When we look at Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:3–5, we often highlight how we need to deal with the plank in our own eye. It is true that we need to deal with sin in ourselves before we address sin in our brother’s lives, but we still have a responsibility to deal with the specks in their eyes. Correcting sin in our brother’s lives is a delicate operation, like removing something from their eye, and is something we are all called to do. Too often we shy away from speaking up about our brothers sin, hoping that (a) it’ll correct itself, (b) someone else will take care of it, or worse yet (c) we just don’t love them enough to step up and be courageous. A while ago, Ryan Joy preached a lesson that made a huge impact on me about Courageous Conversations, and how we all need to find the courage to say what needs to be said in dealing with the sins in our brothers lives. It stuck with me, and is something I constantly struggle with. We ought to be able and willing to embrace James 5:19–20 and snatch a wandering soul from the clutches of Satan! “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19–20)

Last Sunday morning, Austin preached about Adherence, and gave us a physical example of taking medication as it applies to our spiritual walk. These kinds of comparisons are helpful, because when we’re taking our morning pills, we can be reminded of spiritual things. Tonight I want to use a physical activity that we’re all familiar with to help us understand how to delicately handle sin in the lives of our brothers – SHAVING!
* About 6 months ago I decided to learn how to shave like my grandpa did. It’s called Wet Shaving and uses shave soap, a brush, and a straight razor like the one shown here.
* Shaving using this razor is an extremely delicate operation and takes a very special technique if you’re hoping to avoid razor burn or cuts. If you’re not careful, you can easily hurt yourself. It was nerve racking the first time I used this razor, and I did actually cut myself pretty bad, but once I learned the secret, it was much easier and very rewarding to shave this way.
* There are 3 secrets to shaving with a single sharp razor blade like this one: ANGLE, PRESSURE, and PATIENCE.
* For the sake of this evening’s lesson, this is sin (show beard photo) in our brothers life, and we’re going to talk about how to get rid of it without doing damage to them. If we’re not careful, we can easily turn them away from God further, causing them to leave the Lord, and resent us and the church.
* Remembering these simple principles (Angle, Pressure, Patience), we can handle the delicate job of removing the “stubble” of sin in our brothers lives.

Angle

In Shaving

  • The angle that the blade comes in contact to the skin is critical if you want to remove hair without cutting yourself. The use of a safety razor usually helps prevent injury, but the proper angle is roughly 30 degrees.

In Correcting a Brother

  • Humility
    • “… 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 2:25–26)
    • They need to see that we’re not feeling superior to them, or looking down on them in any way. Arrogance and pride have no place when trying to bring someone back from their wandering ways.
  • Friendship
    • “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:6)
    • They need to see that we’re offering correction as a friend, and not someone on the attack. Developing a friendship with our brethren will help them understand that we’re not on the attack when we talk with them about their sin.

Pressure

In Shaving

  • With a cheap, multi blade razor, you usually have to push very hard to remove hair. Applying the same amount of pressure with a single quality blade will definitely result in injury. Usually the weight of the razor itself is enough to remove hair without injury. However, not enough pressure will not get you the results you’re looking for.

In Correcting a Brother

  • Spirit of gentleness
    • “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
    • Dealing with sin in our brothers lives is a delicate operation, one that we need to approach with gentleness. Being compassionate and gentle when we offer a rebuke is exactly what we would want if someone was coming to correct us.
  • Escalating
    • ““Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:15–17)
    • “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” (1 Timothy 5:20)
    • “… rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,” (Titus 1:13)
    • The amount of pressure we put on a brother is dependent on the situation, but we need to be praying for wisdom to know how to respond, and that they would be receptive hearers to the correction we offer. Gaining a brother back is the ultimate goal, and that should be in our mind the entire time!

Patience

In Shaving

  • The first pass with the razor blade is usually not enough to achieve the desired smoothness. About 2–3 passes are required. Be patient and don’t try to rush it!

In Correcting a Brother

  • Bear with one another in love
    • “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2–3)
    • We cannot always expect immediate change overnight. Patience is not easy, but when we consider how patient and loving our God is toward us in our sins, we will have a much easier time extending that patience to others. We should never write anyone off because of their sins, but be patient with them and help them attain maturity – because we love them.
  • Forgive Him
    • “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”” (Luke 17:3–4)
    • 7 times in a day?! We should be willing to extend forgiveness as we’ve been forgiven. God does not hold a grudge or hang our sins over our head, and we should not do the same for those we love and cherish who are getting over sin in their lives.