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In love, we rebuke.
The Apostle Paul taught Timothy to use his youth as an example in ministry. He reminded Timothy of the importance of respect and love in dealing with believers in Christ, especially those older in age.The instruction was not only to teach but also rebuke when necessary. With God-given discernment the rebuke should be made to fellow Christians who are caught up in wrongdoing. The Bible is the basis for this “Rebuke in Love” as “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”.
With Jesus as the redeeming sacrifice, there is now reconciliation between us and God. We are heirs of His Throne and are included in His new family of faith. Every believing elderly is our father or mother and every believing peer is our brother or sister. In this new family, we are taught to use the Bible for the above purposes and here the focus is on rebuking. The verse tells us not to rebuke the elderly harshly but instead exhort them as if they are our fathers or mothers, telling them out of love and respect.
When dealing with a father, we are not to adopt a harsh dictatorial tone but to encourage him to pursue a more holy life. When dealing with a mother, the rebuke is carried out with tenderness and respect. When dealing with a Christian brother, they are to be challenged to live a life worthy of God. When dealing with a Christian sister, we are reminded to treat her with the same mildness, gentleness and affection as used to an actual sister in the family. More importantly, brothers are specifically told to treat sisters with absolute moral purity. They are to guard their hearts especially in such circumstances so as to keep themselves from falling into any improper feeling or thinking.
Ultimately, remember that the purpose of rebuke is not to elevate yourself above another or to embarrass or judge that person. Instead, it should aim to redirect our fellow brother, sister, mother or father-in-Christ, back to Jesus – the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith. God will give us the discernment and wisdom when to rebuke with the heart and mind of love. Remember that God will do the work of changing minds and hearts; we only need to point out their shortcomings and point them back to follow Jesus.
