Confront with care (1)

There's a place for constructive confrontation, but it takes guts to approach someone who needs some corrective help. If someone we care about is doing or saying something that's hurting them, others or their relationship with God, it may be time to (in a loving way) approach them.

Awkward? Agreed. Here are three main we can keep in mind. (1) Character: When we approach the person, let's know that we have good character because of Jesus, so let's ask him to give us kind and wise words. (2) Courage: Risking friction with someone can be really scary. Jesus sometimes had to look his disciples in the eye and give them a stern word (for example, Luke 9:51-56). But when there's a greater good at stake and we have courage in what we need to say, people will respect us for it. (3) Caution: Getting hot-headed and rushing in, even with good intentions, may cause more harm than good. We may even subconsciously want a fiery confrontation, to exercise some sort of control over someone, or to make them feel bad. That can be tempting. But, let's not risk it.

Let's ask God how and when it's best to deal with an issue. Let him show us the time and place.



So what now? In Luke 19:1-10, Jesus treated a tax collector with great respect - have a read. Jesus is always about less shunning and more love. When confronting, it should always be done with care.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.' Matthew 18:15 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

Jer 51-52, Matt 1:7-17, Ps 56, Pro 10:14-16