Christians, is it ever appropriate to rebuke a fellow believer?

Mt 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

Mt 18:16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Gal 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

2Ti 2:25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

I would suggest a careful reading of Matt. 18. It is all about interpersonal communication between Christians. Did not the Apostle Paul rebuke the Apostle Peter when he got up from the table of gentiles when the Jews came in?

It is not only the responsibility of a pastor. There is no scripture that says that. Matt. 18 makes that very clear as does the scripture below.

Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Jude 1:22-23 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Simple answer, YES (and no)

IF THE OFFENDER IS A BELIEVER: YES

Remember to speak the truth in love.

The Bible gives us a formula to follow. We 1st approach the person alone and bring it up. If they resist or deny it, then we get a few 'loving' believers to come for a 2nd visit. Then if they still will not end the sinful behavior, we can escalate again with the pastor or other leadership.

In the end, if the offender is unwilling to change, he should be treated as an unbeliever.

But you must ALWAYS forgive. We expect God to forgive us. So how can we not forgive others?

IF THE OFFENDER IS AN UNBELIEVER: NO

Because they need Jesus. Without Jesus, everything is a sin. Every motive is self-driven. Every action is excluing Jesus. So act in love as God did for you when you were an unbeliever.

So love, love, love. That's what non-believers understand. They don't get all the religious 'died on the cross' babel.

If you can't love them first, they won't care about the message.

Once they see your love, they will come looking for the message.

BE BLESSED!

I think the idea that it might be wrong to rebuke or correct someone who is committing a sin comes from political correctness. Of course it should be done in a loving spirit, but you already show that you are concerned about that. There is a saying that it is not love to pat someone on the back on his way down to hell, and tell him to have a good trip. Someone who is living a sinful lifestyle needs to know what God says about it.

Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. (Spoken by Jesus)

1Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. ( Spoken by the Apostle Paul)

Jesus never told believers not to judge each other. Just the opposite. He said to "take the plank out of your own eye so you could see clearly to remove the sliver from your BROTHER'S eye."

(Just make sure you are not sinning yourself when you tell someone else they are) We are to lift each other up and do it in love. Also, we are to go to that person and tell them; if they refuse to listen you take another believer with you. If they still don't listen, then you go to the Pastor and the other members.

But, YES it is appropriate to do so. We CAN judge within the body of Christ, but we are not to judge outside the body. However, just telling someone what God has already judged as right and wrong isn't judging that person if done correctly. Good question. :)

Yes, I refrain from doing that but I have been rebuked a number of times by believers. It's hard for me to fit in when I don't hear clear or loud. So terribly frustrating and when they are suspicious too and just looking for faults I cannot be around that now. I have quit attending church for these reasons. There are verses saying to admonish and rebuke, and some people get in the habit of it so much that they do in when they shouldn't.

God says in scripture that you are to love others as he loves us, and to forgive as he forgives. He also warned us about false believers, deceiving christians and their sinful ways. If you feel that your Brother or sister is acting in a sinful way that may cause harm to them, God would always ask you to help them where you can. Of course this is totally different to judging, this is an act out of love, and support. Pray to God.

staring on the doctrines and dogma of maximum folk of Christendom, what do you come across? (2 Timothy 4:3-4) 3 For there will be a volume of time whilst they gained't submit with the wholesome coaching, yet, in accord with their very own desires, they are going to assemble instructors for themselves to have their ears tickled; 4 and that they are going to turn their ears far flung from the reality, while they are going to be grew to become aside to fake thoughts. people who're comprehend that the church homes have used "untruths" to their income for some 1900 years are no longer fooled via them. they must pass against those lies, and take a stand for the reality. This relates no longer just to scientific actuality, yet additionally ethical actuality, and the different one that the church homes have corrupted. The others, will proceed to parrot what they go with. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) 9 however the lawless one’s presence is in accordance to the operation of devil with each effectual artwork and mendacity signs and indications and portents 10 and with each unrighteous deception for people who're perishing, as a retribution through fact they did no longer settle for the affection of the reality that they may well be saved. eleven to ensure that this reason God we could an operation of blunders pass to them, that they might get to believing the lie, 12 purely so that all of them may well be judged through fact they did no longer have faith the reality yet took excitement in unrighteousness. This has been a source of inflammation for every person that values actuality over lies.

We absolutely SHOULD rebuke other believers. Its one of the purposes of being part of a body of believers.

"For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges" ...

--1 Cor 5: 12-13

also,

"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

-- Prov 27: 17