Hey, so I really don't like being the mean guy, the one who has to tell you that you are doing something wrong. I mean it could come off like I think I am better, it could come off like I think you are so wrong, it could just cause you to become more firm in what you think is right. BUT! It could also help you immensely. I mean, depending on the situation, right?
You could be making a fatal error in your calculations and end up failing calculus because you didn't realize that trig equality wasn't actually equal. Or you could push yourself past your limits or be lifting the wrong way at the gym and have a large amount of weights come crashing down on you. Maybe you bought what you thought was a Caribbean potato and didn't cook it quite all the way through and it was actually cassava and you eat it and die of cyanide poisoning.
So maybe you tell them they are wrong and they hurt for a little bit. You've saved them a much worse outcome.
This was not fueled by self-righteousness, not by pride, but by compassion and a desire to save them from the consequences of ignorance.
Paul writes in 2 Cor 7 that he regretted writing the last letter. He no longer regrets writing it. Although at the time it caused sorrow, it was for the best because this rebuke led to godly sorrow, a sorrow leading to repentance.
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." 2 Cor 7:10
If you see a brother or sister way off, go gently, lovingly correct them. Point them back to the grace, forgiveness, and justice of Christ. It may hurt temporarily, but leads to far greater intimacy with God and eternity, not destruction.
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