Scripture Post #908: *SHARP REBUKE*

Titus 1:13: "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;"

Disclaimer: The image used for this Scripture Post, in its original form, was from an image search engine. It is not an image of my own. 

This Scripture was from Apostle Paul, unto Titus, his son in the common faith (Titus 1:1-4).

Context:

Titus 1:10: "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:"

V. 11: "Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake."

V. 12: "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies."

V. 13: "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;"

The Cretians were those residing in the land of Crete, where Titus was. Titus 1:1-5 states that the Apostle Paul wrote to Titus, leaving Titus in Crete. The Cretians were sinners, conducting themselves in wickedness and deceit. Paul stated for Titus to: "rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith…" It seems to me that many of us who believe in JESUS are so afraid to hurt somebody's feelings that we'll refuse to rebuke people in cases similar to Titus 1:13. But rebuke is both necessary and beneficial to the Body of CHRIST. Why would Paul tell Titus to rebuke the Cretians if it was against the plan of GOD? We have a tremendous misconception where rebuking is concerned. Many Christians today think that if you rebuke somebody, then you hate that person you've rebuked. This is far from the truth. The end-game of rebuking people is "…that they may be sound in the faith…" Once you're shown *tough-love* you'll shape up, unless that love is rejected. I think pretty much everyone can agree that tough-love is sharp and uncomfortable, but highly beneficial and necessary at times. There are thousands and thousands of ex-druggies and ex-crackheads who are *extremely* grateful for the tough-love it took for them to quit their self-destructive habits! So let's not front on the effectiveness of sharp rebuke. I know that the whippings and sharp blasting words of correction that I received growing up have played a grand role in how I turned out. And those that can relate know this too. 

Let's follow GOD's Word with proper context and understanding without plucking out certain Scriptures we don't agree with for the lack of that understanding. And let's keep the whole point of *SHARP REBUKE* in mind: "that they [who aren't rightly aligned in the faith] may be sound in the faith…"

 Originally Published: Mon. 3/9/15