And it brought me Peace.
This was new for me. In the past, I would get upset, feel the need to respond, to correct, to defend myself.
But today, I read the word “heretic” and everything else faded away. I thanked God for the peace that followed. Restraint and rest in Him is something I’ve been struggling with and praying about for a long while. My heart swelled, my eyes filled with tears. I wasn’t angry, or hurt, or frustrated.
I was relieved.
Because Scripture tells us faithfulness will provoke resistance.
Yeshua told His disciples that the world would hate us.
Paul told Timothy “All who desire to be godly in Christ will be persecuted.”
The apostles themselves rejoiced when they were shamed for obedience, counting it an honor rather than a loss.
Scripture repeatedly tells us walking the narrow way will receive pushback.
Not because we’re looking for conflict, but because obedience just naturally makes the flesh uncomfortable. When truth is spoken plainly, especially where change is involved, it disrupts a version of peace. Not true peace- but peace that depends on staying silent.
We’re going to be accused- of not having love, of being self-righteous, of causing division. And it can hurt if you aren’t at peace with that. Most of the time, these deflections aren’t because someone was actually mistreated, but because a belief was challenged.
The world tends to define love as acceptance without limit. Just let people do what they want, believe what they want, worship how they want- and don’t interfere.
But how does Scripture define love?
Biblical love has boundaries. It has order. It cares enough to step in. Real love doesn’t just protect feelings- It protects people. Even when the cost is comfort and approval.
Silence or polite indulgence might seem like kindness, but it rarely leads to anything of substance.
“Better correction is to reveal than love that is concealed; Faithful the wounds of affection, but abundant is the kiss of the enemy.”
— Proverbs 27:5-6
Truely loving others involves honesty and gentle correction; empty flattery doesn’t do anything but puff up pride.
“Iron iron sharpens, so a man sharpens the face of his friend.”
— Proverbs 27:17
Mutual correction and teaching strengthen those we love.
“He who loves instruction loves knowledge; he who hates rebuke is ba’ar (kindling)”
— Proverbs 12:1
Most versions say “is stupid”; however the Hebrew ba’ar is to burn or consume, as kindling; in order to purify from evil
“stupid” as in stubborn and wicked is actually nabal
“For YHWH reproves him whom He loves, as a Father the son in whom He delights.”
— Proverbs 3:12
God corrects those He loves; yakach (reprove): meaning to prove; reciprocal justification; to reason with- not argue
Correction is seldomly appreciated in a culture that treats personal autonomy, rather than holiness, as sacred. If following your heart is the highest priority, then any challenge is of course going to feel like a personal attack.
Scripture doesn’t romanticize the human heart-
“Deceitful is the heart above all things; anash. Who can know it?”
— Jeremiah 17:9
Anash: to be weak, sick; frail
The human heart just is this way- it’s our state of sin.
Side note: that’s also why we wear tzitzit:
“And shall have you the tzitzit that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of YHWH, and do them; not to follow after your heart and your eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.”
— Numbers 15:39
Not lust after (chamed) but zanah which literally means to prostitute yourself or be a harlot.
God wasn’t saying this in any uncertain terms. He knows if left to our own devices, we chase what looks right, feels right and what satisfies in the moment.
There’s a reason we’re referred to constantly in Scripture as sheep. Sheep are defenseless, easy wander away and look for whatever satisfies, with no regard for their life. Sheep will drink from literally any water source- even a dangerous ravine that will drown them.
That’s why our Father leads us beside still waters.
He’s always guiding us back to Him, His ways, and His will of restoration and faithful covenant.
When we’re correcting others, we’re working off the assumption that truth is going to offend- it’s inevitable.
This personally for me has been something I’ve had to pray about a lot. As I’ve mentioned, I’m autistic, so I tend to come at things from a very information based point of view and skip feelings- not out of the understanding that they don’t matter, but simply because I don’t naturally operate that way.
However I do understand that that is not how I’m going to reach the majority of people, so I am constantly asking YHWH to fix that in me, because I want to be a light.
Why I strive to be like Paul
Of course we want to be like Yeshua- but Yeshua is divine, perfect in every way.
That’s a lot to live up to.
Paul was only a man. He paints himself as a humble servant, because he knows the life he led wasn’t worthy of being saved- it was a gift from God. A chance he knew he didn’t deserve but was thankful for to his dying breath.
Even though he’s out there working for God, he never exalts himself as knowing better- he does the opposite.
“I indeed am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted the congregation of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:10
He never admonishes anyone from the side of knowing better. He approaches everything from the understanding that his authority is only given by God, and without grace, he would be nothing, nobody.
He knows his message is righteous, and that righteousness only comes from God. He’s empowered by Spirit to speak humbly but on sure footing, with the deep unshakable knowing that he serves El Emet– the God of Truth.
Yeshua tells us Division is certain
“Not think that I came to bring peace to the earth. Not I came to bring peace, but a sword. I came to dichazó a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother and a daughter in law against her mother in law. And the enemies of the man his household.
The one loving father or mother above Me not is worthy of Me, and the one loving son or daughter above Me is not worthy of Me.”
— Matthew 10:34-37 (quoting from Micah 7:6)
dichazó: set at variance, tear asunder, make hostile
Speaking truth is not about causing chaos: It’s about loyalty.
- Love does not mean blind agreement.
- Peace does not mean avoidance of conflict.
- Unity without truth is false peace.
