Rebuke With Kindness || 2 Timothy 3:16 (Part 3) || Mid-Week Midrash #31

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” – 2 Timothy 3:16

Last week, we talked about how scripture is helpful for teaching. Today, we will talk about how scripture is good for rebuking? Rebuking is a fancy church word that means reprimanding, scolding, or telling someone off. Rebuking is where it gets challenging to use scripture. We do not need to run around judging everyone and “correcting” them because the Bible says that their choices or lifestyles are wrong. We are not the judge. God is. You can express concern for them, especially if they are hurting themselves and others, and hear them out to see why they’re doing what they’re doing. You are not in charge of correcting them or fixing them. That will be between them and God but can be there as a mentor, a friend, a cheerleader, and a loved one that wants to see them be the best version of themselves. It may not be what’s comfortable for you, but as long as they’re happy and not hurting themselves or others, it does matter about your comfort. Too many have used scripture to bully, victimize, criticize, and demean others over non-consequential standards.