Witness, Rebuke, and Reproof: Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves

Pray and use Holy Ghost led discernment when witnessing, rebuking, and reproving others. Your approach might cause more harm than good.

Matthew 10:16

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Don’t spiritually and mentally beat people with The Bible.

Check your heart, Check your motives

Before you approach others, Ask yourself:

-Did God really send me to this person?

-Is the way that I am about share God’s word helpful or harmful?

– Am I using God’s Word to tear others down?

– Am I using God’s Word to highlight that I am better than others? Am I being self-righteous?

– Am I ignoring my own imperfections and sin while putting a spotlight on the imperfections and sins of others.

We aren’t supposed to judge others to render them as hopeless and nothing as persons nor based upon our own preconceived notions and ideas. That is judging after the flesh. Jesus told the pharisees in John 8:15-16:

John 8:15-16

15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:1-5

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Jesus rebukes unrighteous judgement in John 8:1-11:

John 8:1-11

1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Take into account your heart and your motives.

-Don’t try use your identity as a Christian to validate your self-righteousness and pridefulness.

-Don’t use Christianity to try to virtue-signal. -Don’t use Christianity to try to say you are better than others because you are not.

We have all fallen short of the glory of God. Your being a Christian – no matter how much you attend church or the number of accolades you that have achieved – does not give you the right to use God’s Word to be abusive to others. Do not let your pride lead you into apostasy. Remain humble. show grace and compassion towards others. No matter how much work you do for the Kingdom of God, if you are not of the right spirit – if your motives aren’t right, Jesus won’t accept your presence into the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus says in Matthew 7:12-23:

Matthew 7:12-23

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.