The Rebukee's Response
Regardless of the motives within the rebuker's heart, the one rebuked may respond either as a fool who scoffs at rebuke or as a wise man who learns from it. There is no middle ground, but, there are varying degrees of either response. Remember:
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. John 3:19-20
thus:
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 (NIV)
The fool will scoff at rebuke regardless of the level of gentility with which the rebuke was administered, Proverbs 1:22. On the other hand, a wise man hears reproof and learns from it, Hebrews 12:11, simply because "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid," Proverbs 12:1. Measuring the response of the rebukee must take into consideration the rebukee's agreement with the scriptures or Unity with the Spirit.
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