There are many examples of exposing or immediately dealing with “righteous” leaders, and not all of them were elders.
Old Covenant
· Aaron and Miriam falsely accused Moses and were immediately punished without warning. (Numbers 12)
· Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On along with 250 prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly rebelled, claiming Moses was unduly exalting himself. They and their families died. The only warning was to the bystanders to get away from them lest they die with them. (Numbers 16:1-3, 28-35)· Nathan publicly named David as an adulterer and murderer with no prior warning or counseling. (2 Samuel 12:7)
· Hanani named King Jehoshaphat for siding with the wicked instead of the righteous. (2 Chronicles 18:1; 19:2).
New Covenant· John the Baptist exposed the Pharisees as vipers (Matthew 3:7).
· Jesus exposed the Pharisees (Matthew 12:34; 23:23-24).
· Paul named Peter Publicly (Galatians 2:11-14).
· Paul named Demas (2 Timothy 4:10).
· John the Apostle named Diotrephes (3 John 9-11).
Even unsaved leaders who opposed the Gospel were publicly identified and rebuked.· John the Baptist exposed Herod as having illegally married his brother’s wife. (Matthew 14:3-4)
· Paul named Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:18-20).
· Paul named Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17).
· Paul named Alexander the Coppersmith (2 Timothy 4:14-15).
· Paul named Jannes and Jambres (2 Timothy 3:8).
· Moses, Peter, Jude and John named Baalim (Numbers 22-25; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14).
Those who were not leaders but saved and sinning were also dealt with. · Peter publicly confronted Ananias for lying to others in the church and to the Holy Spirit and Ananias immediately died. (Acts 5:1-5)
· Peter had Ananias’ body removed and when Saphira walked in, though he already knew the truth, set her up with the same question. When she too lied, she too died. (Acts 5:6-10). The result? Great fear of sinning filled the church, purity and power became the norm, no one joined lightly, and yet great crowds of real believers were added to the church.
· Paul not only did not give warning to the sinful Corinthian but judged him in absentia, based on what he’d heard of the matter at a distance. (1 Corinthians 5:3)
We are admonished to sharply rebuke.
· We are not to participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead we are to expose them. (Ephesians 5:11)
· Rebellious, idle talkers and deceivers are to be silenced because they overthrow whole households. We are to rebuke them sharply, in the hopes that they may be sound in the faith. (Titus 1:10-13)
This finds its root firmly in the Old Covenant’s command to not go about spreading slander among the people. We are not to hate our brother in our heart but rebuke directly so we don’t incur guilt because of him. (Leviticus 19:16-17)
· We are to proclaim the message, persisting in it whether convenient or not; rebuking and correcting but also encouraging with great patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2)
· We are to watch out for those who cause dissensions and pitfalls. We are to avoid those who by smooth talk and flattering words deceive. (Romans 16:17-18)
· There are stealthy people who turn the grace of God into promiscuity. These kinds of people despise authority and speak of spiritual warfare ignorantly. They hate those who worship God correctly as Cain did. They are willing to speak evil of God’s people if they perceive and advantage to it as Balaam did. They seek personal advancement in God’s kingdom without submitting to the appropriate standards as Korah did. They are hidden reefs at our feasts, claiming to be one of use while simultaneously spreading dissension. They simply will not produce the fruit of righteousness though they give every appearance of potential. The Lord will execute judgment on them, and convict them for their ungodly deeds, and for the harsh things they have spoken against the Lord and His people. They are discontented grumblers who walk according to their own desires, uttering arrogant words and flattering people for their own advantage. They create divisions and are merely natural, not having the Spirit. (Jude 1:4-19)
· How can we be so sure? As the Lord said, by their fruit. And what fruit does the flesh produce? Among others, hatred, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, and envy. (Galatians 5:19-21) It is critical to note that those who are characterized by these will not inherit the kingdom of God.
