throughout Israel & points nearby, staying at the homes of hospitable people and such (Luke 10:3-7). Think of it in terms of modern musicians or entertainers who go on tour for months on end. It’s a challenging lifestyle, to say the least. How much more so if you’re constantly ministering to the spiritual & physical needs of people? How much more so if you have to often stay overnight in the abodes of people who are basically strangers?
Yet Christ & his disciples weren’t poor when they traveled in ministry. Part of their wages was the places they stayed and the food provided for them (Luke 10:7), but they also received constant donations, which were gathered in the ministry’s money box (or bag), aka their treasury (Luke 8:3 & John 13:29). So much money came in that Judas regularly stole from the treasury without being detected (John 12:6).
So, Christ was never ‘homeless’ in the sense of living on the street and begging for food. Rather, Jesus ministered to such people (e.g. Luke 18:35-42). So should we.
Lastly, sleeping on the ground or on a bench for a night or three doesn’t constitute homelessness. I’ve done both several times and I’ve never been homeless. This isn’t to say that there’s anything wrong with the Homeless Jesus statue because it drives home the point that the Lord has compassion on those suffering this condition and wants to help them & deliver them (Psalm 145:9 & Isaiah 25:7-8).
Related Topics:
Provision, Money and “Prosperity”
The Gist on Giving and “Tithing”
The Left’s Unbalanced View of Christ & Christianity
Understanding “the Right” and “the Left” from a Biblical Perspective
Understanding THE RIGHT and THE LEFT from a Biblical Perspective
Solomon was the wisest man on earth in his time (1 Kings 4:29-34) and this explains why God utilized his great knowledge and wisdom in three books of the God-breathed Scriptures. Notice what it says about Solomon when the Queen of Sheba came to visit him:
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions… 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from the king which he did not explain to her.
1 Kings 10:1,3
The king’s wisdom was renowned and so the Queen came to test him with hard questions and verse 3 shows that “nothing was hidden from the king which he did not explain to her.” “Solomon answered all her questions” and there was literally “nothing” he did not explain to her. Do you think that one of the questions she asked concerned the glaring contrast of human nature revealed in Conservatives and Liberals; that is, Rightwing people and Leftwing folks? Of course she did; after all, this is one of the most common observations of people & societies, modern or ancient.
As such, Solomon made a couple of stark commentaries on Right and Left in the book of Ecclesiastes. Here’s the most notable insight:
The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
Ecclesiastes 10:2
One renowned minister suggested that this insight was based on the fact that, commonly, the right hand is defter than the left. But this verse is not a commentary on right-handedness or left handedness, which is something people are born with and have no control over. The text shows that, generally speaking, those on the Right naturally veer toward wisdom while those on the Left naturally veer toward folly. Thus Conservatives tend to support law & order whereas Liberals incline toward lawlessness & disorder. Please notice I said “tend toward.”
Hence Conservatives have morals & restraint and naturally desire order & tranquility while Liberals are creatures of impulse with a lust for immediate satisfaction. The Leftist mindset is that of an immature, rebellious child who wants it their way or no way at all and as fast as possible. This was true 3000 years ago when King Solomon lived and it’s true today. In other words, the contrasting inclinations of Right and Left are universal to humankind and thus have manifested in societies throughout human history, whether in countries, kingdoms, tribes, clans, families or cliques. Every one of these has Right and Left factions, mild or pronounced, overt or hidden.
Christ took the concept of Right and Left further in his prophecy of the Sheep and Goat Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46 where the “sheep” are separated from the “goats” when the Lord returns to Earth and judges those still alive after the 7-year Tribulation. The “sheep” he puts on his right while the “goats” he puts on the left. The former go to eternal life whereas the latter are cast into the lake of fire to suffer the second death. This shows that Christ is speaking of Right and Left strictly in terms of morality and not in any other way, like Jacob being a Momma’s boy Liberal and Esau being a hairy Rightwinger (more on this momentarily).
