Sins of others // Ezekiel

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andersr915

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So, I know Ezekiel is an old testament prophet, but does not the same rule of not warning someone of their sin becoming our guilt still apply? If so, how? Because I was recently having a discussion on admonishing the sinner and was basically told its never really appropriate, but we should only do it if we have a more thsm 50% chance of being recieved. Any thoughts?
 
When God spoke to Ezekiel about warning Israel of their sin towards the end of the first chapter. If im not mistaken, we are called upon to be prophets/witnesses to the faith. Does that mean we must do the same as the prophets before Jesus?
 
This link includes New Testament verses from both the gospels and epistles that speak about telling others of their sin/transgression.
Eg. First verse listed is Galatians 6:1 Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. (NAB translation)
 
andersr915 said:
When God spoke to Ezekiel about warning Israel of their sin towards the end of the first chapter.
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Oh, I see the verses you were referring to now.
Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul. – Ezekiel 3:20-21
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God is speaking directly to Ezekiel in this case. It’s not clear to me from the context of the verse that God’s admonition to Ezekiel extends to everyone. Ezekiel was a prophet. He knew, clearly, what was right, and God told him to speak it.

We are not prophets. We are trapped in darkness and ignorance. I think the advice @JGD posted from Galatians is the best approach here.
 
Okay, so I see that God is perhaps speaking directly to Ezekiel, but by nature of us recieving the Eucharist (the body, blood, soul, and divinty of our Lord and Saviour), would that not also count us as having a somewhat prophetic responsibility? I suppose ultimately following in those verses from the link JGD posted are the best advice, its just a bit difficult to differentiate between what exactly is intended. The way I read it, “brother” translates to “brother in Christ”, and if that’s the case, I suppose it makes sense that we should only try to correct those with a 50% or more chance or accepting it, but to say it is “never appropriate” just leaves me feeling like I’m shirking responsibility. Ultimately, I want to do more for the Lord by accepting all He asks of us without destroying the grand commission of “Go forth and make disciples”
 
andersr915 said:
but we should only do it if we have a more [than] 50% chance of being recieved.
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This stipulation reminded me of the Catholic Encyclopedia article on fraternal correction. I wonder if your friend/advisor was thinking of this or similar guidance. For the neglect of giving fraternal correction to be a mortal sin, according to this article, all the following conditions must be met, and I quote:
  • the delinquency to be corrected or prevented is a grievous one;
  • there is no good reason to believe that the sinner will adequately provide for himself;
  • there is a well-founded expectation that the admonition will be heeded;
  • there is no one else just as well fitted for this work of Christian charity and likely to undertake it;
  • there is no special trouble or disadvantage accruing to the reformer as a result of his zeal.
I’m not sure if this is infallible Church teaching. In any case, these conditions mainly concern the mortality of the sin. It can still be an excellent work of charity to instruct or admonish, perhaps keeping these points in mind.

https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04394a.htm
 
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Was it just from a website called “Catholic Encyclopedia” or a specific encyclopedia?
 
I think most (but not all) Scripture passages have to do with speaking to people who belong to one’s own faith. But we should care about everyone’s salvation. Even in the OT God sent prophets to the Gentiles warning them to repent - Jonah for example.

However, I think how one would speak to a fellow Catholic would differ from how they’d speak to a non-Catholic Christian; and how Catholics and other Christians would speak to a non-Christian would differ even further.

*A Catholic speaking to a Catholic would tell them about what Scripture and the Church teach regarding the behavior in question.
*A Catholic speaking to a non-Catholic Christian would speak to the person about what Scripture teaches.
*A Catholic speaking to a non-Christian might speak about what Christians believe regarding the morality of the deed in question.

It should be done out of loving concern for their soul – informing rather than judging, which God alone does.

My 2 cents. Easy to say, but definitely not easy to do.
 
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If we’re put in a situation where we could speak up and fruitfully defend the faith and we don’t do it, then we may have some culpability for not speaking up. However, we don’t take the guilt of others upon ourselves. Jesus made pretty clear in the NT that we are each responsible for our own sin.

I think somebody posted to you in another thread that rather than get all into “admonishing” others, you should be building a strong life of corporal works of mercy and other spiritual works of mercy. If you do that, then you will be presenting yourself as holy and good and your very presence will be some form of admonishment, and you won’t have to be running around pointing out everyone’s faults. It’s also good advice to limit it to those occasions where your gentle correction might be well received; usually this is a case of somebody who’s a close friend or relative, who might care about your opinion, or someone who is already feeling a little guilty or unsure about their behavior. You don’t just run up to total strangers and tell them they’re sinning. They’re likely to tell you to mind your own business and get lost.
 
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