Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Those who sin openly and persist in a course that harms others and the work of God are to be corrected openly before all, so that others will take warning and fear to do the same. This public dealing is for known and continued wrongs, not for a private personal offense, which is to be approached privately first, and those who do not know their conduct is sinful are to be reproved before they are publicly rebuked. It is the solemn duty of ministers faithfully to expose and correct wrong and uphold discipline, without shrinking because the work is unpleasant and unwelcome. That correction is to be given without partiality to rank, office, wealth, or friendship, firmly yet patiently and in the spirit of Christ, for to excuse sin or pass it over in false sympathy sanctions the evil and brings guilt and wrath upon God's people. Those who hear the reproof of another must examine themselves, confess and forsake the same sins in themselves, and not flatter themselves that they are approved because they were not named, lest they be left in darkness to be led captive by Satan.
When Public Rebuke Applies
Public wrongs that threaten the church and its work are to be rebuked publicly before all, so that others may take warning. This public dealing is distinct from the course for a personal trespass or personal offense against the one bringing correction, which begins with a private approach between the two people involved. Where the sin is not merely a private offense, it is not to be handled privately as though it were a trespass between two people, but those at fault are to be reproved before others so that others may fear.
Sins committed openly are to be rebuked openly before others, so that others may fear. A course that has harmed God's work and people, being censurable and blameworthy, requires a clear and prompt open response rather than toleration or covering up, lest prejudice and distrust take root. Those responsible for the church must not tolerate or cover up a member's sin but must deal with it promptly and openly so others will fear God, requiring the person to put it away or be separated from the church. No rank or office protects anyone from the reach of truth when duty is neglected and opportunities are misused, and faithful reproof is not to be withheld from those who lead others to exalt self and who despise correction.
Those who persist in sin after being warned and after knowing the church's view are to be rebuked publicly so that others may fear. Those who do not know that their conduct is sinful are first to be reproved before being publicly rebuked. Irreverence that continues after reproof and knowledge brings God's displeasure.
Faithful Duty to Correct
Ministers bear a serious duty to correct and expose wrongdoing openly so that others may fear sin and its consequences, proclaiming the truth rather than substituting anecdotes, and this duty must not be avoided because it is unpleasant, unwelcome, and difficult. The rebuke is to be given openly and without partiality, whether the person is high or low, rich or poor, a dear friend, or of any rank or office. No rank or office protects anyone from the reach of truth when duty is neglected and opportunities are misused, and faithful reproof is not to be withheld from those who lead others to exalt self and who despise correction.
Sin is to be rebuked firmly and not allowed or excused, so that discipline is upheld and others are warned. At the same time correction is to be carried out patiently and in the spirit of Christ, while keeping hope before those who have done wrong. To neglect correcting error and repressing sin is to disobey God, to sanction sin, and to bring wrath upon His people.
Public correction acknowledges the justice of God's judgments and warns others against presuming upon His forbearance. Excusing sin through false sympathy hides its seriousness, weakens the warning, and hinders the Holy Spirit's work of conviction. Those who do so may come to share responsibility for the sinner's impenitence.
Warning Others to Fear
The open rebuke of the wrongs of one named person is for the correction of many, and for that reason personal reproofs are rightly published for all to read. When one person is reproved for a particular wrong, those who are not singled out are not to take it for granted that they are right or nearly right merely because they were not named. Being thought right by others does not make a person right, for God looks upon the heart, and by this public dealing He is proving and testing souls.
All are to examine themselves closely to see wherein they have failed and been guilty of the same sin, and to possess the spirit of humble confession. They are to be warned by what is reproved in another, to fear and shun those errors, and to find by self-examination that they are doing the same things that are condemned. Those who truly desire to serve God and fear to offend Him will not wait for their own sins to be specified before confessing, but with humble repentance will return and forsake what has displeased Him according to the light given to others.
Those who see that they are guilty of the very sins reproved in others, yet continue in the same unconsecrated course because they were not specially named, flatter themselves that God passes over their errors. In doing so they deal falsely with their own souls and live in great deception about their true condition, thereby endangering their own souls. They will be shut up in darkness and left to their own ways to follow the imagination of their own hearts, and will be led captive by Satan at his will.
