How can we discern when to correct a "mocker" as Proverbs 9:7 advises? Setting the Stage: Proverbs 9:7 “He who corrects a mocker invites insult; he who rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.” (Proverbs 9:7) Who Is a Mocker? • Despises counsel (Proverbs 13:1) • Rejects correction (Proverbs 15:12) • Scoffs at righteousness (Proverbs 14:6) • Stirs conflict (Proverbs 22:10) In short, a mocker is not merely uninformed; he is willfully defiant and contemptuous toward truth. Principles for Discernment • Recognize the heart posture: is there any receptivity, or only contempt? (1 Corinthians 2:14) • Weigh the fruit: will correction rescue the simple who are listening? (Proverbs 19:25; 21:11) • Consider stewardship: do you bear spiritual responsibility for this person? (Ezekiel 3:17–19) • Count the cost: will speaking escalate needless strife? (Proverbs 26:17) • Seek the Spirit’s prompting; He alone knows when the door is open (John 16:13). When Correction Is Warranted • The mocker’s influence is harming others—silence would endanger the flock (Titus 1:10–11). • You have relational capital or God-given authority (parent, pastor, elder—see 2 Timothy 2:24–26). • There is at least a flicker of teachability—questions asked, conviction sensed (Acts 26:28–29). • You can speak calmly, “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), not from irritation. • The Spirit presses you, and withholding truth would violate conscience (James 4:17). When Silence May Be Wiser • Persistent contempt: “Do not give dogs what is holy” (Matthew 7:6). • Repeated attempts have hardened, not softened, the hearer (Titus 3:10). • Your own heart is agitated, making a gracious tone impossible (Proverbs 29:11). • Public settings where debate would only amplify scorn (Proverbs 23:9). • The conversation diverts from the gospel and stirs endless quarrels (2 Timothy 2:14). Practical Steps to Discernment 1. Pray privately for clarity and the mocker’s heart. 2. Search Scripture for any mandate to speak in that situation. 3. Invite counsel from mature believers (Proverbs 11:14). 4. Assess timing—sometimes waiting softens resistance (Ecclesiastes 3:7). 5. If led to speak, frame correction around Christ’s work, not mere opinion (1 Peter 3:15). Guarding Our Own Hearts • Check motives—seek the mocker’s good, not personal vindication. • Stay humble; we, too, once opposed truth (Titus 3:3–5). • Maintain gentleness; harshness often confirms scoffing (Proverbs 15:1). • Rest in God’s sovereignty; only He grants repentance (2 Timothy 2:25). Final Encouragement Wisdom neither chases every scoffer nor cowers before any. Walk in step with the Spirit, weigh the situation against Scripture, and trust God to use both your words and your restraint for His glory. |
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