Confronting Sin in the Church
The Pastoral Epistles • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 17 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
There is metaphor that is used in the Scriptures to describe the family and that is the metaphor of a family.
The word family speaks of intimacy, care, openness, and love.
Love is the backbone of the family.
Within the framework of believers’ love for each other is very necessary and often overlooked element: confrontation of sin.
In the Church, as in the family, disobedience must be dealt with.
This is the mark of a loving family.
True love care that others enjoy the blessing of God and prosper spiritually.
Because of that, it does not hesitate to confront sin.
And in this brief passage, Paul covers the important issue of hoe that is to be one in the family of the Lord.
Timothy was part of a spiritual family located in Ephesus.
Some sining members of that Church had abandoned the truth and godliness (1:5-6; 2:8).
Others had shipwrecked their faith (1:19).
And other sins were women trying to usurp the authority of the men (2:9-15); somer were aspiring to leadership positions that they were not qualified to do (3:1-13).
Others were teaching demonic false doctrine (4:1-5).
So, there was sin that needed to be dealt with and Paul lays out for Timothy that there is a way that the Scriptures prescribe that this be done.
Sin should be confronted authoritatively.
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Such rebukes may need to be severe.
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
And it must be done with great patience.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Paul lays out for Timothy how to deal with needing to confront sin in the Church.
It Must be a Proper Confrontation.
It Must be a Preserving Confrontation.
It Must be a Patient Confrontation.
It Must be a Precious Confrontation.
It Must be a Pure Confrontation.
This is so instructive.
I. A Proper Confrontation (vs. 1a)
I. A Proper Confrontation (vs. 1a)
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
Even if there is open sin and a legitimate reason for confrontation, it has to be done in a proper way or else it becomes the sin of the person that is doing the confrontation.
Now, the text here says, “Rebuke not an Elder..” this is not speaking here of the Pastor-Teacher or the other preaching and teaching leaders in the Church.
The Greek word for ‘Elder” is “πρεσβύτερος” and speaking concerning an old man.
The question is, and this has over the years been a source of contention, but how does a younger man approach an old man that has sin in his life.
The immediate reaction of the old man that, at the moment, does not have the spirit of repentance is to come up against the young man who may be approaching the old man with legitimate concerns and legitimate sin.
And the attitude of the old man can be, “how dare this young man confront me and rebuke me for something that I am doing, when you have lived as long as I have, then you can confront something that is in my life.”
So, when we see see an older man sin how are we to approach them?
Paul is very instructive in the first two words of verse 1.
“Rebuke not...”
Because there is a Proper Confrontation that must be maintained out of the sake of respect.
“Rebuke not” is “ἐπιπλήσσω” and this is the only time in the NT where this word is used.
And it carries the idea “to strike upon, to beat upon, to chide.”
It has the idea to “strike sharply.”
And since Paul is writing this to YOUNG Timothy as the Pastor, it must be remembered that there may be many occasions for a young Pastor to rebuke a man in the Church that is much older than he is.
And Paul is reminding Timothy, and others in the Church that when there is open sin in the lives of the old men in the Church that great care must be taken not to react to strongly to the old men.
Great care must be taken not to speak to the old men harshly, to “beat on them” for sins that need to be confronted.
Given that the idea of the word is also to “strike upon”, the idea is that there does not need to be verbal abuse.
Now, the context here, going back to chapter 4, where there is false teaching going on.
Now, we already know from the first chapter of the book, that there was false teachers and false teaching of which Timothy was going to have deal.
And the natural response of the person that is a lover of the truth is to handle the situation with very sharp words.
Words that we like to justify because “they are assaulting the truth and I need to deal with this.”
There is no justification for verbally assaulting someone, even if they are assaulting the truth.
And even greater care must be taken when the person that is being confronted is an old man.
Older men are to be treated with kindness, gentleness, and grace.
We are never to chide and old man.
And, of course, to chide means to speak out in anger.
And we can certainly justify that in our minds when the truth is being maligned.
But Paul reminded Timothy that, even though he was to confront those that were teaching false doctrine, he was to never do it such a way to be speak at the old man in anger and to beat on him.
