One of the perennial accusations I receive is of being too harsh. I generally hear it after I've come down hard on a particular sin, or have identified a specific denomination or popular preacher as being wrong. Sometimes it comes when I've dealt with a person who has been caught up by their sins and as the shepherd of the church I feel forced to bring discipline to the matter.
My struggle is in comparing biblical culture to the Midwestern culture and trying to bridge the phenomenal difference between the two. I've lived in many different countries and have experienced many cultures and languages so I generally don't put a lot of stake in local custom. Don't get me wrong. I recognize it's importance in communication and in not bringing unnecessary insult, but I just realize that local values are ephemeral and largely meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
My goal is to create a congregation that has as its cultural identity the Holy Scriptures. I'm not interested in a congregation that gives a polite nod to the Scriptures while continuing its own way down the Broad Path. I want a congregation that lives, thinks and breathes the Scripture so much that it looks at the world's culture with confused bewilderment, shrugs and turns away from it.
So what is the biblical balance between harshness and gentleness in the pulpit? When should we stomp hard on sin and when should we gently entreat?
I am an undershepherd. I work for and answer to the Great Shepherd. I am a friend of the Groom. My job is to bring the Bride to Him "splendid, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5:27)
If that is the case, then wouldn't Psalm 101 (aka the leader's vow for holiness) be an appropriate guide? David advised hating "the doing of transgression", putting a "devious heart far from" us, destroying "anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor", not tolerating "haughty eyes or an arrogant heart", pushing out anyone who "acts deceitfully" or "tells lies" and every morning destroying the wicked and eliminating evildoers from Hashem's territory.
On the other hand "a gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath." (Proverbs 15:1). "Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) "If someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you won't be tempted also." (Galatians 6:1) An elder is the not be a bully but gentle and not quarrelsome. (1 Timothy 3:3)
On the other hand, an elder is to hold to the faithful message as taught so that he will be able to refute those who contradict it. He is to silence rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers who overthrow whole households. He is to rebuke them sharply. (Titus 1:9-13). He is to "proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2) He is to both encourage AND rebuke with all authority, allowing no one to disregard him. Titus 2:15).
Clearly there is a tension between these two extremes. I have found that generally speaking, finding the balance between two extremes is a matter of context. There must be times when it is important to speak gently and entreat, and times when it is equally critical to reprove and rebuke sharply. As Quoheleth said, "There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5b, 8).
My struggle is in comparing biblical culture to the Midwestern culture and trying to bridge the phenomenal difference between the two. I've lived in many different countries and have experienced many cultures and languages so I generally don't put a lot of stake in local custom. Don't get me wrong. I recognize it's importance in communication and in not bringing unnecessary insult, but I just realize that local values are ephemeral and largely meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
My goal is to create a congregation that has as its cultural identity the Holy Scriptures. I'm not interested in a congregation that gives a polite nod to the Scriptures while continuing its own way down the Broad Path. I want a congregation that lives, thinks and breathes the Scripture so much that it looks at the world's culture with confused bewilderment, shrugs and turns away from it.
So what is the biblical balance between harshness and gentleness in the pulpit? When should we stomp hard on sin and when should we gently entreat?
I am an undershepherd. I work for and answer to the Great Shepherd. I am a friend of the Groom. My job is to bring the Bride to Him "splendid, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5:27)
If that is the case, then wouldn't Psalm 101 (aka the leader's vow for holiness) be an appropriate guide? David advised hating "the doing of transgression", putting a "devious heart far from" us, destroying "anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor", not tolerating "haughty eyes or an arrogant heart", pushing out anyone who "acts deceitfully" or "tells lies" and every morning destroying the wicked and eliminating evildoers from Hashem's territory.
On the other hand "a gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath." (Proverbs 15:1). "Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) "If someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you won't be tempted also." (Galatians 6:1) An elder is the not be a bully but gentle and not quarrelsome. (1 Timothy 3:3)
- 2 Timothy 2:24-26 HCSB The Lord's slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, (25) instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the truth. (26) Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil's trap, having been captured by him to do his will.
On the other hand, an elder is to hold to the faithful message as taught so that he will be able to refute those who contradict it. He is to silence rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers who overthrow whole households. He is to rebuke them sharply. (Titus 1:9-13). He is to "proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2) He is to both encourage AND rebuke with all authority, allowing no one to disregard him. Titus 2:15).
Clearly there is a tension between these two extremes. I have found that generally speaking, finding the balance between two extremes is a matter of context. There must be times when it is important to speak gently and entreat, and times when it is equally critical to reprove and rebuke sharply. As Quoheleth said, "There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5b, 8).
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