The Heart Attitudes: Part 4Sýnishorn

Heart Attitude #3 – Give and Receive Scriptural Correction

Proverbs 15:10, “Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die."

Proverbs 15:12, “A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him; he will not consult the wise.”

Colossians 3:16, “Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

How do you give scriptural correction in an appropriate manner? You start by following Col. 3:16, by letting the message of the Bible dwell in you richly. You learn the word of God, His teachings, and who He wants us to become. Once you know those things, it’s easier to see what needs to be corrected and to not be deceived about what the Bible really says.

Admonishing is really reminding others of what they have already heard and known. It is bringing back to their minds what they have previously known and practiced. The teaching is sometimes necessary because some new believers may never have heard that there is a better way to do something. That is the moment you need to teach rather than admonish.

Harold Bullock suggests that we correct based on the scriptures not our opinions. He also advises us to correct based on a pattern not just on a single mistake. If the thing they do is dangerous, immediate correction might be appropriate. We need to make sure our motive is to help not hurt by our correction. Finally, he suggests that we correct privately if possible. Our correction needs to mirror the offense if the offense leads a group of people down the wrong path, then the correction may need to be in front of the group.

The verse instructs how to relate to one another. We cannot ignore a pattern of offense against scriptural teaching.