Gentle Response
Right & wrong ways to call out sin
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A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
Proverbs 15:1 (NET)
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This is one of the more practical proverbs.
Showing us the wisdom of how to deal with people in our everyday lives.
As such, it’s one of those that’s always true except when it isn’t.
It’s easy to see why harsh words stir up wrath.
We have a natural tendency to want to keep our egos protected. Harsh words tend to cut deep and that can bring embarrassment and shame.
Nobody likes being called out publicly.
Perhaps that’s one of the reasons Jesus set up the guidelines for disciplining a fellow believer the way He did. Basically, call the person out privately and if they ignore that, then call them out with a small group, and if they still ignore that, then make it public.
(Unless it’s a public sin and needs to be addressed publicly.)
But all of this should be done gently & with love, not harshness.
Like I said, our egos are sensitive already.
Getting called out publicly is rough.
A private intervention is a much gentler way to handle things. That way the embarrassment is only between a couple people, not the “whole world”.
We should think about this when using social media, too.
That’s obviously a public facing forum.
So we should treat it as such, but also allow room for private correction (if it’s called for).
I don’t like seeing venom spewed back and forth online between people who could clear it all up with a small, private chat.
Anyway, something to think about today.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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