Thesis 88 We must correct gently.
The devil, I suspect, delights to play both sides against the middle. That is, when he encourages God’s people to careen into the ditch on one side of the road he is quick to encourage corrective measures that lead to others of God’s people careening into the ditch on the other side. We live in an age where the greater weakness in the church is a reluctance to make affirmations, on issues either of theology or morals. The mass of evangelicals have drunk deep of the world’s postmodern conceits, and so think it simple kindness to never mention the grievous sins or heretical ideas of their professing brothers and sisters.
Then there’s the rest of us. We know not only the difference between right and wrong, true and false, but the importance of differences. We consider ourselves heroic, pushing against the cultural tide in denouncing our spiritual siblings. The Bible, however, calls us to something different,
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself (Galatians 6:1-3).
When we correct our brothers, and we of course are called to do so, encouraging one another toward righteousness, no one, I suspect, objects to the idea that we think we are right and our brother wrong. After all, if there’s a disagreement then our brother likewise thinks we are wrong. What upsets the applecart is when there is disagreement, and I not only think I am right, but think I am better. How quick we are to consider a wrong idea to be a grave moral failure. We do this, I’m pretty sure, because we’re foolish enough to think that our correct doctrine is the surest sign of our moral superiority.
A spirit of gentleness, as the text above suggests, is grounded in a deep grasp of this most foundational moral and theological principle, “There but for the grace of God go I.” It is a false humility that argues we are all on the same plane. It is a false pride that thinks the difference is grounded in us.
This follows from the text. Who are the spiritual ones? When a man is overtaken in a trespass, how do we know whom to send? Are the spiritual ones the ones with the most impressive theological library? The ones with the most honorable advanced degrees? No, the spiritual ones who should be called in are recognized precisely because they exhibit a spirit of gentleness, who recognize that they might also be tempted, that aren’t deceived into thinking they are all that and a bag of chips.
Reformation did, does and always will mean bringing correction. And it will always be destructive when driven by a spirit of pride. The One whose image we are being re-formed into never breaks the bruised reed, nor extinguishes the smoldering weak. Let us learn from Him.