first, brian delivered an awesome message :)
i cant recall if brian ever even used the word “admonish” that nite, but that was one of the big take-a-ways for me. maybe thats just what god wanted me to get out of it? i think this is one area that steps has a lot of room to grow in, but its hard because its a complicated process that involves so many interdependent factors:
1) you gotta have people in your life that you trust and love to admonish you
2) those people have to be able to discern right from wrong
2) you have to be transparent with these people so that they can call you out
3) then you gotta accept it
im reminded of the story in 1 samuel 3. samuels just a boy and hes supposed to tell eli how hes been a bad parent; hes scared, but he does it, and eli replies “he is the lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” would you have the courage to call out your pastor? and if you did have the courage, do you think they would be willing to accept it as truth?
i think steps is really good at giving the churchy answer like “you have to make sure that youre telling them out of love…that you know the person well enough that you have that type of authority in their life…” yeah, i agree. but does it HAVE to be this way? if the truth is the truth, does it really matter where it came from or the delivery? of course, be aware not to point out the speck in your brothers/sisters eye if youve gotta plank in your own.
so why the rant? largely because im one of the cowards who isnt good at this and needs to learn how to practice what i preach.
and whats the next step towards all of us being able to kindly admonish our brothers and sisters? i think going deeper in growth, with god and each other, is a great start - something weve been learning about all year and something, hopefully, were learning to apply.
- Peter Chen