It should be stressed that those on the Right can succumb to the flesh and become corrupt, which is clearly observed in Solomon’s other commentary on Right and Left in Ecclesiastes:
Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise—why destroy yourself? 17 Do not be overwicked and do not be a fool—why die before your time? 18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
To be “overrighteous” or “overwise” refers to legalism whereas being “overwicked” or a “fool” refers to libertinism. The former is far Right and the latter is far Left. You could say that Legalism and libertinism are two sides of the same bad coin. Both are equally corrupt conditions and should be avoided at all costs. As you can see, Solomon puts it thusly in verse 18: “it is good to grasp one and not let go of the other,” which indicates that the truth lies somewhere in between the two. The extremes — far Right and far Left — should be avoided. This can also be observed in the Parable of the Prodigal Son with the prodigal representing libertinism (far Left) and the older son representing legalism (far Right). Go here for insightful details.
The Pharisees & Teachers of the Law that conflicted with Christ during his earthly ministry were legalists and were basically what we would now call Rightwing fascists. In America Today – and Western civilization in general – the problem isn’t Rightwing fascism, but rather Leftwing fascism. You can observe this in many ways: Conservatives being afraid to openly support Christianity or a conservative politician due to the threat of persecution; afraid to say such-and-such is a sin because they might lose their job; taxpayers forced to fund baby-killing & the sales of body parts; wise voices being prohibited at universities and on social media; Liberal leaders in school, government, media & entertainment shoving sexual perversion down the throats of the common people as legitimate lifestyles; etc. In summer 2016 when President Obama gave his absurd executive order to legally permit mentally ill men to use the women’s restroom it was the last straw. Conservatives & Independents in America finally had it with Leftwing fascism — even some Liberals — which paved the way for Trump’s election.
For anyone who argues that Leftwing fascism is an oxymoron, it’s not. Leftwing fascists of course say they’re anti-fascist, but they’re ideology & actions involve dictatorial control and forcible suppression of opposition, which is the definition of fascism. The centralized autocratic government that Far Left fascists bow to may not be an actual nation, but a more ambiguous shadow government or global-oriented cabal or Deep State, which is a dictatorial power. When such forces overtake a nation, as witnessed in modern America (detailed above), Leftwing fascism abounds.
Interestingly, the Rightwing corruption of the religious leaders of Judea in the 1st century provoked John the Baptist & the Messiah to righteous name-calling; some good examples can be read in Matthew 3:7-10 & Matthew 23:13-33. The outrageous Leftwing wickedness in modern America provokes a similar response in disciples of Christ.
For instance, due to Liberal fascism and their constant lies & slander, I sometimes amusingly refer to Liberals as LIEberals. One glaring example of their fallacious ideology is their insistence that Bruce Jenner – now known as Caitlyn Jenner – is a woman, even though he still has male DNA. Anyone who disagrees with their absurd claims and simply shares the truth is persecuted and branded a “bigot,” “misogynist,” “homophobe,” “xenophobe,” “transphobe,” “Islamophobe” and similar clichéd terms.
I also occasionally refer to the Democrat Party as the Demonic-rats, obviously with a wink of amusement. Why? Because they’re clearly Satan’s favorite political party in America in light of the fact that they’re anti-Christ, anti-Christian, pro-thug, anti-cop, pro-lawless, pro-strife, pro-perversion, pro-deviance, pro-baby killing (including letting abortion survivors die on the table), pro-silencing Conservative voices and more. Remember, Christ said that you can easily identify false prophets “by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-23).
For those who might argue that Christians have no place commenting on politics with much-needed truths or being involved in politics, please. If believers allow political parties like the Demonic-rats to take control of their communities & countries you can kiss goodbye many freedoms and say hello to “hate crimes” for merely preaching/teaching the Scriptures. Don’t be surprised when you can’t purchase a Bible at a local store because it contains “hate speech” (rolling my eyes). Don’t be surprised when your business is shut down for not baking a “gay” cake, refusing to make a gay-pride t-shirt or declining to photograph a homosexual wedding. Don’t be surprised when Liberal Governors and Mayors close down Church assemblies while allowing thugs to Burn/Loot/Murder and keeping abortion clinics & strip joints open.
