The truths of the Bible can be confrontational. We don’t need to make the situation more difficult by presenting biblical truths in a judgmental way.
So here is the question: How can we present these truths in a way that is not more confrontational than they need to be?
This paper will look at some examples to help us think through this issue.
Loving Confrontation
In whatever manner we do it, loving confrontation is something that we can grow in and get better at with practice. Ephesians 4:15 says that, “speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.” and 2 Peter 3:18a explains that we should, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
So as we grow in grace and knowledge into Christ-likeness, we develop our skill in speaking the truth. But we are not doing this on our own. Loving confrontation implies walking in the Spirit to make it a supernatural confrontation. Even though we might have some natural ability, our natural ability must be infused with God’s spirit in order to make it supernatural.
Peter’s First Sermon
One example of confrontation by Peter appears early in the book of Acts, when he preached the first recorded sermon. Peter rebukes his Jewish audience because of their role in condemning Jesus to crucifixion. The good news he preached to them was that they could be forgiven!
The crucifixion of Jesus was a recent event that Peter’s listeners would all know about to which they were complicit. This explains why Peter was so forceful in calling them to account. Peter condemns them not just once, but twice in this short sermon recorded for us in Acts 2:14-36. Peter says:
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.”1
Then again less than a minute later, in verse 36,
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ —this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Many of those who heard Peter’s sermon were ‘pierced to the heart’ at that point,2 and responded by faith. Peter finished his sermon and about three thousand persons were added to the church.3
Peter’s Other Sermons
In the early days of the church, Peter continued to confront the Jews, and called them to repentance. Here are a few other examples by Peter from the book of Acts:4
3:12-26 “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.”
4:8-12, “that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.”
5:29-32, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.”
It is important to see in this next passage that the same information is given by Peter, but the confrontation is not present. The reason is that Peter is speaking to a non-Jewish man, his family, and their close friends:
10:34-43, “And we are witnesses of all the things He [Jesus] did; and they also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day.”
Of the five recorded sermons preached by Peter noted above, four of them were to Jewish audiences in Jerusalem. In those same four sermons, Peter castigated his listeners for being complicit in the crucifixion of Jesus.
The fifth sermon was given to a small non-Jewish group in the city of Caesarea. This group of people was brought together by Cornelius, who was described as ‘God-fearing’.5
From Peter’s example, we learn that the same information can be presented with the emphasis needed for who we are addressing. In addition, Peter held those with more knowledge accountable for their actions.
Note: Preaching the crucifixion of Jesus is a linchpin of Christianity. For more on this in the early church, see my article: Early Hymns and Creeds.
Jesus Not Judging
John 3:17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.”
John 12:47-48 “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”
There is a future time when Jesus will judge, but regardless, it is not for us to judge outsiders because it is for Him to do. This truth is taught concerning Jesus in Acts 17:30-31:
“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
and about us in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13a,
“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges.”
A bit of explanation is needed for the Corinthians passage just given. Chapter 5 of 1 Corinthians deals with keeping the church pure by not allowing church members living in unrepentant sin to remain in the church. Paul instructs the Corinthians that they are to judge those within the church.
By contrast, Paul explains that while the congregation is to judge those within the church, God is the One who judges those outside the church. The outside folks would be the unbelievers that we would not judge. Instead, we are to use all of our resources to bring them to repentance.
Colossians 4:5 & 6 gives us more information on dealing with outsiders:
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Illustrated by Jesus
There is an event given in Luke 7:36-50 where Jesus offers forgiveness rather than judgment.
There are three characters in the story; Jesus, who is non-judgmental; an immoral woman, who is repentant ; and, a Pharisee named Simon, who is judgmental.
Simon invited Jesus to dine at his house, and the immoral woman showed up unannounced with a vial of perfume. She stood behind Jesus at His feet, weeping, and
“she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume.
“Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
“And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.”
“For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” and He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.””
Jesus did not condemn the woman but offered forgiveness instead. Simon judged the woman as an unworthy sinner. He also believed Jesus would do the same if He only knew about her, not understanding Jesus’ grace. The woman received the grace and peace offered freely by Jesus and was forgiven.
Conclusion
Peter demonstrates how we can speak the truth tailored to meet the needs of the hearer. One could make the case that since we are all sinners, we are all guilty of the death of Jesus. But Peter did not do that, the truth was unchanged, and the message transformed the lives of those who believed.
Jesus provides a great example of showing grace and mercy, instead of judgment, to someone who is undeserving. The person may not receive God’s forgiveness as this woman did, but it is up to God to judge them, not us.
This is how I think we should be approaching folks with the truth today. If we do the judging, the listener may hear us instead of God’s word. Speaking God’s word without judgment allows the Holy Spirit to do His work of convicting of sin.
Appendix
I have written another paper dealing with how Jesus spoke to folks He ministered to during His incarnation. I focus particularly on how He spoke to the scribes and Pharisees. That paper is titled: Confronted by Jesus.
1 Acts 2:22-23
2 Acts 2:37
3 Acts 2:41
4 The verse reference is for the whole passage, but I only give the relevant phrases to make the point.
5 Acts 10:22 “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.”