Words, our words, there is so much to say about this; what if we briefly focus on Jesus? How did the Master use words and what impact did His words have on people? With His words He encouraged, He healed, He freed, He even raised Lazarus from the dead simply by calling him; with words, therefore, He blessed. But He also rebuked. As a spiritual leader He felt the freedom to rebuke people and expose their bad attitudes and hearts, as on that unforgettable day when He healed a woman who had been crippled for 18 years by a spirit, and the woman immediately began to rejoice and praise God.
A magnificent deliverance, and one can imagine that following such a deliverance all those present would also rejoice, but far from it. The person in charge of the place, the head of the synagogue, was indignant, he found that healing on the Sabbath was not proper and he took care to make it known. Jesus turned towards him, He did not mince His words and called him and his clique 'hypocrites'. And he asked whether or not they would have saved their donkey if it had been in distress on the Sabbath, why then should they not come to the rescue of this woman? When he finished, and this I like, we are told that his adversaries were humbled and the people rejoiced.
We see Jesus constantly rebuking different individuals—the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the nation, His own disciples—for their shortcomings and sins. Some He called whitewashed tombs, others blind guides, hypocrites, fools, tombs that do not appear, people of little faith, and upon others He pronounced 'woes.' Why? Because they were completely off the mark and needed to have their eyes opened to the wrong path they had taken. And this was not the time to tell them how wonderful they were. There are some lessons for spiritual leaders here, because our words will serve to comfort but also to rebuke when necessary. Ecclesiastes 7:5 speaks volumes on this theme, "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools." But what does a selfish generation want? Leaders who sing the song of the foolish.
It is true that leaders, especially pastors, should be careful not to succumb to the tendency of some sheep to want to manipulate them, sometimes with tears, and thus prevent them from reprimanding their bad behavior. If that doesn't work, they will accuse you of lacking love. No matter, tell the truth and continue on your path. The other side is the relative weakness of some leaders who seek to be liked, and strive to please men rather than God. However, pastoring is not a popularity contest, nor is it about showing off. It is very suspicious if everyone thinks you are great all the time. The only approval you seek must be that of your Master, otherwise, you will let people fall into the pit by refraining from any words of warning or reprimand because you want them to like you or because you are afraid of offending them.
The synagogue leader could not have been more offended, and for good reason. The same was true of the teachers of the law, who one day went so far as to grumble to Jesus, saying that they too felt insulted at every rebuke Jesus addressed to the Pharisees. Jesus then turned to them and made them feel the force of His disapproval with a scathing "Woe to you, scribes!" Jesus did not shy away from confrontation, and we should not shy away from confrontation. It is a fact that human beings knowingly do harm, even Christian human beings—the very ones we deal with every day. Therefore, there will be no shortage of opportunities for confrontation, to rebuke, correct, and call people to turn from their evil ways.
Not everyone will accept rebuke, so what? Do it anyway. Sometimes it helps, and one day you may even be thanked for it. Foresighted as always, the Holy Spirit has Paul the apostle write this to Titus in Titus 2:15: “These things speak, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”.” And for those who persist in living in sin, the command is given to Timothy in 1 Tim 5.20 “Rebuke those who sin in the presence of all, so that others may fear also.” And to all is given this solemn injunction: I charge you before God and before Jesus Christ…: preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, rebuke, rebuke, exhort, with all gentleness and instruction. (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
This is what we must do, and we will do it only on condition that our well-being depends not on the opinion of the people under our charge, but on that of the God we serve. And then will proceed from our lips the rebuke of the wise and not the song of fools.
Shalom!
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