THE MINISTRY of reconciliation takes many forms. It is a ministry of love, a ministry of courage, a ministry of exaltation, and a ministry of encouragement; but in contemporary Christianity it is perhaps the ministry of reproof that has been the most neglected aspect.
In his final counsel to Timothy, Paul did not overlook the vital role of this kind of ministry, for Timothy was encouraged to reprove and rebuke (2 Tim. 4:2) as an essential part of his work. It is well to note the priority that Paul placed upon this ministry. So often in the contemporary scene it has been felt that reproof is antagonistic to the work of love, and so often the cry has been for more love, consideration, and understanding.
The ministry of reproof has been an easy ministry to downgrade, for it is certainly the most difficult ministry of all. It is a ministry that must be performed in deep love and, even when given in this spirit, it is often hard for those who are the recipients of this ministry to accept it as it is intended.
Yet the minister has to evaluate carefully the consequences of avoiding such a ministry, for Paul goes on to say, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:3, 4).
Paul's Fears and Ours
Truth comes from God. Man is the author of fables. Thus Paul's inspired concern was a fear that if gospel ministers fail to fulfill the completeness of the ministry, the wisdom of man will replace the wisdom of God. Paul recognized that a time would come when there would be congregations who would prefer the comforting fables of man to the Word of God. Thus it is not surprising there has been a great turning away from the use of the pulpit for the exposition of the Word of God. Too often the pulpit has become a place for philosophic, sociological, and psychological discourses.
Prior to the presentation of his charge to Timothy, Paul spoke of the perilous times to come. It is important to notice that he does not here speak of great life-destroying calamities upon the earth, such as earthquakes, famines, hurricanes, floods or wars; but he identifies the real problems as the social perils of the age.
He says, "For men shall be lovers of their own selves" (2 Tim. 3:2). He could have stopped there, for every other characteristic of the last generation is bound up in that self-love. It is self-love and not God-love that is antagonistic to reproof. The minister is set as a watchman over the flock that God has entrusted to him. He cannot accept this responsibility without a recognition that there will be times when reproof will have to be given to some of his church members. The fear that we have is often the fear that such reproof will not be accepted, that it will turn the membership away from the minister, that his popularity will wane.
There is good reason for the minister to be afraid of the ministry of reproof, and yet our greater fear should be to fail to do the work that God has entrusted to us. It is so much easier, and so much better received, when ministers flatter their congregations. It seems that they are responding much more meaningfully to this kind of approach. It is easy to feel that because the congregations are increasing and attendance is improving, God must be blessing our ministry. But often these results can merely be reflecting a simple lack of courage to do what God has called us to do.
Not True Love
It is not true love but self-love that leads a minister to the kind of flattery of his congregation that blinds their eyes to the sin that is separating them from God. It is a fear that if wickedness is rebuked, if sin is called by its right name, somehow the congregation may not think of him in the very best light.
If the minister desires to be a true friend and show true Christian love for the members of his congregation, there will be times when he will have to point out sin both individually and corporately. Tragically and undoubtedly, many will misinterpret the minister's motives. This is not new, however, for at the time of the golden calf, the motives of Moses were completely misrepresented; and in fact the vacillating, weak Aaron was considered more loving than was Moses, even though Moses was prepared to die to save the children of Israel.
"When Moses, on returning to the camp, confronted the rebels, his severe rebukes and the indignation he displayed in breaking the sacred tables of the law were contrasted by the people with his brother's pleasant speech and dignified demeanor, and their sympathies were with Aaron. To justify himself, Aaron endeavored to make the people responsible for his weakness in yielding to their demand; but notwithstanding this, they were filled with admiration of his gentleness and patience. But God seeth not as man sees. Aaron's yielding spirit and his desire to please had blinded his eyes to the enormity of the crime he was sanctioning. His course in giving his influence to sin in Israel cost the life of thousands."— Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 323.
Prefer Ministry of Destruction
The ministry of Aaron was a ministry of destruction, eternal destruction. Yet many of the people preferred this to the loving ministry of Moses, who with courage and veracity sought to present before the people God's way instead of man's way. The people didn't deserve it. They would rather follow one who would weakly and spinelessly lead them into more and more apostasy than the man who would set before them the challenges of the ways of God.
As ministers today we can be guilty of the same strange philosophy that led to the destruction of Korah and his companions. "Korah reviewed the history of their travels through the wilderness, where they had been brought into strait places, and many had perished because of their murmuring and disobedience. His hearers thought they saw clearly that their troubles might have been prevented if Moses had pursued a different course. They decided that all their disasters were chargeable to him, and that their exclusion from Canaan was in consequence of the mismanagement of Moses and Aaron; that if Korah would be their leader, and would encourage them by dwelling upon their good deeds instead of reproving their sins, they would have a very peaceful, prosperous journey; in stead of wandering to and fro in the wilderness, they would proceed directly to the Promised Land."— Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 397, 398.
Common Philosophy
This is a tragically common philosophy today—Don't point out wrong, simply encourage the congregation by pointing out the good things they are doing. However, the work of the minister is two fold—to reprove and to exhort— and neither one can be ignored without great loss to the member ship of the church. His concern for the eternal salvation of every member of the congregation makes it essential that this two fold ministry be characteristic of the minister's thrust in the church.
It is, of course, essential to draw a clear line of demarcation between reproof and criticism. Criticism is destructive, vindictive, welling up out of a feeling of retaliation and revengefulness. So often criticism manifests itself by only being stated behind the back of the individual. On the contrary, reproof is always presented directly to the individual concerned. It is always presented with love.
Ellen White tells us that there were tears in the voice of Jesus when He issued the sternest re proofs. As ministers of Christ, our rebuke must be presented in love. Without love, rebuke dare not be given. Thus it is needful for every minister to agonize before the Lord for every soul before he engages in the ministry of reproof.
The challenge of God's Word is clear on this matter. Ezekiel makes a most stirring appeal to every church leader, "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; there fore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I re quire at thine hand" (Eze. 33:7, 8). Not only is the eternal destiny of the congregation at stake but also the eternal destiny of each minister.
