How does a Christian "rebuke" a fellow Christian?

[Gavin]

Your thoughts? When, how, and in what ways is it appropriate for one believer to rebuke or admonish another believer?

This question certainly has immediate practical relevance at a site like this.

[undead]

In my experience, most rebuke is either by insult or invective, or is met with the same. Or it degenerates into excommunication.

There does not seem to be any intermediate course these days. Even to question the practices of a church, or an individual, let alone rebuke them, is usually met with the inviation to go else where by the minister.

I heard one baptist minister who lectured his church that it was no business of the congregation to impugn the minister. I have since excommunicated the baptist denomination. Most of its members place themselves beyond rebuke.

I am quite sure that rebuke is very difficult, and often fruitless, because the person rebuked will simply disagree with your point of view, or as I have said, tell you to go elsewhere. But in a sense, that does not matter, because you will have done your duty to God. Mildness is certainly more appropriate than haughtiness.

[Gavin]

good thoughts, undead.

I guess the issue I am specifically concerned about is opening threads up such as "X is a false prophet", "Y is a legalist", "Z is a heretic", etc.

Should these type of threads be preceded by private rebukes in pm?

[Gavin]

Mildness is certainly more appropriate than haughtiness.