The reproof of the sins of one is so that others may take warning and fear, and the guilt is very great when those who make so high a profession indulge in sin and iniquity. Seventh-day Adventists above all other people are to be patterns of piety, holy in heart and in conduct, elevated, refined, and sanctified. As God's chosen peculiar treasure they are to partake of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Those who sin openly and persist in a course that harms others and the work of God are to be corrected openly before all, so that others will take warning and fear to do the same. This public dealing is for known and continued wrongs, not for a private personal offense, which is to be approached privately first, and those who do not know their conduct is sinful are to be reproved before they are publicly rebuked. It is the solemn duty of ministers faithfully to expose and correct wrong and uphold discipline, without shrinking because the work is unpleasant and unwelcome. That correction is to be given without partiality to rank, office, wealth, or friendship, firmly yet patiently and in the spirit of Christ, for to excuse sin or pass it over in false sympathy sanctions the evil and brings guilt and wrath upon God's people. Those who hear the reproof of another must examine themselves, confess and forsake the same sins in themselves, and not flatter themselves that they are approved because they were not named, lest they be left in darkness to be led captive by Satan.
When Public Rebuke Applies
Public wrongs that threaten the church and its work are to be rebuked publicly before all, so that others may take warning. This public dealing is distinct from the course for a personal trespass or personal offense against the one bringing correction, which begins with a private approach between the two people involved. Where the sin is not merely a private offense, it is not to be handled privately as though it were a trespass between two people, but those at fault are to be reproved before others so that others may fear.
Sins committed openly are to be rebuked openly before others, so that others may fear. A course that has harmed God's work and people, being censurable and blameworthy, requires a clear and prompt open response rather than toleration or covering up, lest prejudice and distrust take root. Those responsible for the church must not tolerate or cover up a member's sin but must deal with it promptly and openly so others will fear God, requiring the person to put it away or be separated from the church. No rank or office protects anyone from the reach of truth when duty is neglected and opportunities are misused, and faithful reproof is not to be withheld from those who lead others to exalt self and who despise correction.
Those who persist in sin after being warned and after knowing the church's view are to be rebuked publicly so that others may fear. Those who do not know that their conduct is sinful are first to be reproved before being publicly rebuked. Irreverence that continues after reproof and knowledge brings God's displeasure.
Faithful Duty to Correct
Ministers bear a serious duty to correct and expose wrongdoing openly so that others may fear sin and its consequences, proclaiming the truth rather than substituting anecdotes, and this duty must not be avoided because it is unpleasant, unwelcome, and difficult. The rebuke is to be given openly and without partiality, whether the person is high or low, rich or poor, a dear friend, or of any rank or office. No rank or office protects anyone from the reach of truth when duty is neglected and opportunities are misused, and faithful reproof is not to be withheld from those who lead others to exalt self and who despise correction.
Sin is to be rebuked firmly and not allowed or excused, so that discipline is upheld and others are warned. At the same time correction is to be carried out patiently and in the spirit of Christ, while keeping hope before those who have done wrong. To neglect correcting error and repressing sin is to disobey God, to sanction sin, and to bring wrath upon His people.
Public correction acknowledges the justice of God's judgments and warns others against presuming upon His forbearance. Excusing sin through false sympathy hides its seriousness, weakens the warning, and hinders the Holy Spirit's work of conviction. Those who do so may come to share responsibility for the sinner's impenitence.
Warning Others to Fear
The open rebuke of the wrongs of one named person is for the correction of many, and for that reason personal reproofs are rightly published for all to read. When one person is reproved for a particular wrong, those who are not singled out are not to take it for granted that they are right or nearly right merely because they were not named. Being thought right by others does not make a person right, for God looks upon the heart, and by this public dealing He is proving and testing souls.
All are to examine themselves closely to see wherein they have failed and been guilty of the same sin, and to possess the spirit of humble confession. They are to be warned by what is reproved in another, to fear and shun those errors, and to find by self-examination that they are doing the same things that are condemned. Those who truly desire to serve God and fear to offend Him will not wait for their own sins to be specified before confessing, but with humble repentance will return and forsake what has displeased Him according to the light given to others.
Those who see that they are guilty of the very sins reproved in others, yet continue in the same unconsecrated course because they were not specially named, flatter themselves that God passes over their errors. In doing so they deal falsely with their own souls and live in great deception about their true condition, thereby endangering their own souls. They will be shut up in darkness and left to their own ways to follow the imagination of their own hearts, and will be led captive by Satan at his will.
The reproof of the sins of one is so that others may take warning and fear, and the guilt is very great when those who make so high a profession indulge in sin and iniquity. Seventh-day Adventists above all other people are to be patterns of piety, holy in heart and in conduct, elevated, refined, and sanctified. As God's chosen peculiar treasure they are to partake of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.