THE DELICATE BUSINESS OF CONFRONTATION

There is something left "unsaid" that we need to consider. The fact that Paul went to such great lengths to explain himself indicates that this whole business of bringing people to an awareness of guilt is an extremely delicate matter.

1. Confrontation is appropriate.

   There are times when it is necessary to confront people with the intention of convicting them of their sins. David was not dealing with his guilt after he committed sin with Bathsheba and ordered the death of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. Nathan initiated a "four-eyed" conference with the king, told him the story of the insensitive rich man who killed a poor man's only ewe lamb. After eliciting David's sympathy for the little ewe lamb and arousing his ire against the rich man, the prophet said to David, "You are the man."

   Peter exposed duplicity in the heart of Simon the Sorcerer, when he said in Acts 8:21-22

   You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

   Later on Peter would find himself on the receiving end of confrontation. When he refused to eat with the Gentiles, Paul "cut to the chase" in Galatians 2:11

   When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.

2. Manipulative guilt-tripping is never appropriate.

   Sometimes people attempt to induce guilt as a means of gaining control over others. In Acts 15, there is an account of a controversy that arose in the early church, when certain people demanded circumcision of those Gentiles who had been converted to Christ. They attempted to create guilt where none existed. When we "guilt-trip" people over matters of opinion, tradition and culture, we commit a serious offense against God. Note Peter's response to the "circumcision" party in Acts 15:10.

   Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear.

This helps us to understand why Paul was so very careful in his choice of words in 2 Corinthians 7. He recognized the need for accountability, but he was also sensitive to the great harm that could be done when people are made to feel guilty unnecessarily. How do we know when we are legitimately confronting people in the spirit of meekness about some matter than endangers their standing with the Lord? And how do we know when we're using guilt as a manipulative tool?

THE CONSCIENCE

To answer that question, we must understand that guilt is a product of the mind. The part of the mind that feels guilt is called the conscience. Conscience is that part of the mind which disapproves our violations of those things we believe to be right and wrong.

A poll was taken among children between the ages of 5 and 9. They were asked to define conscience. Here are some of their answers

• Conscience is what burns inside when you aren't good. (a 6 year old girl)
• A 6 year old boy said that he didn't really know how to define conscience, but it had something to do with the way he felt when he kicked little girls and little dogs.
• It's the voice inside that says 'no' when you want to beat up your little brother (a 9 year old).

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