Despite his expressed humility, Paul the Apostle did not refrain from correcting spiritual error whenever he encountered it. Whether the subject involved false teaching, the improper use of spiritual gifts, immorality, or other doctrinal matters, Paul moved swiftly to confront doctrinal error. Two excerpts from Paul’s Biblical letters to the church at Corinth serve as a case in point…
“For some say, ‘His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.’ Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present” (2 Corinthians 10:10-11 NIV).
“Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again. But I will come–and soon–if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power. For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?” (1 Corinthians 4:18-21 NLT).
Even in matters involving other Apostles, Paul adopted a similar approach…
“But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him in public, because he was clearly wrong” (Galatians 2:11 GNT).
But Paul’s best known admonition may be the one directed to the Corinthian church regarding their attitude towards the sacrament of communion…
“In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.
So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!” (1 Corinthians 11:17-22 NIV).
The desire to remain popular or avoid straining relationships may sometimes lead us to suppress criticisms that are warranted and necessary. However, Paul opted to rectify such errors with a blend of loving firmness, even at the risk of offending some.