We need to carefully consider what Hashem finds detestable and avoid it. Among things He hates are:
· A lying tongue (Proverbs 6:17; 12:22)
· A heart that plots wicked schemes (Proverbs 6:18)
· A lying witness who gives false testimony (Proverbs 6:19)
· One who stirs up trouble among brothers (Proverbs 6:19)
· Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just (Proverbs 17:15)
· Those who profess to know God but deny Him by their works. These are considered detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work. (Titus 1:16)
The thing that disturbs me is that I don’t see the righteous indignation against the things the Lord hates among His children. Where is the spirit of David who said, “I do not sit with the worthless or associate with hypocrites. I hate a crowd of evildoers, and do not sit with the wicked.” (Psalm 26:4-5) Why don’t we have the heart of the “man after God’s own heart” who called out to us “You who love the Lord, hate evil!” (Psalm 97:10) If we do not have every false way, it is an indication of a lack of understanding of Hashem’s precepts. (Psalm 119:104, 128) Why don’t we hate and abhor falsehood? It is because we don’t truly love His instruction! (Psalm 119:163)
The Scriptures are very clear. Unjust men are detestable to the righteous. (Proverbs 29:27)
So in what context are we to be gentle?
· We are to avoid foolish debates, quarrels and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. (Titus 3:9)
· We are to proclaim the message, persisting in it even to our own inconvenience, and whenever we can encourage with great patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2)
· I say “whenever we can” because (according to the above illustrations) there are obviously exceptions and limits. As Paul put it we are not to repay evil for evil and try to do what is honorable and IF POSSIBLE, on our part, live at peace with everyone. Though we may take hits we are not to avenge ourselves but allow Adonai to avenge us in due time. (Romans 12:17-19)
· While the rebellious are to be soundly condemned, those who simply doubt or waver are to be the objects of mercy. We are to snatch them from the fire, having mercy yet being in fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (Jude 1:22-23)
· If one of the Lord’s slaves knows the Master’s will but doesn’t do it he will be severely beaten. But the one who did not know and did things that were wrong will be beaten lightly. Much is required of everyone who has been given much and even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more. (Luke 12:45-48)
· This principle is very clear and is the principle reason named for being cautious in taking leadership positions. And James’ primary caution in this regard was dealing with lashon hara! (James 3:1-6)
· This is because when there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19) Leaders in the congregation inevitably must speak a lot and thus must be twice as careful about their speech. However this means they are twice as accountable for their lashon hara!
Old Covenant
· Aaron and Miriam falsely accused Moses and were immediately punished without warning. (Numbers 12)
· Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On along with 250 prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly rebelled, claiming Moses was unduly exalting himself. They and their families died. The only warning was to the bystanders to get away from them lest they die with them. (Numbers 16:1-3, 28-35)· Nathan publicly named David as an adulterer and murderer with no prior warning or counseling. (2 Samuel 12:7)
· Hanani named King Jehoshaphat for siding with the wicked instead of the righteous. (2 Chronicles 18:1; 19:2).
New Covenant· John the Baptist exposed the Pharisees as vipers (Matthew 3:7).
· Jesus exposed the Pharisees (Matthew 12:34; 23:23-24).
· Paul named Peter Publicly (Galatians 2:11-14).
· Paul named Demas (2 Timothy 4:10).
· John the Apostle named Diotrephes (3 John 9-11).
Even unsaved leaders who opposed the Gospel were publicly identified and rebuked.· John the Baptist exposed Herod as having illegally married his brother’s wife. (Matthew 14:3-4)
· Paul named Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:18-20).
· Paul named Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17).
· Paul named Alexander the Coppersmith (2 Timothy 4:14-15).
· Paul named Jannes and Jambres (2 Timothy 3:8).
· Moses, Peter, Jude and John named Baalim (Numbers 22-25; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14).
Those who were not leaders but saved and sinning were also dealt with. · Peter publicly confronted Ananias for lying to others in the church and to the Holy Spirit and Ananias immediately died. (Acts 5:1-5)
· Peter had Ananias’ body removed and when Saphira walked in, though he already knew the truth, set her up with the same question. When she too lied, she too died. (Acts 5:6-10). The result? Great fear of sinning filled the church, purity and power became the norm, no one joined lightly, and yet great crowds of real believers were added to the church.
· Paul not only did not give warning to the sinful Corinthian but judged him in absentia, based on what he’d heard of the matter at a distance. (1 Corinthians 5:3)
We are admonished to sharply rebuke.
