Does God want you personally to confront, call out, and judge other sinners? Jesus’ answer is, “Depends.” He preached, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3,5).
Jesus doesn’t want you to call others to repentance if you haven’t repented yourself. Don’t express your concern about your friend being gay if you are living/sleeping with your girlfriend. Don’t yell, “Stop yelling!” Don’t accuse someone of stubbornly trying to win an argument because you’re trying to win the argument. First, look into the mirror of God’s Word and see your own sinfulness. Repent.
But if you are repentant, you are called to confront. “Then you will see clearly,” Jesus said, “to deal with your brother’s sin.” You don’t have to be perfect to say something, just repentant.
If someone gets defensive and throws your sin back in your face—“Who are you to talk?!”—you can say, “You’re right. I sin too. But I’m sorry for that sin. Are you?”
Please don’t assume that confrontation is just for the pastor or the boldest members of your church. It’s part of your calling, a crucial way that God keeps his children from straying so that they can spend forever with him (and you) in heaven.