I should add that, if you’re debating someone, focus on logical reasons & facts that support your argument and not ad hominem tactics. Let the other side be guilty of the opposite. Remember, people resort to ad hominem antics when they’re losing the debate. That said, there’s a time & place for righteous name-calling, albeit infrequent. Sometimes a ‘pattern interruption’ is precisely what is in order and (hopefully) effective in a situation (Proverbs 27:5).
Please no comments on President Trump because it’s irrelevant whether you like him or not. I don’t care what you think about him. I’m politically Independent in the truest sense, à la Joshua 5:13-15. I’m just citing modern examples of the biblical concept of Right and Left.
Don’t Be One-Dimensional About Right and Left
Except for moral issues, please don’t be one-dimensional with your understanding of Right and Left and hence unbalanced. Be careful not to look down on people who don’t fit into the box of what is cliched Right or Left. For instance, Jacob was renamed Israel and became the progenitor of God’s nation on Earth, but he was a Momma’s boy who favored hanging around the tents while his half-brother, Esau, was a hairy manly man who preferred the outdoors and hunting (Genesis 25:27, 27:11 & 27:22-23). In short, Jacob was stereotypically Liberal whereas Esau was stereotypically Rightwing. In the New Testament Christ reveals his loving gentleness at times (Matthew 11:29) — a supposedly Liberal trait — while at other times being a veritable holy terror (Mark 11:15-18). As Solomon said, “It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.”
Related Topics:
SPIRITUAL GROWTH Is Like Climbing a Mountain
The Left’s UNBALANCED VIEW of Christ & Christianity
Understanding the Religion of LIEberalism
(Pseudo) SCIENCE Is the “New God” and Dubious SCIENTISTS Are the “New Gods”
What Are THE BASICS of Christianity?
Is it Ever Okay to Call Someone a FOOL?
Christ said “anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell” (Matthew 5:22). Does this mean a believer can never, ever call someone a fool under any circumstances? Obviously not since the Holy Scriptures written through designated people by the Holy Spirit openly describe certain people as fools (2 Peter 1:21). Here are a few examples:
The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.Psalm 14:1
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:7
Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.
Proverbs 10:18
As you can see, God’s Word describes a fool — an unwise person — as (1) someone who doesn’t believe in God, (2) is corrupt and vile, (3) despises wisdom & discipline, and (4) hates certain people and spreads slander about them, aka lies, false accusations and untrue stories. For further biblical descriptions of a fool, go here.
Furthermore, Christ Himself boldly called corrupt religious leaders “fools” in Matthew 23:17, not to mention several other names in that chapter. This shows that calling someone a “fool” may be appropriate on occasion.
How do we balance this out with what the Messiah said in Matthew 5:22? Let’s read the full passage:
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
Matthew 5:22
“Context is King” is a hermeneutical rule for good reason and the topic of this passage is murder. Christ traces the sin of murder to its source, the heart. In other words, murder begins with an attitude of carnal hostility. Speaking of which, hatred is unjust hostility and it is a work of the flesh, as detailed in Galatians 5:19-23. A good example of carnal hatred is those who lie about others – slander. The Bible says “A lying tongue hates those it hurts” (Proverbs 26:28) thus slanderers hate those they smear with lies.
I specified carnal hatred because not all hatred is of the flesh. For instance, the Bible says “To fear the LORD is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13). This explains why Christ boldly called the corrupt religious leaders of Israel “blind fools” in Matthew 23:17. He hated their corruption — their gross hypocrisies — and, as the Scripture says, “open rebuke is better than hidden love” (Proverbs 27:5). We know Jesus never sinned (1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15 & 2 Corinthians 5:21), so this hatred was spiritual hatred, not carnal hatred.
