When is it appropriate for a Christian to try to correct another Christian?

from the old testament

• If a fellow Israelite’s conduct deserved reproof, he was to be rebuked in an effort to salvage the situation instead of silently harboring hatred (Leviticus 19:17).
• The psalmist in 141:5 declares his conviction that the reproof of the righteous is a kindness like oil.
• Discernment is essential as correction is wasted on the foolish who reject wisdom, but the wise welcome rebuke and grow from it (Proverbs 9:7-9).
• A believer values correction because it leads to wisdom. Proverbs 12:1 states that those who hate reproof are “stupid” which highlights the spiritual danger of pride.
• Listening to advice and correction can lead to fullness of life and wisdom while ignoring rebuke results in personal loss and spiritual stagnation (Proverbs 15:31-32, 19:20).
• God commissioned Isaiah and other prophets to boldly confront sin among His people. Prophetic rebuke was not just permitted; it was divinely endorsed in Isaiah 58:1: “Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins.”
• Individuals are accountable for their own choices, but fellow believers are responsible for warning others when their actions invite judgment (Ezekiel 3:18-19).

from the new testament

• When possible, Christians should with all humility, gentleness, and patience bear others’ weaknesses in love (Romans 15:1; Ephesians 4:2-3).
• We are called to have “compassionate hearts” that demonstrate “kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” while forgiving one another, just as God has graciously forgiven us (Colossians 3:12-13).
• If a Christian is caught in sin, another believer should help restore him or her with a spirit of gentleness while being cautious not to be caught up in temptation (Galatians 6:1).
• Christians should rebuke fellow brothers and sisters, sometimes in public if necessary, and be quick to forgive when he or she repents (Luke 17:3-4, 1 Timothy 5:20).
• In Matthew 18:15-17 Jesus lays out a step-by-step process for confronting a fellow believer who sins: First, point out the fault in a private one-on-one discussion. If the brother does not listen, involve three witnesses. Escalate to church involvement if needed and, ultimately, disfellowship with the intention of future reconciliation.
• Church leaders should patiently warn the unruly, encourage those with fear and doubt in the faith, and support those who are weak (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14).
• Christians should mercifully correct those who are part of the church who either doubt or have strayed doctrinally and who are not living according to biblical principles with the hope of repentance and restoration (James 5:19–20, Jude 1:22–23).
• Second Corinthians 2:6-8 indicates the church in Corinth was properly rebuking members. They were reminded to forgive, comfort, and show love to a repentant member.
• Paul encourages believers to teach and admonish one another, using their knowledge of God to instruct each other (Romans 15:14, Colossians 3:16).
• Paul expected believers to disassociate themselves from those who profess to be brothers but are in a continual pattern of sin, presuming the brother would be first lovingly warned at least twice (1 Corinthians 5:11-13, 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15, 1 Timothy 5:20, Titus 3:10–11).
• False teachers who claim to be Christians should be severely reproached so that they do not lead others astray (Titus 1:13–14).

implications for today

When seeking to correct another Christian, we should heed Paul’s advice to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Even when done with compassion and kindness, in today’s culture, correction is often resisted, with many citing, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). However, Jesus was not forbidding correction but rather warning against hypocritical judgment. He urged us to first remove the log from our own eye before addressing a brother’s sin (Matthew 7:5). This means, before offering correction, we must first examine our own lives. Are we actively addressing personal sin and walking in humility before the Lord?

Once we have done that, Scripture provides a clear framework for approaching correction. Matthew 18:15-20 offers the biblical process of reconciliation: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother" (Matthew 18:15). If private confrontation is unsuccessful include one or two witnesses (Matthew 18:16). The next step is to involve your local church congregation assuming the person is part of your local church (Matthew 18:17). In the rare case that this is unsuccessful, the person is to be treated as a "Gentile and a tax collector" (Matthew 18:18). In other words, this meant the person is to be regarded as an unbeliever.

Even in such cases, the person should be treated with dignity and respect. However, when someone persists in unrepentant sin and resists correction from fellow believers, it is unwise to maintain close fellowship until they are open to counsel and willing to repent. In warning the Galatians not to be influenced by someone corrupting the truth, Paul said, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:8-9). Continuing to associate with an unrepentant brother or sister risks turning others away from God (2 Thessalonians 3:6). But the goal is never punishment but is always repentance and restoration within the body of Christ.

Not every sin requires confrontation, but when a sin is ongoing or public, it often needs to be addressed. In such cases, we return to Paul’s wisdom, speaking the truth in love and following God's plan for reconciliation, while always seeking to preserve unity within the church.