Have you ever spoken poorly about someone, and rightfully so, for you know them to be an unrepentant sinner, a blasphemer of the Most High God, one who without question has been given over to a reprobate mind, and then were informed by the one that you are speaking to that, that person you were talking about was a close, personal friend of theirs?
In a moment their demeanor toward you would change, and you would need to make a decision, stand your ground on the truths you have spoken, or fulfill this verse.
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10)
Every prophet sent by the Almighty, every apostle, every man and woman of God who has done so, for the glory of the Lord our God, has suffered persecutions, some unto death, for one reason, they spoke the truth. The truth that sets you free causes those of this world to hate you, no matter their religious proclivities, or if they have none at all, persecution by exclusion, by mocking, by hatred, pain and death, these will arrive in your life when you are set free.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
I have found over my decades of life that many, if not most people, have very little problems with speaking about someone to another when that person is not present, but they will alter their demeanor when that person is in their presence. Recall here Galatians 2:11.
“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.”
The reason we have all done so is because of the possibility of personal repercussions, because of fear, and if you like to tell yourself that you were only trying to be polite by keeping your mouth shut in their presence, that it would seem judgmental, then you are lying to yourself.
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)
Is it good to inform that person that they are under the wrath of God, that if they do not repent, they will die in their sins and be eternally damned? Is it worse to speak to another about them, to not speak at all, to know these things to be a truth about them, but only allow these truths to remain in your mind, never voicing them aloud?
If there is one truth I know about mankind in this regard, it is that personal confrontation has in most cases become a thing of the past, for most because of the fear of personal reprisals, for at least some of those who have been born again, if not most, because they fear to judge with righteous judgment.
My friends, if I have a problem with you, I am not going to find someone to speak with about it, I am going to find you and talk to you.
“Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matt. 5:24)
Men of God contemplate the Word of God, we seek for His truths, for His will, and when we are confronted by those who do not serve Him, who reject and mock Him, we do not take a step backwards, we correct them, if they will not accept correction, we reprove them, and if they will not hear, we rebuke them.
Is that love to you?
In hell would they not desire above all else that you would have done so?
Behind their back, or to another when they are not present, but never to their face, no man of God walks that path, and in my own personal opinion, if they do, they are less than men.
