Reproving Sin | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 21, 1873

Reproving Sin.

The captain of a vessel said to a minister who had kindly rebuked him for swearing:— “You are right, sir, you are right. Support your character, and we will respect you. We sometimes have clergymen come on board who seem quite uneasy until they get us to understand that we may do or say what we please before them; but we despise them for it.”

Do not Christians often thus bring dishonor on the name of the Master, by forgetting to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them?” It is not a pleasant duty, but a most important one, and may decide the destiny of a soul for eternity.

You have an associate who is a stranger to Jesus. You often hear from his lips a laughing jest with regard to the inconsistency of professing Christians, or the quotation of an apt passage of Scripture to point his irreverent wit. How have such expressions been received by you? Did your manner show that you were grieved to see your best Friend thus insulted, his solemn words, sent in infinite love and pity to your soul, mocked at, and made a laughing-stock? Or did an answering smile steal to your lips, leaving the impression on the mind of your associate that it is a very slight matter to trifle with religion, as “professing Christians don’t mind it”?

Even a look of heartfelt reproach may silence the scoffer, and cause him to reflect on his sinful habit.

“I never received so cutting a reproof in my life,” said the distinguished Judge H., “as when crossing the river once, in a ferry-boat, in company with a minister who was then unknown to me. I became annoyed at a delay, and uttered an imprecation on the ferry-man. The gentleman turned his full, earnest eye upon me, with such an expression of sorrow and reproach that I almost shrank from his gaze. I instantly begged his pardon, though he had not spoken a word. ‘Ask pardon of God,’ he replied; and I shall never forget that look and voice.”

One should learn to rebuke sin in the spirit of love and gentleness, for all other reproof, “is of the earth, earthy,” and will more probably arouse than allay the evil passions of the heart.

The excellent Mr. Howe had always a happy manner of reproving, seldom giving offense, though always faithful. As he was walking one day, he observed two angry men disputing and imprecating curses on each other. Raising his hat, he said in a kind voice, “I pray God bless you both;” which so impressed them, that they left their quarrelling to return him thanks.