"Angle"
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While I'm not a particularly hairy individual, a few years ago, I decided to switch to a single-blade razor when I need a good shave. If you're not careful, you can cut yourself pretty badly. So I quickly learned the three secrets to shaving this way: angle, pressure, and patience.
Repeating these three words to myself every morning got me thinking about Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7.
"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matt. 7:3-5).
He's undoubtedly addressing the need to deal with our sins first. But he's also telling us how important it is to remove the sins from a brother's life. It's a delicate job — like shaving — and requires the same three principles to avoid doing more harm than good.
Let's talk about removing the "stubble" of sin in our brother's life, starting with the angle we take.
Angle in Shaving
The angle that the blade comes in contact with the skin is critical if you want to remove hair without cutting yourself. The use of a safety razor usually helps prevent injury, but the proper angle is roughly 30 degrees. But what angle do we take when correcting a brother?
Approach With Humility
"in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim. 2:25-26, NKJV).
Pride and arrogance have no place when trying to bring someone back from their wandering ways since we realize we're just as capable of falling (Gal. 6:1). So, do we humble ourselves when correcting a brother? Or do we act like their superior, looking down on them like we're somehow better?
Approach With Friendship
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy" (Prov. 27:6).
When we've developed strong bonds with each other, they'll see those wounds as faithful rather than hateful. So, does our correction come as a friend? Or do we approach them like someone on the attack?
It's never easy, convenient, or fun to sit down and tell someone they're in sin. But we need to find the courage and love for their souls to step in and help! And by starting with ourselves — the approach we take — we give them the best possible chance of hearing and turning.
