I know I am not alone in that I socialize with a variety of people on different maturity and spiritual levels. I have those who are not quite where I am because of an age or experience barrier, I have my peers...who are supposedly on my same level (sometimes I doubt that though :P), and then there are the older generation of folks that I mingle with whose experience and maturity outweighs my own.
One day, I feel like the elder, having to correct/offer advise to another. Then the next day, I feel like the young child with people correcting me and guiding my steps. This duel role-playing is a healthy balance, but sometimes it makes it hard to distinguish a "chain of command" and a way to address certain people in certain situations.
When it comes to confronting and correcting someone, Scripture teaches us to present our faith with "gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15) and that correction should come out of a motive of love and not to puff yourself up (Matthew 7). Yet when Jesus was engaged with the religious leaders of His day, I do not see Him speaking to them with gentleness or humility. I do believe He spoke to them out of love, that they might see the evil of their ways, but He didn't do it politely. I am not a scholar, but I am pretty sure "brood of vipers" isn't a compliment, yet Jesus addressed the Pharisees and other religious leaders like that more than once.
I know that Scripture is meant for the purpose of teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Yet, Jesus drove businessmen out of the temple with a "whip of cords" and overturned tables, while Paul advises Timothy to be gentle and loving in his ministry.
Question: Is gentle correction for the ignorant and a stern confrontation for the arrogant? Where do you draw the line from speaking with gentleness and love to overturning tables and shouting?
Thoughts?
