Is it ok to confront people?

Question

I have been raised in a Christian household, and I have this feeling that it is a sin to confront people. I don't want to hurt their feelings, but at the same time I don't want to hurt. Is it ok to confront people? Could you please tell me how to go along confronting someone when I want to be honest with them? Thank you.

You people are awesome.

Answer 1

If you feel that confrontation is necessary you should do it... for example you may want to confront someone about excessive drinking or taking drugs or bad behaviour or laziness. That's common sense, nothing to do with whether or not you're religious.

If you mean should you confront people in order to convert them then no.

Answer 2

I read a book once that was very helpful on how to confront people. It said that when confronting someone it is important to balance grace with truth. It also differentiated between causing hurt and causing harm to someone. When you confront someone with both grace and truth it may hurt but it is also done in a compassionate way. They actually based a lot of their methods from passages in the Bible so you may find it helpful too. It was called 'How to Have That Difficult Conversation Youve Been Avoiding' by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.

Answer 3

Actually, if you take the text of the bible literally, you are charged with confronting people. Now, how you do it is what is to be considered. According to the text, you should have the "hate the sin not the sinner" mentality when confronting people. But, according to the bible, confronting people about sin is not a sin itself.

Answer 4

2 Timothy 2:24-26 tells us that as servants of the Lord, we are to be kind to and not quarrel with anyone. We should gently teach those who oppose the truth, and be patient with difficult people. Matthew 5:16 tells us “...let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father.”

It isn't a sin to confront someone, but you are to do all things for the glory of God. Therefore, when confronting someone, you should do it with compassion, kindness, and truth.

Answer 5

The need for confrontation sometimes arises in us all. As a Christian..."If your brother offends you...go to your brother" etc etc. If someone is sinning or sinning against you you should approach them with sensitivity and the love, compassion, mercy and Grace that Jesus did...tell them what you feel and hope they understand your intentions. If the sin was against you then be prepared to FORGIVE readily.
Best wishes, Mike.

Answer 6

It's how you do it that's important. Treat them as you would want to be treated. With gentleness and assuming they mean well even if they are doing something wrong. Give them a chance to save face; most people do have good intentions.

Psychologists recommending using phrases like "I feel... " to show that what you're doing is giving your side of it rather than accusing them of being scum. I'd like to qualify that by saying there are some cases of clear-cut scummage, in which case I don't worry about hurting their feelings.

Answer 7

You can approach people without confronting them. Nobody can teach you how to do that. If you keep ending up in confrontations, try something different than what you have been doing.

Answer 8

If you want to confront them about religion, then it is wrong, but if they do you wrong then by all means just confront them with the wrong they did. Le them know you will not stand for it.

Answer 9

I can't help but observe that when people want to "be honest" with others, it generally has to do with the others' behavior.

It appears to be very difficult to be honest about our own, though.

Answer 10

Just remember how Jesus reacted to what was going on in the temple when his reaction was to destroy and set ablaze.
Let your feelings show.