In light of all this, every believer has to search his/her heart before calling someone a fool or any other name. Make sure you’re led of the Spirit. Make sure what you say is true and not a lie, even if it’s figurative. For instance, John the baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees “brood of vipers” in Matthew 3:7, meaning “offspring of snakes.” While this wasn’t literally true, it was figuratively correct since snakes & scorpions are biblical figures for the devil (Luke 10:19); as such, John was calling these false religious leaders children of satan, as Christ later did (John 8:44). While this may not have been nice, it was kind and good since both John and Jesus were implementing tough love. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a person who’s arrogant & corrupt — especially those in leadership positions — is openly rebuke them because only the truth can wake them up to their error and set them free.
So make sure your motive is tough love and not carnal hatred before calling someone a fool or any other name, otherwise you’ll be in danger of the fires of Gehenna, as the Messiah said.
Related Topics:
Is Name-Calling Ever Appropriate?
How to Confront & Correct (and How NOT to)
Jesus Christ — Milksop or Mighty Lord?
How to CONFRONT & CORRECT (and How NOT to)
Genuine believers are to be submitted to one another (Ephesians 5:21), which means we’re accountable to each other based on the morality of New Covenant Christianity and the corresponding God-breathed Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 4:6). The biblical book of wisdom puts it like this: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). This principle keeps believers sharp and the best they can be thus “open rebuke is better than hidden love” (Proverbs 27:5).
You can learn a lot about the character of a person by how they respond to a legitimate correction:
8 Do not rebuke mockers [proud fools] or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.Proverbs 9:8-9
Of course, no one appreciates a disrespectful correction or an exasperating overreaction, not even wise, godly people. In fact, an arrogant, impulsive rebuke shows that the one doing the correcting has moral issues likely greater than the one he/she is trying to correct. Keep in mind that carnal pride is sin numero uno, a decidedly satanic trait (Ezekiel 28:17; 1 Timothy 3:6; 1 John 2:16).
Humility, by contrast, is thoroughly spiritual and conducive to grace, i.e. God’s favor (James 4:6 & 1 Peter 5:5).
What the Messiah Instructed about Rebuke
What did Christ say about confrontation & potential correction? (I say “potential correction” because the rebuke might not be valid). When a brother or sister in the Lord offends you, here’s what the Lord said to do:
“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
Luke 17:3-4
The Messiah was not talking about a serious crime here, like rape, assault, robbery or the murder of a loved one. If someone commits a crime like this you need to take it to the governing authorities, which are established by God to punish criminals, including the power to execute when appropriate: “they are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:1-6).
So Christ was talking about personal offenses, like snubbing, malicious gossip (aka backbiting), insults, lying, minor theft and so forth. It could also be a situation where you observe the individual do something immoral, like committing adultery, lying, slandering or being a drunkard. When fellow believers offend in this manner they should first be confronted & corrected based on the moral truths of the Word of God, then, forgiven if they repent. ‘Forgive’ literally means to “cancel the debt” or “dismiss the charge.” When the offender is stubbornly unrepentant we are not to dismiss the offense. Jesus specified this condition in more detail here:
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
Matthew 18:15-17
When a fellow believer sins against us we’re not to gossip about it to others, but rather go to the offending person in private and share with them what they did to offend. As far as is possible, we should do this with a humble, compassionate spirit, which sometimes might be challenging because the offense in question is so offensive.
If the offender refuses to repent then we are to get one or two spiritual believers and confront the person again. I emphasize spiritual believers because if you enlist a carnal Christian into the scenario it will not help the situation to say the least (I’m talking about someone who says they’re a believer, but regularly produce bad fruit like arrogance, greed, gossip and lying). The inclusion of additional godly people will naturally help make sure the charge is authentic.
If the offender is still impenitent then we’re to tell it to the church in general so that the person is socially pressured to ’fess up and make a turnaround. If the offender continues to be stubborn and unrepentant then we’re to regard him/her as a pagan or tax-collector. A pagan is an unbeliever, which means you stop treating the person as if they were a brother or sister in the Lord because his/her actions have proven otherwise.
