If you’re sufficiently familiar with the Bible, you’ll know the portion in the title is incomplete. But more on that later.
Admonish. I don’t think it’s a term all that common in the contemporary American lexicon.
But it better be in the Christian’s lexicon…and practice!
Admonish: to caution, advise, or counsel against something; to reprove or scold, especially in a mild and good-willed manner; to urge to a duty; remind.
I better tell you why I’m on this subject. It started Sunday morning, January 22.
For his devotional, the Sunday School Superintendent read portions of Romans 14 and 15. His reading ended with six words in Romans 15:14, like this:
“Able also to admonish one another.”
Ten days that saying has been buzzing around in my head!
That morning I commented about that portion to the men assembled in the Sunday School I was teaching.
I commented further about it to the class this past Sunday. (My turn teaching the men’s class is now done, so I doubt I’ll be commenting on the verse to the class again.)
In my comments to the class, my line of thought had to do with what often keeps me from admonishing another. (My list has lengthened since those mornings.)
- He’s an extra good friend of mine, so I cut him a lot of (read: too much) slack.
- We’ve had conflicts before, and I’m not wanting a new bout with him.
- I know he’s struggling or discouraged, and I don’t want to pile on.
- He gets nasty and fights fire with fire…no thanks!
- He’s stubborn, stuck in his ways, and very unapproachable…why waste my time?
- I’ve admonished him before, so I don’t want to seem like I’m picking on him.
- He hurt me recently; I don’t want him to think I’m being vindictive.
- I don’t want to hurt him.
- Based on past experience, I’m sure I’ll get the silent treatment for a while.
- I don’t know how to do it right.
And thus, I’m not “able also to admonish one another.”
What hinders you from admonishing another?
There’s more to the verse, though.
It clearly speaks of a mutual give and take — one another, you know.
Then I have to ask myself, which of the above keeps someone else from admonishing me?
Likely all of them.
So what must I do to be more admonishable?
PS: Here’s the entire verse as rendered in the New American Standard Bible (NASB):
“And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”