To stand for the truth, to discern, to speak plainly about what is right, and to expose and separate from error—these are often branded as “negative” actions. Yet Scripture commands precisely this. The charge to confront error is not a concession to pessimism or divisiveness; it is a divine mandate, essential for the preservation of the Gospel and the health of Christ’s body.
The Rebellion Against Truth
God’s word exposes the perennial tendency of people to reject truth in favor of comfort. Through Isaiah, the Lord rebuked Israel as a rebellious people—children who refused to hear His law. Their demand was clear: “Do not prophesy to us what is right. Speak to us smooth things. Prophesy deceits.” (Isaiah 30:9) This is not merely a matter of preference; it is open rebellion. When people insist on hearing only what flatters them, they sever themselves from God’s law and embrace deception.
This pattern did not end with Israel. Through Jeremiah, God condemned prophets who spoke visions from their own hearts, not from the mouth of the Lord. These false prophets assured peace to those who despised God and encouraged everyone walking in the stubbornness of their own hearts: “No evil shall come upon you.” (Jeremiah 23:16-17) The result is not harmless optimism but a deepening of self-deception and rebellion. Flattery becomes a tool of destruction, confirming people in their alienation from God.
The Normative Struggle in the Church
Paul warned Timothy that this same dynamic would become normative in the church age. “The time will come,” he wrote, “when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4) This is not a hypothetical danger but a present reality. The rejection of sound doctrine is always accompanied by the embrace of fables and even demonic doctrines.
Paul’s response was not to retreat or soften the message. Instead, he commanded: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2) The work of discernment—reproving, rebuking, exhorting—is not optional. It is the means by which the truth is guarded and the flock protected.
The Cost and the Crown
This faithfulness comes at a cost. Paul did not hide the reality of affliction: “Endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5) The stigma attached to discernment and confrontation is real. Those who contend for the truth will be maligned as negative, divisive, or unloving. But this struggle is not a sign of failure or spiritual immaturity; it is the very context in which faithfulness is proven.
Paul’s own testimony is clear: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) For him—and for all who follow in this path—there is a promised reward: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day—and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8) Enduring the struggle of discernment, bearing the stigma, and remaining faithful is the path to the crown of righteousness.
What Is Lost If We Refuse This Mandate?
If we capitulate to the demand for “smooth things” and flattering words, we lose more than doctrinal clarity—we forfeit the very ground of our justification and inheritance. To reject discernment is to abandon the stewardship of the Gospel, to leave the flock unguarded, and to align ourselves with those who turn from truth to fables. The result is not unity or peace, but a church adrift, vulnerable to every wind of doctrine and every deceitful spirit. The inheritance of sonship, the assurance of a cleansed conscience, and the expectation of Christ’s appearing—all are undermined when error is tolerated and truth is silenced.
Loving His Appearing Means Loving the Truth
To love Christ’s appearing is to love and guard the truth. It is to contend against false teachers, to watch over the treasure entrusted to us, and to live in the expectation of His return. This is not a secondary matter; it is salvific. The crown of righteousness is reserved for those who endure, who refuse to compromise, who stand in the finished work of Christ and uphold sound doctrine against every assault.
Discernment is not a negative liability but a positive, God-ordained tool. Sound doctrine is not a luxury but a shield. The affliction and stigma that come with faithfulness are not to be avoided but embraced, for they are the marks of those who will receive the Lord’s commendation. The world and the compromised church may judge us harshly, but the righteous Judge sees and rewards those who love His appearing by loving and guarding His truth.
