Corrective Measures
By Anthony Casperson
9-26-26

A few years ago, a couple of friends and I were playing a campaign-style tabletop game. I was reading the campaign book description for the scenario we were about to begin, and came across a word that I’m sure I’d never seen before. (I’ve come across it multiple times since then, so I might’ve just forgotten previous moments of ignorance, but I digress.)

My head twisted in confusion, and I admitted to my friends that I’d never heard of the word before. Pointing to it, one of my friends gave me the pronunciation and general definition.

I was edified. That encounter taught me something. Two things, really. First, I now think of that moment every time I’ve come across the word since. But more importantly, the second thing I learned was that I didn’t need to feel ashamed that there was something I didn’t know.

Being willing to learn and have someone explain something to us is better than despising our ignorance—or defiantly maintaining it. And it’s especially better than acting like the one teaching is judging our character for being ignorant of something.

My friend didn’t question my intelligence just because I’d never encountered a word before. And the fact that I was willing to admit it reminded me that there is no shame in needing explanation or correction.

This event came to mind this week, while I was listening to a YouTube video. The presenter’s point went in another direction afterward, but for a brief sentence, she mentioned normalizing the correction of children’s little mistakes. Particularly their grammar or word choice.

She meant this comment in a sincere desire to help children learn and grow. And even to help adults realize that correction isn’t an assault on a person’s character or ability. It’s merely the desire to uplift and help others be the best versions of themselves that they can be.

Yes, some people do go overboard on correction. And some really do “um, actually” others out of a sense of superiority and self-glorification. But to categorize all correction as such judgmental attitudes is actually to our detriment.

The disregard of correction becomes even more dangerous when it moves beyond merely grammar or vocabulary and into larger aspects of truth. Especially for followers of Jesus seeking the truth of God.

Paul spoke of this to Timothy in his second letter to the younger man. Much of the letter is about the Apostle encouraging Timothy to continue leading, teaching, and correcting those under his pastoral care. He shouldn’t be ashamed of or back away from the truth of God when it comes to those who belong to Jesus.

And since spiritual leaders are meant to be examples for those under their care to follow, the words given to Timothy are as much for all followers of Jesus as they are to spiritual leaders. Thus, there’s much we all can learn from the letter as a whole.

However, for the purpose of this blog’s point, we’ll look at 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.

In verses 14-15, Paul reminds Timothy to continue holding firm to the scripture that he’d learned from his youth. The word of God—specifically the Old Testament for Timothy, but can include the New Testament for us as well—is able to build wisdom in us and thus lead us to salvation in Christ. The bible is capable of building up our faith in Jesus.

And, as we saw in our blog series through part of Proverbs, and that ended a couple weeks ago, this spiritual wisdom is helpful to our entire life, not just a spiritual sense of fulfillment.

Because of this capacity of scripture to build wisdom in us, Paul continues by saying that all scripture is God-breathed. His Spirit, who enlivens our souls upon receiving that salvation, also brings life through the word of God. Therefore, the word is beneficial to us as it guides us to God’s wisdom.

Specifically, the word is profitable for teaching, for bringing truth to light, for correcting, and for training in the things God calls right in his sight.

And it’s important to point out that, when verse 16 speaks of correction, it’s not in a sense of putting fists to hips and yelling until the person finally succumbs to our berating bellows. Rather, the term literally is built from several words that can mean, “make straight up again.” It has the idea of a wind-blown deck chair being set upright again so that it can be used for its designed purpose.

Correction here is meant to put to proper use.

This is why Paul’s words continue in verse 17, saying that the scripture is used so that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. The words for “competent” and “equipped” both come from a word family meaning something fashioned exactly to suit. Made to order.

The word of God is what sets his people upright again. It allows us to be set for our proper usage. The teaching, bringing truth to light, and correcting all train us so that we can be set for the purpose God has for us.

So, specifically, this correction isn’t saying that we’re useless or wrong. Rather, it means that we have a purpose, but our current alignment isn’t in line with that purpose. Thus, for our own benefit, we should be realigned. Set straight up again.

But we shouldn’t just stop with our own correction. Paul continues into chapter 4 by commanding Timothy to use the same scripture to help align others as well. Preach the word, both in the most accepting of times and the least accepting of times.

Just because some of us aren’t officially-recognized spiritual leaders shouldn’t keep us from this role of correcting. No, because it is the Spirit dwelling in us and who breathed the scripture into existence that does the work of correcting through us.

And notice that verse 2 ends with how we correct. Bring to light, warn, and encourage with all patience and teaching. Some correction will sound harsher, because few people like being wrong. But when we keep the ideas of encouragement and patience in mind, we’ll not be like those who correct with judgmental hearts. Instead, we’ll correct with care and concern for the other person’s proper alignment.

We care out of love, not a sense of superiority.

However, if we aren’t willing to be corrected by scripture, or are unwilling to correct others with it, then detrimental things can and will happen. Paul speaks to this in verses 3-4.

There is a time coming when people will stop being willing to listen to correction. A time approaches when anger will be the response at every attempt to correct—in both big and small things. Scoffing at corrective words and excusing faulty understandings are the warning signs that danger is around the bend. That the traps of Folly—if we use Solomon’s words—have been set against us.

After the scoffing attitudes toward correction arise, then people will gather around them others who just repeat the same incorrect things they say. Today, we call such locales “echo chambers.” And the fact that we have term for this phenomenon is telling.

The final step in this danger is when people quit listening to the truth entirely, wandering after whatever tale suits their fancy. When correction is so alien to us that no one even tries to prevent us from losing our true purpose, that is when we are truly in trouble.

Rather, Paul says in verse 5, we should be sober-minded and continue on in the work that God has for us. Essentially, we should let the word of God continue to correct us, and use it to correct others. In godly love and patience.

So, yes, normalize corrections in our lives. And make sure we understand the difference between people who are setting our alignment correctly versus those who just want to glorify themselves. Because that latter behavior is also in need of correction.

But even more so, because if we don’t allow corrections to happen in our lives, then danger sits but a couple small steps away.

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be someone set to my God-designed purpose than left askew because some wind of false doctrine knocked me over. So, let’s be willing to be corrected. And don’t be afraid to correct others, as long as it is with godly love and patience.

And if you want to check to see which way our correction is leaning, ask yourself, “Did I correct for the benefit of others? Or to make myself feel/look superior because of it?” An honest answer will bring the truth to light.