You can read details about confrontation & correction here, what we want to focus on in this article is…
Things to Do and NOT do when Confronting & Correcting
- Make sure you have a scriptural basis for your correction since it is the foundation “for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If you cannot articulate from the rightly-divided Word of God what’s wrong with the behavior in question then your case is too weak for a confrontation.
- Don’t say “Yay, the Holy Spirit told me to tell you” because (A) it comes off as religious arrogance and (B) you don’t need to say this if your rebuke has a legitimate biblical foundation. Keep in mind that the Scriptures were written by the Holy Spirit thru divinely designated people (2 Peter 1:21) so any moral correction of the Holy Spirit should already be conveyed in the Bible, directly or indirectly.
- Speaking of which, don’t rebuke a person for a moral rule that’s not actually biblical. People who do this are infected by legalism, which is law-ism. It’s a religious obsession with rules, usually unscriptural rules, and the despotic enforcement of them. A couple of good examples would be playing pool or cards. There’s nothing intrinsically evil about these games; they’re neutral activities relevant to healthy R&R (Ecclesiastes 3:4), which of course doesn’t mean you have to like them or play them. If you don’t like them, don’t play them. The real reason legalists denounce these games is because pool is associated with bars & the corresponding drunkenness while card-playing is associated with gambling. In the 2000s I had a pool room in my house, but there was zero drunkenness linked to it. A person can enjoy pool and not be a drunkard. Similarly, people can play card games and not froth at the mouth with greed & corruption. By all means, rebuke drunkard-ness and greedy corruption as led of the Spirit, but not playing pool and card games. Allow the Spirit to minister to individuals about whether or not it’s wise for them to participate in a particular neutral activity.
- Don’t overreact to what you perceive as a moral offense because it might not be a sin at all. Rather, the problem could be over-sensitivity on your part because you’re weak in a certain area (we’re all weak in one area or another). At worst, the behavior in question might just be unwise. For instance, an ex-alcoholic believer sees a brother drinking an alcoholic beverage and assumes he’s a drunkard, thus rebuking him. Yet the confronted brother walks in moderation and isn’t tempted by drunkenness in the slightest. In a case like this, the brother isn’t sinning because drinking a sip of alcohol is not a sin; rather being a drunkard is what is sinful. However, depending on the location, you could exhort him that it’s not wise to drink an alcoholic beverage in public because it could make a brother or sister with a weak conscience stumble. It could also be a bad ‘witness.’ In such cases the believer should “keep it between himself (or herself) and God” (Romans 14:22); in other words, it should wisely be kept private. For biblical insights on the believer’s freedom in relation to dealing with Christians with weak consciences see Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8.
- Since your goal is to correct the person, not unnecessarily offend or antagonize him/her, phrase your correction in a respectable manner. This is especially so if the person is your elder, whether physically or spiritually, which corresponds to this passage: “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble’ ” (1 Peter 5:5). The fact that someone is more mature than you physically or spiritually does not mean you shouldn’t correct him/her, but it does mean you should apply appropriate respect, particularly if you want the correction to be received (assuming it’s even legitimate). There’s a right way to do something and a wrong way. Even if your intentions are righteous, there’s a wrong way to carry out a correction — like being rash, excessive or disrespectful — which will naturally reduce the chances of it being received. Remember: Your goal is to successfully correct the person. A good example in the Scriptures is when Paul openly corrected the elder apostle Peter (Galatians 2:6-14). The reprimand was received because Paul used wisdom in what he said, how he said it and what he didn’t say (because he didn’t need to say it).
- When you implement the confrontation be open to receiving correction yourself since “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). In fact, it may be you who needs correction more so than the person you’re rebuking. In such situations the Holy Spirit turns the confrontation around on the wannabe rebuker. This is one of the reasons why going directly to the offending person and discussing the issue is so wise and effective.
