Say It Anyway
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2
Rebuke – Why should we include “rebuke?” If the leader of the flock reproves, bringing conviction and correction that leads to repentance, then why include “rebuke?” Haven’t we already covered that ground with the previous characteristic?
Paul doesn’t think so. You see, reprove contains the idea that correcting education will change my direction. Unfortunately, rebuke does not have this implication. After all, Peter rebuked Jesus, telling Him not to go to Jerusalem (Matthew 16:22). The other thief crucified with Jesus rebuked his fellow criminal. Rebuke is verbal admonition. It is to warn with authority. But rebuke may have no effect. Nevertheless, it is still required of the leader.
Doesn’t this seem rather foolish? Are these just wasted words? What worthwhile leader would spend time warning his flock if they simply slough off the call to action? How could we call anyone a leader if no one follows his advice?
The problem is that we have defined leadership in our terms. We expect leadership to result in operational efficiency, vision, and (most of all) compelling charisma. We expect leaders to have followings! We want to be marching with the crowd, in step with some dynamic human being at the head of the parade. But God has a different point of view. God wants epitimeo (rebuke – literally “evaluation upon”).
Was Jeremiah a leader? He preached for forty years without a single convert. He wouldn’t make it in today’s church community. Ineffective, myopic, not broad enough appeal – yes, Jeremiah would be politely asked if he wouldn’t rather be an administrator and step down from the pulpit. What about Hosea? Pretty messed up family life. He’s out! Isaiah? No, I don’t think so. Anyone who sits naked in the street for three years wouldn’t be preaching in my church. David? Well, there was the affair and murder. Too bad, he had a good start? Paul? He had some problems too, although he did seem to come around at the end. You get the idea. We pick leaders on the basis of very different criteria, don’t we? Maybe we need a revised view.
The reason a leader wastes words with rebuke is that the leader is not delivering his message. He is delivering God’s message. And if God says, “Warn them,” then the leader warns them, no matter what the people think or what the consequences might be. The second you entertain leaders who deliver their own words, you no longer have a Biblical leader. Of course, this applies to you and me. Wherever you have influence over others, you are a leader. The only question is this: are you willing to waste words of warning just because God asks you to? Or are you a leader who loves a crowd of clamoring fans?
