Together in Christ: 'Broken Relationships Are Strong in the Wrong Places' — Proverbs 18:19

Wounding or betraying a friend can break someone precious to God, leading them to erect barriers with high and strong walls between them and us and perhaps also between them and God. Friends wounded in this way will seldom risk their hearts with us again. Similarly, pursuing an argument just to win can often mean losing a friendship and locking us out of our former friend's heart. If our offense causes them to stumble in their relationship with God, that is a very serious matter for both them and us. ^[1]

While there are times when we must say difficult things to a friend or confront a close brother or sister in Christ about their sin, there is a loving way to do this. ^[2] Our goal is not to prove ourselves right but help the other person who is our friend to find their way home to God and us. ^[3] Saving a friend in Christ from sin is an incredibly holy action that too few people are willing to take. However, it should not be confused with unfair criticism or senseless arguments ^[4] that are often more about trying to prove our supposed superiority than they are about saying and doing what is in the eternal best interest of another! ^[5]

Our words of "carefrontation" must be prayerfully chosen and spoken with gentleness and respect. ^[6] Our goal is not to win a verbal battle but to secure the heart of someone we love and God loves for their sake and to help us grow in our walk together with the Lord.