- Speaking of wannabe rebukers, please don’t be a “gung-ho rebuker.” Confrontation & correction is a positive thing if the reprimand is valid, not to mention the boldness required to do this is commendable. It’s an example of walking in tough love. However, being an annoying faultfinder who’s perpetually “offended” and quick to accuse is not a good thing. For one thing, it smacks of pettiness.Remember, those who make a battle out of everything won’t have the energy for building anything, at least not anything positive.Another problem with constant questionable accusations is that it’s a trait of the Enemy. I’m talking about Satan — the “adversary” or “enemy” — who is also called the devil, which is translated from the Greek diabolos (dee-AB-ol-os), meaning “slanderer.” The term comes from the verb diaballó (dee-ab-AL-loh), meaning “to slander, accuse, defame, complain.” On top of this, the Bible plainly describes Satan as “the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10). Moreover, Christ called the devil a “murderer from the beginning” and “the father of lies” (John 8:44). Do you know a (supposed) brother or sister in the Lord — including “ministers” — that continuously faultfind & accuse believers? They’re behaving like Satan, which isn’t a good thing. Either they’re a child of the devil and therefore a counterfeit believer (Matthew 7:15-23; John 8:42-47) or they’re grossly ignorant and misled of the Enemy (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
Make no mistake, honest correction is sometimes necessary; it’s a healthy thing because it keeps believers sharp. Just be sure to follow these seven wise guidelines.
But what if you know confronting a certain person will turn UGLY? In other words, this individual is difficult and tends to bring out the worst in you, so a reprimand on your part will probably result in a nasty mêlée. What does the Bible instruct you to do in such cases? See this article for answers.
This article was taken from chapter 3 of…
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Related Topics:
Handling Personal Offenses vs. Handling Criminal Acts
Does Walking in AGAPE LOVE Mean You Should Be a DOORMAT to Abuse?
Condemnation & Authoritarianism
Is NAME-CALLING Ever Appropriate?
Forgiveness—Should You Forgive EVERYONE for EVERYTHING ALL of the Time?
Nosiness and Manipulation (NOT Spiritual)
What Are MANDRAKES, as Mentioned in the Bible?
“Mandrakes” are cited in the Bible five times and refer to the roots of mandrake plants, which sometimes resemble naked humans, particularly the lower areas. They were used as an aphrodisiac and to induce pregnancy, as observed in this passage:
1When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
2Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”…
14During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
15But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?”
“Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”
16So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night…
22Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. 23She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” 24She named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”
Genesis 30:1-2,14-16,22-24
Rachel was the favored wife of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:22-32). She wasn’t able to bear children for her husband and so made a bargain with her older homely sister, Leah – also married to Jacob – to allow Leah to sleep with Jacob in exchange for the mandrake plants that Leah’s son had found. The passage doesn’t say that the Mandrake roots actually worked to induce pregnancy, just that “God remembered Rachel” and thus enabled her to conceive her son Joseph. Nevertheless, it’s clear that mandrake roots were thought to augment sex & procreation and were sought after for this purpose.
Mandrakes are also mentioned in Solomon’s overtly erotic Song of Songs (see 7:13).
As noted, Mandrake roots sometimes look like nude bodies, particularly the nether regions. So the fact that they were used as an aphrodisiac and to induce pregnancy would be a natural correlation. Think about it in terms of walnuts, which resemble human brains when cracked open; they’re coincidentally the top nut for brain health, as chronicled here. Similarly, tomatoes resemble the heart when opened up — the “chambers,” etc. — and they’re by happenstance strategic to cardiac health, as detailed here. Is this mere coincidence or did our Creator do this purposely?
The fact that (1) the LORD created mandrake roots, (2) they’re cited in Holy Scripture five times, (3) they resemble the lower regions of naked humans and (4) were used to augment sex & procreation shows that the Almighty is an imaginative Creator, not to mention has a sense of humor.
Do mandrake roots actually “work”? I have no idea, but Rachel obviously believed they did; and belief is faith, which opens the door to the miraculous.
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SPIRITUAL WARFARE — Do You Know What You’re Fighting For?