Who
Has the Right to Rebuke Me?
Rabbi
Yehudah ben Shomeyr
When
an issue comes before me twice or more in short period of time I take this as a
sign that HaShem wishes for me to address the issue. I was asked recently about
believers rebuking other believers and then I myself was rebuked by a total
stranger!
Taking
our cue from the passage above; one may reprove one in sin, but there is a
protocol. The implication is that those reproving must know you well enough to
have a relationship with you and they must know fully your situation. Also they
must be in and well known and trusted in your physical and or cyber community.
What they are reproving another of must be backed by Scripture and the
Scripture must be given in context. If this criteria is met the reproof must be
(and I emphasis) done in love and in private and the one reproving must be
right with God themselves. If all is in order and if they that are being
reproved will not listen, then 2 or 3 others believers should brought in on the
matter as witnesses and encouragers of repentance and if the offending party
will not listen after that they need to be brought in private before authoritative
elders which implies those reproving and the reproved must be part of the same
community, synagogue or organization and have appointed, agreed upon and known
and trusted elders in order to render a decision and verdict. If after this the
person being reproved will not repent one then must cut ties with them all
together.
So
beware of stern, unloving or deceptively unloving self-appointed,
self-righteous judgers of other peoples spirituality who do not know you
personally and yet claim to be some authoritative figure in your life, those
who say they have a, "Word of Yah" for you, or that "Yah
revealed" something to them about you. If they truly did have a “word”; 1.
The Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) would have either revealed it to you first or
confirmed the revelation in your spirit upon hearing it. 2. It would have been
backed up by Scripture.
Example:
After blocking someone online who sent me a “nastygram,” I was contacted again
by the person through another profile and was given a fiery and stinging rebuked
by a total stranger. I never meet them or had any type of relationship with
them and they were rebuking me not over doctrinal issues, but over Halacha, the
way I choose fulfill certain commandments that has nothing to do with ones
salvation. This was my reply;
“This is the first and last
correspondence that I will have with you.
You are blocked because: I "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." (II Tim. 2:23)
I have much better things to do with my time than to waste it arguing simply because you have a different halacha than me…
Many of our disagreements are addressed my website.”
You are blocked because: I "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." (II Tim. 2:23)
I have much better things to do with my time than to waste it arguing simply because you have a different halacha than me…
Many of our disagreements are addressed my website.”
Many who feel they have the right to
rebuke anyone simply because they are a, “Prophet, Apostle” or “child of God”
or our “brother or sister in the LORD” but such are classic “red flag” predators
who like satan are roaming lions seeking whom they may devour. Bottom line, you
do not have to listen to or take any spiritual rebuke from someone you do not
know and or trust and who is not a part of your spiritual community and
especially if you have not willing put yourself under their authority.