False peace tells truth to stay quiet. Real peace is built on alignment with God, even when it costs- and it will assuredly cost us something.
Yeshua never promised that truth would make people happy. He was blatantly honest that loyalty to Him would strain relationships and inspire division.
That’s why the accusations of people who are misquoting Romans 16:17 to justify false teachings in the church irks the Spirit.
“I exhort you brother to take heed of those divisions and obstacles, alongside to the teaching that you have learned causing even to turn from them. For such our Lord Messiah not serve, but of themselves their heart and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
— Romans 16:17-18
On a personal note- verse 17 was misquoted in my own church as a call to “watch out for people running their mouths” and to basically turn away from those people and not interact with them. Spirit cried out and i felt sick- I looked at my husband next to me and we got up and walked out for the first time. We were outraged. Turn away from people because of immaturity? What about teaching and correcting and guidance? Where was the love?
That being said, I want to go over this verse carefully.
“Take heed of those divisions and obstacles”
Divisions: dichostasia- the act of standing apart
Obstacles: skandala– a trap, snare or stumbling block to cause to sin
“alongside to the teachings you have learned, causing even to turn from them.”
The English often says “contrary” but the Greek word is para- meaning in the presence of, besides, alongside
“by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
Smooth talk- chréstologia: plausible speaking by kind address to mislead
Flattery: eulogia: adulation, praise & blessing
We’ve already come to the conclusion that truth is going to offend people, and alignment to God is going to cause division-
That’s not misleading people, or deception, and its certainly not adulation.
Paul is warning against those who teach lawlessness through flattery.
He is addressing people who use spiritual language to gain followers, excuse disobedience and fracture the community for their own benefit.
In actuality, it’s ironic that the mainstream church uses this because this warning speaks directly to the modern teaching that grace covers all, making obedience optional or subscribing to partial obedience preferable.
What’s more, Paul even says this deception will only fool the naive- akakos; the guileless, the simple, the unsuspecting; the unlearned.
So if we feel like what we’re saying is negatively causing division, we have to ask ourselves-
Does teaching obedience to God flatter others and lead them into sin?
Obviously not.
In reality- truth reveals the heart. When we obey and others resist, separation happens; not because love failed, but because light exposes what the enemy prefers to keep hidden in the dark. And he thrives on human fear, shame and pride.
Casting Pearls before Swine
“Not give that which is holy to dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine least they trample them underfoot and having turned tear you to peices.”
— Matthew 7:6
Dogs weren’t kept as pets in Yeshua’s time; they were aggressive, unclean scavengers. Likewise pigs are unclean and symbolic for impurity. This would have been a vivid statement for the Jews to know when someone only wants to mock, dispute or dominate a discussion about Torah truth.
Notice this verse comes directly after “remove the beam from your own eye”- meaning discernment only comes when we stop judging others from a standpoint of being better than them.
Yeshua is telling us Torah is sacred- giving it recklessly is when someone is seeking conflict not obedience and will only lead to harm- for the messenger and the message.
Paul gives pretty good instructions to Titus:
“However foolish controversies, and pedigrees, and arguments and quarrels about Torah avoid; they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a heretic man after one and a second admonition, knowing that is corrupt such a man and is sinning, being self condemned.”
— Titus 3:9-11
He flows off of proverbs wisdom
- 9:7-8 “He who corrects a scoffer take disgrace; he who rebukes a wicked man stains himself; not correct a scoffer least he hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.”
- 23:9 “In the hearing of a fool, speak nothing; for he will despise the wisdom of your words.”
- 26:4-5 “Not answer a fool to his folly, least you be like him also.”
A fool, a scoffer, a disputer- these aren’t people asking honest questions; they are people intent on arguing after context and correction are give, who are against obedience and weaponize or reject Torah.
Simply put- correction and truth are offered twice; stubbornness and pride are exposed the third time. At that point we disengage; silently or by creating a simple boundary and not defending it.
“I’ve shared my belief faithfully. I’m going to step back from this conversation now.”
No invitation for more conflict.
I’ve recently been freed from my own people pleasing complex by the realization that I don’t owe anyone an explanation. Being able to retract and shut down a topic is so peaceful. Knowing I answer to God alone is liberating.
Final Thoughts
Scripture never calls us to make truth comfortable- but it does call us to speak from humility rather than superiority. That means examining ourselves before correcting others, leaving room for the possibility that we’re still learning, and not rushing to assume the worst or label someone’s motives. We focus on what it clear and true, and leave the rest to God.
And we must keep in mind: Truth offends flesh. If we’ve spoken from love, their offense is not our failure. Yeshua offended people constantly, not because He lacked compassion, but because He refused to affirm what was false. Paul offended people. The prophets offended people. It’s going to happen- and that’s okay. Walking faithfully can cost us comfort, approval and even relationships.
That’s okay too.
We’re not meant to be conformed to the world’s ways, or please people: We align with God’s ways and love people.
Real love doesn’t abandon people to destruction for the sake of false peace.
Real love speaks, warns and corrects.
So if they call me heretic, insult me, tell me I need to find Jesus or I’m not saved- I’m at peace with that, knowing I’m right where God wants me. We’re not going to live in truth by standing on the sidelines and reassuring people with false peace. Sometimes we’re going to have to stand up without bitterness or fear and declare “I will not compromise.”
Because peace in true faithfulness to God is worth more than being understood, accepted or approved by the world.
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