Correction from the Pulpit or In Person?

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! (2 Samuel 12:7).

Pastors always hear the horror stories of the “other guy” who does this—the smaller the church, the worse it is. Someone in the church is sinning, or doing something of which the preacher does not approve. So he addresses it in a subtle or not so subtle way from the pulpit on Sunday. The practice is more obvious when the message is not expository or the application is not plainly taught from the text. Preaching is used, not to expound the scripture, but to “send a message” to a specific individual or group of individuals from the pulpit during the sermon.

Even if this were a legitimate practice, it is very difficult to pull off effectively. The message is often so veiled that the intended target does not receive it, or everyone BUT the intended recipient gets what is happening. On the other extreme, the entire congregation sits in agitated awkward silence as one of their own is publicly humiliated by the person who is supposed to be their spiritual caretaker.

Why would a preacher do this? I would speculate that there are several potential reasons why it is tempting to do this.

The pulpit provides a level of protection. You can say what you want and they dare not answer back. It gives the speaker a more solid sense of authority. Very few of us like personal confrontation and for some, saying it in public from the pulpit seems less personal. Sometimes a preacher gets worked up as he preaches his message and starts to emotionally vent. It can be a form of public manipulation—bullying.

Personal confrontation is biblical.

Nathan confronted David privately (2 Samuel 12:7) and then David confessed publicly (Psalm 51). There is a specific process to follow in such instances outlined in Matthew 18:15-18. Public confrontation only happens after personal confrontation has failed and that in the very deliberate process of church discipline.

This does not mean that there is never a case for immediate public correction, but usually in an instance where the sin is going on publicly at that moment and is particularly serious. Paul publicly confronted Peter immediately (Galatians 2:11-14) regarding a matter of gospel significance. Paul says that some need to be rebuked before all so that all may fear, but this is in the church discipline process and only for those who have already been rebuked and have persisted in their sin (1 Timothy 5:20).

Personal confrontation is loving.

Galatians 6:1-2 says that correction for a sinning brother must be done in a spirit of gentleness. Private confrontation shows care and concern for the individual. Love for one another must be our motivation in all our interactions with one another in Christ.

Personal confrontation is effective.

Paul gave Timothy very specific instructions regarding the methodology of a pastor in such circumstances.

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

Personal confrontation is gentle and respectful and in most cases has more of a chance of being effective.

There is one caution here. I am not saying that we should not strongly preach against sin as is appropriate. In fact, we are commanded to do so (2 Timothy 4:1-4).

It is a simple principle. Do not make corrections from the pulpit that should be made privately.