| Barry Hufker wrote on Wed, 04 August 2010 13:32 |
If I see a danger - material, physical, spiritual - it is my duty to myself and to anyone else who cares to listen, to warn them of it. They can then decide for themselves the actual nature of the danger to see if it poses any threat to themselves.
Over the years I have examined Benny closely. I have observed his motives and his methods. I believe him to be a spiritual danger, especially to a certain group of people who are easily caught up in showmanship. It is however for others to decide what is right for themselves.
I will not however show patience or gentleness to a wolf in sheep's clothing. Again, however, he is not suffering one bit because of me.
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I agree that this fellow is unscrupulous in some of his tactics and presents a threat to what could be the genuine faith of those who can't see through some of his serious short comings.
I think this fellow is beyond rebuke - or certainly would not accept it from any average joe like you and I. So in this case, yes a patient gentle rebuke is not the point, thought it could be in a general sense denote an overall demeanor we take towards any person in error.
My concern is how we act / speak about such people. One thing we can learn from 2 Timothy is that the world is watching us constantly. Our every action is a witness as to whether or not the gospel transforms lives. Our actions particularly when faced with some sort of adversity are always of keen interest -> how are we going to react? Are our reactions going to line up with what we profess? Does this Jesus stuff work to change people to react differently? My point is that even when speaking of the poor actions of another, that we show grace - not for their sake, but for our own and for the others who observe us. Because for most, the only Jesus a lot of people will know (before the grave) is the one they see in the faces of you, me and other followers.
That's my conversational tid bit.
Peace.
