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IV. We Must Resist Error and False Teaching in the Lives of Others.
Some people believe that a meek person should not speak out against error. Anytime anybody rebukes other people for sin, some people think he is self-willed, stubborn, pushy, wants to exalt himself, get his own way, etc. Some people today want to "change the image of the church," because they oppose a militant stand against error. "We shouldn't be so forceful in telling people they are wrong. We need to be more meek and loving."
A. Note the Example of Moses and Jesus
Remember, the Bible expressly honors these men as examples of meekness and humility. Did they resist the errors of others?
The example of Moses
Exodus 32:19,20 - Moses became angry at the sin of God's people. Vv 26-28,30 - He told them they sinned, and he called for disciplinary action. Yet he was the meekest man on earth! This is the act of a meek man!
I have known people who say a preacher should never become angry in preaching. But Moses did in this case and other cases. And so did Jesus.
"That doesn't seem meek to me." Such views show that people don't understand meekness. Moses is an example of ultimate meekness.
There is no conflict between Biblical meekness and firm opposition to error. The conflict exists only because people misunderstand meekness.
The example of Jesus
Matthew 15:3-9,12-14 - Jesus plainly described the sin of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were offended and Jesus' disciples told Him so. Did He apologize? No, he proceeded to call them blind guides and told the disciples not to follow them. Should He have apologized for not being meek enough?
Matthew 23:15-17,27,28,33 - Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites, sons of hell, blind guides, fools and blind, whited sepulchers, full of hypocrisy and iniquity, generation of vipers. "How shall you escape the damnation of hell?"
These are the statements of a meek man! "I am meek and lowly in heart."
Jesus was without sin. There is no conflict between meekness and powerful rebuke of sin, even to the point of naming specific groups or individuals who are guilty.
[John 8:41-47,54,55]
B. Applications to Us
Meekness requires that we too oppose sin and false doctrine in the lives of others.
Galatians 6:1 - If a man is overtaken in a fault, those who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of meekness. Meekness does not mean we do not show others they are wrong. We are commanded to show them their error in meekness.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 - In meekness correct those who oppose themselves so they can recover themselves from the snare of the Devil. People are simply mistaken if they think a meek person will never tell others they are wrong. Meekness leads us to tell others they are wrong - the same verses that say to be meek, also command us to correct others!
Meekness, like love, is exercised first toward God.
Meekness is a willingness to submit, but our primary submission must be to the will of God. One must not force for his own personal will to the hindrance of the cause of Christ, but he must stand firmly for God's way even to the point of resisting all that differs from God's way. Why? Because God tells us to do this, so we must do it or we are not meekly submitting to God!
Meekness is the quality of character that demands that we must speak out against error. Like Moses and Jesus, a meek person above all else wants to see God's will respected and obeyed. When a meek person sees people disregarding the will of God, he will be moved to indignation because people are not respectful of God's will. A meek person cares about God's will being done!
Elders, preachers, and Christians who speak out against sin are the only kind who are really meek. Those who don't speak out against error are the ones that are not meek - they don't have enough concern for God's will!
Later we will see that meekness affects how we speak out. We should not start by calling people "generation of vipers", etc., the first time we try to teach them. And we won't use such forceful language with people who are humbly trying to do right but just have a misunderstanding. But when people have had many opportunities to know the truth and they still disregard it, then strong language is needed. But in all cases of sin, we must help people turn away from sin, and to do so is meek.
Meekness expresses itself first and foremost in an attitude of willingness to submit to God's will. Are you meek? Are you submitting to His will?
Some people believe that a meek person should not speak out against error. Anytime anybody rebukes other people for sin, some people think he is self-willed, stubborn, pushy, wants to exalt himself, get his own way, etc. Some people today want to "change the image of the church," because they oppose a militant stand against error. "We shouldn't be so forceful in telling people they are wrong. We need to be more meek and loving."
A. Note the Example of Moses and Jesus
Remember, the Bible expressly honors these men as examples of meekness and humility. Did they resist the errors of others?
The example of Moses
Exodus 32:19,20 - Moses became angry at the sin of God's people. Vv 26-28,30 - He told them they sinned, and he called for disciplinary action. Yet he was the meekest man on earth! This is the act of a meek man!
I have known people who say a preacher should never become angry in preaching. But Moses did in this case and other cases. And so did Jesus.
"That doesn't seem meek to me." Such views show that people don't understand meekness. Moses is an example of ultimate meekness.
There is no conflict between Biblical meekness and firm opposition to error. The conflict exists only because people misunderstand meekness.
The example of Jesus
Matthew 15:3-9,12-14 - Jesus plainly described the sin of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were offended and Jesus' disciples told Him so. Did He apologize? No, he proceeded to call them blind guides and told the disciples not to follow them. Should He have apologized for not being meek enough?
Matthew 23:15-17,27,28,33 - Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites, sons of hell, blind guides, fools and blind, whited sepulchers, full of hypocrisy and iniquity, generation of vipers. "How shall you escape the damnation of hell?"
These are the statements of a meek man! "I am meek and lowly in heart."
Jesus was without sin. There is no conflict between meekness and powerful rebuke of sin, even to the point of naming specific groups or individuals who are guilty.
[John 8:41-47,54,55]
B. Applications to Us
Meekness requires that we too oppose sin and false doctrine in the lives of others.
Galatians 6:1 - If a man is overtaken in a fault, those who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of meekness. Meekness does not mean we do not show others they are wrong. We are commanded to show them their error in meekness.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 - In meekness correct those who oppose themselves so they can recover themselves from the snare of the Devil. People are simply mistaken if they think a meek person will never tell others they are wrong. Meekness leads us to tell others they are wrong - the same verses that say to be meek, also command us to correct others!
Meekness, like love, is exercised first toward God.
Meekness is a willingness to submit, but our primary submission must be to the will of God. One must not force for his own personal will to the hindrance of the cause of Christ, but he must stand firmly for God's way even to the point of resisting all that differs from God's way. Why? Because God tells us to do this, so we must do it or we are not meekly submitting to God!
Meekness is the quality of character that demands that we must speak out against error. Like Moses and Jesus, a meek person above all else wants to see God's will respected and obeyed. When a meek person sees people disregarding the will of God, he will be moved to indignation because people are not respectful of God's will. A meek person cares about God's will being done!
Elders, preachers, and Christians who speak out against sin are the only kind who are really meek. Those who don't speak out against error are the ones that are not meek - they don't have enough concern for God's will!
Later we will see that meekness affects how we speak out. We should not start by calling people "generation of vipers", etc., the first time we try to teach them. And we won't use such forceful language with people who are humbly trying to do right but just have a misunderstanding. But when people have had many opportunities to know the truth and they still disregard it, then strong language is needed. But in all cases of sin, we must help people turn away from sin, and to do so is meek.
Meekness expresses itself first and foremost in an attitude of willingness to submit to God's will. Are you meek? Are you submitting to His will?
God will give us the strength and the ability to deliver the truth the way in the best way according to His will.
Thanks for this, Kathi