Untitled article by E. S. W.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 15, 1867

FromThe Advent Review & Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 18

REPROOF.

By E. S. W.

“REPROVE, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine.” 2 Tim. iv, 2.

Here we have Scripture authority for reproving, but to perform this work so that it may be effectual for good, is one of the most difficult tasks allotted to mortals. The righteous only should reprove. David says, “Let the righteous reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my head.” But let a person who is not right himself in the matter to be corrected, reprove another, instead of being an excellent oil, it will stir up their evil nature and the old adage of “the Devil reproving sin” will pass through the mind of the person reproved, or perhaps the retort, “Physician heal thyself,” will rise to the lips, if it is not spoken. We all know from experience how we are affected on hearing a person speaking against wrongs that we know they are guilty of themselves. Perhaps a person denouncing the sin of covetousness, and at the same time in all their business relations doing all they can to accumulate property; or a brother declaiming against light and trifling conversation, and reproving his brethren and sisters for jesting and laughing, and perhaps in a day or two, or in a few minutes after, he will engage in the very actions he has been condemning in them, or go to such lengths in “carrying on” that he will disgust both saint and sinner with his actions, and bring a reproach on the cause he professes to love; or a sister takes exception to some article of wearing apparel, and thinks it her duty to labor with the offending members, and perhaps in a few weeks wears the very article herself, without an admission on her part to those she has labored with, that they were right, or that she was wrong in reproving them. Such a course is calculated to destroy their influence with the church, and to lessen the respect for them by their brethren and sisters. Consistency, from its rarity in the world, is considered a jewel, but it should not be so in the Christian church. It is not necessary to multiply instances, as any one can call up circumstances where reproof from such sources has done harm, rather than good.

There is still another class of reprovers who utter their reproofs in the spirit of bitterness, pride, or self-exaltation. They will cut and slash without regard to the effect it may produce upon sensitive natures and fine feelings, and perhaps bear down so hard that they not only crush out the foible or fault condemned, but with it every good desire and disposition, at the same time manifesting that pharisaical spirit of “stand off, for I am holier than thou.” Should a brother or sister be reproved by one having authority and in a Christian spirit, this class of self-made, second-hand reprovers, instead of letting the wholesome reproof which has found a lodgment in their hearts bring forth fruit, they will pursue them, and in their egotism reiterate in their ears the words of reproof, harrow up their feelings, and tear up the seeds of reproof which perhaps have already germinated, and in doing so break off the tender shoots, and then bury them so deep with their unamiable dispositions and bitterness of spirit that they never have a resurrection. This class of persons are not suited to their work; they lack true delicacy of feeling and refinement, and instead of doing good they do harm, for where they do not cause anger they cause contempt, frequently both, either of which leaves a shadow behind.

There is, however, a method of reproving that is always effectual, and all can safely and profitably engage in it. It is by actions rather than words. Let that godly brother pass in and out before us, or engage with us in our daily avocations, with a pleasant yet solemn countenance, cheerful and kind to all, never too much engaged to greet you with cordiality, nor too deeply absorbed in study or himself as to pass you on the street without speaking; never himself engaging in light and trifling conversation, nor taking part in the silly jest, but always maintaining that sobriety consistent with his profession. Such a person will always command our esteem and respect, and should any one be inclined to engage in trifling conversation or jesting in his presence, a shade of sadness will pass over his countenance, condemning more effectually than words. All trifling will be immediately stopped and our countenances sympathize with his, our thoughts will turn to holier themes, and we feel reproved and ashamed of our conduct without his having said a word. Such a reproof was given by our Saviour to Peter. After Peter had denied him the third time, the Saviour “turned and looked upon him.” The result of that look was that Peter went out and wept bitterly.

And again, let a sister move in her proper sphere among us, adorned with modest apparel, with shame-facedness and sobriety, with good works, grave, faithful in all things, discreet, chaste, and in all her behaviour as becometh holiness; what an influence for good it would have on the church, what a living, moving, silent reprover all such would be to those who were inclined to act and dress as near like the world as they could and yet retain their name and place with the people of God.

The reprover should enter upon the duty of reproving a fellow-sinner in the spirit of meekness, with trembling and deep feeling, taking into consideration their own frailties, and with a thankful heart that God’s grace has enabled them to escape the fault in which their brother or sister has been overtaken. And may God help us all to receive reproof in the spirit of meekness, and when our wrongs are made known to us, to put them away, being warned by the words of the wise man: “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.” Prov. xxix, 1. E. S. W.