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Originally Posted by Poimen  1 Timothy 5:1 "Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father"
Does anyone have any practical suggestions as to how one (could) should go about this? |
Looking at what precedes this verse might help to suggest how to accomplish this. While giving respect to an elder as unto a father, we can still speak to him in the way set out in Chapter 4:
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6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
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8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come
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11These things command and teach.
12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
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Sometimes we might be able to engage this person in conversation centering on spiritual things ,in a way where we ask for feedback as to his view on these things. It might be that you can ask him how he would deal with the topic from a biblical point of view,and by carefully listening to his response you might have an opportunity to fine tune and question his responses. Like in 1tim4:12 quoted above.
He might respond favorably to what the Lord is doing in your life,and perhaps you will encourage him to go out and serve the Lord also