· We are not to participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead we are to expose them. (Ephesians 5:11)
· Rebellious, idle talkers and deceivers are to be silenced because they overthrow whole households. We are to rebuke them sharply, in the hopes that they may be sound in the faith. (Titus 1:10-13)
This finds its root firmly in the Old Covenant’s command to not go about spreading slander among the people. We are not to hate our brother in our heart but rebuke directly so we don’t incur guilt because of him. (Leviticus 19:16-17)
· We are to proclaim the message, persisting in it whether convenient or not; rebuking and correcting but also encouraging with great patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2)
· We are to watch out for those who cause dissensions and pitfalls. We are to avoid those who by smooth talk and flattering words deceive. (Romans 16:17-18)
· There are stealthy people who turn the grace of God into promiscuity. These kinds of people despise authority and speak of spiritual warfare ignorantly. They hate those who worship God correctly as Cain did. They are willing to speak evil of God’s people if they perceive and advantage to it as Balaam did. They seek personal advancement in God’s kingdom without submitting to the appropriate standards as Korah did. They are hidden reefs at our feasts, claiming to be one of use while simultaneously spreading dissension. They simply will not produce the fruit of righteousness though they give every appearance of potential. The Lord will execute judgment on them, and convict them for their ungodly deeds, and for the harsh things they have spoken against the Lord and His people. They are discontented grumblers who walk according to their own desires, uttering arrogant words and flattering people for their own advantage. They create divisions and are merely natural, not having the Spirit. (Jude 1:4-19)
· How can we be so sure? As the Lord said, by their fruit. And what fruit does the flesh produce? Among others, hatred, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, and envy. (Galatians 5:19-21) It is critical to note that those who are characterized by these will not inherit the kingdom of God.
We need to carefully consider what Hashem finds detestable and avoid it. Among things He hates are:
· A lying tongue (Proverbs 6:17; 12:22)
· A heart that plots wicked schemes (Proverbs 6:18)
· A lying witness who gives false testimony (Proverbs 6:19)
· One who stirs up trouble among brothers (Proverbs 6:19)
· Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just (Proverbs 17:15)
· Those who profess to know God but deny Him by their works. These are considered detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work. (Titus 1:16)
The thing that disturbs me is that I don’t see the righteous indignation against the things the Lord hates among His children. Where is the spirit of David who said, “I do not sit with the worthless or associate with hypocrites. I hate a crowd of evildoers, and do not sit with the wicked.” (Psalm 26:4-5) Why don’t we have the heart of the “man after God’s own heart” who called out to us “You who love the Lord, hate evil!” (Psalm 97:10) If we do not have every false way, it is an indication of a lack of understanding of Hashem’s precepts. (Psalm 119:104, 128) Why don’t we hate and abhor falsehood? It is because we don’t truly love His instruction! (Psalm 119:163)
The Scriptures are very clear. Unjust men are detestable to the righteous. (Proverbs 29:27)
So in what context are we to be gentle?
· We are to avoid foolish debates, quarrels and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. (Titus 3:9)
· We are to proclaim the message, persisting in it even to our own inconvenience, and whenever we can encourage with great patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2)
· I say “whenever we can” because (according to the above illustrations) there are obviously exceptions and limits. As Paul put it we are not to repay evil for evil and try to do what is honorable and IF POSSIBLE, on our part, live at peace with everyone. Though we may take hits we are not to avenge ourselves but allow Adonai to avenge us in due time. (Romans 12:17-19)
· While the rebellious are to be soundly condemned, those who simply doubt or waver are to be the objects of mercy. We are to snatch them from the fire, having mercy yet being in fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (Jude 1:22-23)
· If one of the Lord’s slaves knows the Master’s will but doesn’t do it he will be severely beaten. But the one who did not know and did things that were wrong will be beaten lightly. Much is required of everyone who has been given much and even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more. (Luke 12:45-48)
· This principle is very clear and is the principle reason named for being cautious in taking leadership positions. And James’ primary caution in this regard was dealing with lashon hara! (James 3:1-6)
· This is because when there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19) Leaders in the congregation inevitably must speak a lot and thus must be twice as careful about their speech. However this means they are twice as accountable for their lashon hara!
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