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Ask for Correction – I Dare You!

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Saw this on the Peacemaker Ministries website: Asking for Correction. Ken Sande writes:

Since character growth is a lifelong challenge, I am going through this process again by asking my family and a few friends and coworkers for their loving correction. Realizing that lasting change comes only as God works in my heart, I am digging deeper this time. I am asking these people to help me identify the desires of my heart that give rise to ungodly behavior, and to pray for me as I seek God’s help for change.

I have developed two short letters that ask seven questions. The answers will help me see myself more clearly. One letter is for family and friends, and the other is for co-workers. The questions include the following:

* Please describe three character qualities, behaviors, or attitudes in me that have disappointed, annoyed, or offended you or others, or seemed to undermine my witness for Christ. Give specific examples, if possible.
* What things have you seen me make idols out of? (An idol is any desire—even for good things—that I have elevated to a demand, become excessively preoccupied with, looked to for security, had to have in order to be content, or allowed to control me.)
* If there were just one change God would bring about in me in the next six months, what would you pray it would be?

These are great thoughts for us as we pursue holiness. So…

pursue it!

E-Mail & Gospel Correction…

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A good word from C.J. and James MacDonald. The intro:

It’s hard enough for a pastor to pour out his heart by preaching God’s Word, then submit to the critique of members standing in line to shake his hand. But what pastor doesn’t dread opening his e-mail account on Monday or Tuesday morning? Why do certain Christians feel the need to review the pastor’s Sunday morning “performance”? This discouraging weekly experience is enough to dull whatever excitement you have to head into church in the morning.

But in this era increasingly dominated by digital communication, pastors are hardly alone in struggling to discern how to use e-mail. When was the last time you sent a message you eventually or even immediately wished you could take back? How often do others misunderstand you? In this video, James MacDonald and C. J. Mahaney confess mistakes they’ve made when using e-mail as a means of correcting others. And they lay out some ground rules for how to employ digital communication for the glory of God and the good of Christ’s church.

Josh Harris on Correction.

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Earlier this week, Tony Reinke did a post on Josh Harris’ sermon from this past Lord’s Day. The sermon, Lady Wisdom’s Food and Drink, was based on Proverbs 9:1-18.

I had a chance to listen to this excellent sermon today and was freshly convicted about responding to correction. I think all of us in the church would benefit from this sermon. Here’s a summary from Reinke’s post on the spectrum of responses to correction:

The Wise—(1) Loves correction. (2) Pursues correction.
The Growing—(3) Appreciates correction. (4) Begrudgingly accepts correction.
The Simple—(5) Is open-minded to correction. (6) Is indifferent towards correction.
The Fool—(7) Is annoyed by correction. (8) Judges those who correct.
The Scoffer—(9) Hates correction.

Now, today, Josh has posted a PDF outlining a Correction and Encouragement Evaluation. Take advantage of this great resource and see if you don’t grow in wisdom and the fear of the Lord.