That he was to be kind.
But how do we define the term “old man?”
Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.
The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
“Hoary head” literally means “head full of gray.”
The Scriptures seem to to define an old man as one whose head is full of gray.
When a man who hair is “full of gray” needs to be approached about sin, and in this context, false teaching, they are to be approached with kindness and not striking or abusive language.
Paul lays out in the following verses how to treat each age group in the Church, but he begins with the old men that are not to be treated with harshness or rudeness.
Even if they are teaching false doctrine of any other sins, their age brings about a certain about respect that must be shown.
So, we see A Proper Confrontation.
II. A Preserving Confrontation (vs. 1b)
II. A Preserving Confrontation (vs. 1b)
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
Instead of beating on him or speaking disrespectful to him, we are to “intreat him.”
The word “intreat” is the word “παρακαλέω” and it means to “encourage, comfort.”
It is a very popular word in the NT, being used 109 times.
Timothy, as well as the Church because Timothy was to teach this to the Church, is to approach the sinning old man and encourage him and comfort him through his sin.
I fully believe that if more Churches and Pastors practices this kind of confrontation, there would be more cooperation in the Church.
Timothy was to approach these old men with the same respect and deference that he would show his own father.
Timothy, and the Church by example, is to treat sinning old men with the same respect that should be shown to a father.
Respect for the father is commanded by the Scripture.
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
The Scriptures have very stern warnings for those the disobey and respect their fathers.
The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
Disobedience could even result in death.
And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
The same respect that you would show to your father, is the respect that you show a sinning old man.
Even though this was not a family situation, Daniel’s rebuke to Nebuchanezzar is a model of how to approach a sinning old man.
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
Another Biblical example of this is found with Paul.
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
While Paul confronted Peter for his wrongdoing, which should always be done, he did so with respect and deference.
He did not make an accusatory declaration, but gently asked him a question.
Confronting anyone in sin with gentleness is the responsibility of every believer.
When that sinning brother is an old man; however, it must be sone with special respect.
So, we see that confronting sin in the Church that it must be:
A Proper Confrontation.
A Perserving Confrontation.
III. A Patient Confrontation (vs. 1c)
III. A Patient Confrontation (vs. 1c)
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
We confront the old men with respect and we confront the younger men with Patient Equality.
When we view someone as truly a brother, what that does is that it removes all air of superiority.
That term implies the absence of any hierarchy.
He are to approach the young man with humility or patience.
Why?
Because we are equals.
No superiority is assumed and there is no hierarchy in the word “brother.”
It is a word of equality that sets us at the same level.
The idea is that there is love that is commanded in the family.
I see the love that Jospeh had for his evil brothers as a model of brotherly love, the very opposite of Cain, and the opposite of Esau; both of whom hated their brother.
In the Church we are commanded over and over again to have brotherly love for one another.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
But whenever sins enter into the family, brother to brother we go to a person and confront them in love, in humility, with patience.
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
There is Galatians, Paul starts with “brothers” emphasizing the family relationship.
And following the principles of Paul here, when we confront a sinning brother, we always do it with brotherly patience and love understanding that except it be for the Grace of God we would be in the same sin.
So, the idea that Paul is commanding Timothy, when you go to the young men with sin, go with family love.
And the family love says:
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Confronting Sin in Our Spiritual Family
“I know I’m like you and I could be in the situation you’re in, and I just want to lift you up and take you back to where you belong, I want to restore you in love and meekness.”
That is how you bear one another’s burdens.
If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.
Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
How would you encourage a brother?
In meekness, in humility, with patience, realizing your own humanness.
With the old men, we are to treat them with respect as we would a father.
With the younger man, we to treat with the humility and patience that we would a brother, an equal.
Realizing that we are all capable of the same sins.
So, we that this is very instructive for us as to how to Confront Sin in the Church.
We see, A Proper Confrontation.
We see, A Preserving Confrontation.
We see, A Patient Confrontation.
IV. A Precious Confrontation (vs. 2a)
IV. A Precious Confrontation (vs. 2a)
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
How should we approach sinning women?
