We shall all be offended in one way or another, that is for sure. What we do when we are offended is the important piece of the situation. Most people today take to the internet and name names and describe the awful thing that was done to them. But wait. There is a process and in due time, naming names would be the proper thing to do.
First things first. Go to the offender to seek reconciliation before you do anything else, including and especially the internet. Notice the purpose is reconciliation not to let the person have a piece of your mind.
Matthew 18:15 (ESV) — 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Secondly, in the spirit of reconciliation take two or three people along to a second meeting. That does not mean you are ganging up on the person, rather you as the offended are reaching out to the offending for the purpose of reconciliation and the people you brought along are witnesses,
Matthew 18:16 (ESV) — 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Thirdly, you bring to the church, again for the purpose of reconciliation that maybe the person will hear what the church has to say.
Matthew 18:17 (ESV) — 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Fourthly, if the person will not hear the counsel of the church, then says Jesus that person should be named as a person who rejects truth.
Matthew 18:17 (ESV) — 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
It was upon this counsel that Paul took to naming names so that people would understand that a person has rejected truth and as a result should be considered a person who cannot be trusted.
2 Timothy 2:16–18 (ESV) — 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
2 Timothy 4:10 (ESV) — 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
Titus 1:12 (ESV) — 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
1 Timothy 1:20 (ESV) — 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Romans 16:17 (ESV) — 17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
Speaking of naming names, Paul not only named names of people that caused problems in the church but consider how he names the names of people who have been a blessing to him and the cause of Christ.
Romans 16:1–15 (ESV) — 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
Names are important and so is naming names. Before you bring down a person with statements defaming their name, remember there is a process but before you name names of people who are a blessing, anytime is the right time.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
