Good conversation because, as far as I can tell, you're both correct. Chris, you're not wrong in your statements, and you would normally be correct in your rebuke, but I took what Caleb said as he was talking about "nobody like reproof" in the context of the world, not in the context of the church, which is why he said, "I loved the reproof and correction that I had when coming to the knowledge of the Truth of God's Word, but only after I realized it was the truth," and that those who are not of Christ will not understand the truth, so therefore, they will hate rebuke and correction. I mean, maybe I misunderstood him, and I should be corrected on that, but I took it to mean he was only talking about the world, which is the majority, and so if he had said that "nobody of the world likes reproof," then I don't think there would be any contention on the matter; am I wrong?
And yes, if we did not issue correction sharply on such people as Ken, those types of men would come in here and walk all over us however they please. We welcome opposition here, so long as they behave themselves, but opposition usually misbehaves or leaves. However, I want those men, that is, those churchgoers who claim to be of Christ with their mouths only, to know firmly that we are not of the same yoke, so that way, if they ever do come to the true Lord Jesus Christ of Scripture through repentance and faith, they'll more easily see the line between the true and false church.
By the way, Ken registered on the 25th and made his first post. He did not show up again until two hours ago, and he logged out and said nothing. When folks do that, I've found that it means one of two things: Either he's ramping up for a huge, long-winded post in which he's going to embarrass himself, or he's left for good. Repentance and correction is a reaction we've almost never experienced here from guests. I don't know which one it is, but I'm sure after a couple more weeks of silence, we can assume the latter.