With gentleness, because the relationship with mothers is a precious one.
We should treat each erring older woman in the Church with the same gentleness and preciousness that we would our mother.
Would you go to your sinning earthly mother with abusive, hard language?
Would you go with an unkind and ungracious attitude and words?
No, you would probably go with a tremendous amount of gentleness and grace because that is a precious relationship.
You might be sharp and you might be straightforward and you might be honest and fearless, but you would certainly be loving and gentle.
An example of this is found in Philippians 4 where Paul is confronting the sin of two old women.
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Even though these two women were harming the cause of Christ is Philippi, Paul responded to their harm in a gracious, gentle manner.
While rebuking them, he included them among the brethren that he loved.
He also noted their service to him in the cause of the gospel.
Paul loving confronted them with the same gentleness that he would have his own mother.
So, when confronting sin in the Church:
It must be A Proper Confrontation.
It must be A Preserving Confrontation.
It must be A Patient Confrontation.
It must be A Precious Confrontation.
V. A Pure Confrontation (vs. 2b)
V. A Pure Confrontation (vs. 2b)
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
Ok, Paul is very clear that the young men are to be treated in purity as you would your sister.
Of course, Paul is making a reference to sexual purity.
Incest against the law of God.
Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
And when Paul tells Timothy that when you go to confront the sin of the young women in the Church you make sure that you treat just as you would your sister, that means that you are morally in the sense of lust indifferent to her.
There is nothing as evil and wicked in terms of the violation of a family as incest.
It is a sickening and disgusting sin.
The sad, wicked story of Amnon ins 2 Samuel 13 demonstrates how God feels about it.
But anyone who deals with young women, in the family, is going to deal with them as a sister, unless they are twisted and perverted.
And this is the way that it is in the Church.
That is what is so corrupt and so heinous and so wicked about a pastor who goes to deal with a young woman and wants to help her grow spiritually and ultimately commits sin with her, he has committed spiritual incest by violating the family in the spiritual dimension.
And it is such a common things that Paul adds that Timothy was to deal with the sinning young women in all purity.
Whoever deals with young women, they are to deal with them as a sister, and the key word is purity.
With older men, respect.
With young men, humility.
With older women, gentleness.
With younger women, purity.
Young Pastors dealing with young women can very easily destroy the ministry regardless of his leadership ability or his pulpit eloquence.
So, we have to deal with younger women and confront sin and come alongside and encourage them to godliness and encourage them to holiness, but always treating them as a sister whose purity we would maintain at all costs.
How does a young Pastor or any other person dealing with young women do this?
Let me suggest six things that are necessary in order to deal with younger women as sisters and not fall to some spiritual incest within the family; and these are all from Proverbs 6 and 7.
1. Avoid the Look
1. Avoid the Look
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
2. Avoid Flattery
2. Avoid Flattery
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Confronting Sin in Our Spiritual Family
Men are susceptible to the looks, they’re susceptible to the flattery. It’s always the foreign woman who tells you everything you want to hear.
3. Avoid the thoughts
3. Avoid the thoughts
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
Do not cultivate in your heart that lingering pattern that focuses on the forbidden woman.
4. Avoid Rendezvous
4. Avoid Rendezvous
and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,
passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house
in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.
And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
Avoid the rendezvous.
Do not get into a situation where you are together.
5. Avoid the House
5. Avoid the House
I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
A very religious girl.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Avoid the house.
6. Avoid the Touch
6. Avoid the Touch
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
Avoid the Touch.
Listen, this is the ministry and we will all have times when we have to deal with people, do it with kindness.
We will have to deal with Old Men, treat them with the respect that you would give to your father.
We will have to deal with young men, do it will humility; realizing your are equals.
We will have to deal with old Women, do it with the gentleness that you would give to your mother.
We will have to deal with young women, do it with purity and protect her purity as you would your sister.
How do we confront sin in the Church?
A Proper Confrontation.
A Preserving Confrontation.
A Patient Confrontation.
A Precious Confrontation.
A Pure Confrontation.
