Public rebuke
Intro
People who support public rebuke, like on public youtube videos, some of them use Mt 10:27 as support for it.
(Matthew 10:27 [KJV]) What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
But that verse is not about outing individuals by name publicly. It is about teaching doctrine, speaking the gospel etc publicly.
(Proverbs 25:9 [KJV]) Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Otherwise you are breaking scripture (Proverbs 25:9). Some use 1 Timothy 5:20 to justify public rebuke.
(I Timothy 5:20 [KJV]) Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
But that is talking about in a congregation or in an epistle, so among congregations. Its not talking about public rebuke among non believers, like on a town square or even bigger forum like youtube that has a billion or so users.
(James 3:5-18 [KJV])
[5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
[6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
[7] For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
[8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
[9] Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
[10] Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
[11] Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
[12] Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
[13] Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
[14] But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
[15] This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
[16] For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
[17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
[18] And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
The tongue is an unruly evil that no man can tame, a fire from hell (James 3:5-18). As a believer you should speak as the oracle of God.
(I Peter 4:11 [KJV]) If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Talking can have personal consequences according to the bible.
(Proverbs 18:21 [KJV]) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Rather we should be gently unto all men.
(II Timothy 2:24-26 [KJV])
[24] And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
[25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
[26] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
II Timothy 2:24 is a verse against public rebuke and criticism. But Paul was rude in speech (II Corinthians 11:6).
(II Corinthians 11:6 [KJV]) But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
Yes but he didn't go around on the town square doing public rebukes.
(I Corinthians 5:3 [KJV]) For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
He did it within epistles and the congregations and youtube is not a congregation, its more a public town square, actually its a big one, its more than a billion people. Also who knows maybe someone you rebuke happens to be a false professing brother, a lost man.
(Proverbs 9:7 [KJV]) He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
Then you receive to yourself a blot (Proverbs 9:7) and if you rebuke a scorner you get to yourself shame. John the Baptist rebuked Herod and it didn't end well for him (Luke 3:19-20).
Luke 3:19-20 [KJV])
[19] But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
[20] Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
That can explain what happened in the debate between Dominic de Guzmán and the Albigensis.
Those who support public rebuke often use the verse (I Corinthians 11:19).
(I Corinthians 11:17-19 [KJV])
[17] Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
[18] For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
[19] For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
First I Corinthians 11:19 is meant to be used in a congregation, not in a public square.
Secondly those who use this verse to support public rebuke do it to find out which are true but those who compare themselves among themselves are not wise.
(II Corinthians 10:12 [KJV]) For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
If you know you are right about something, why do you need to debate it with someone else?
(John 16:13 [KJV]) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
If you have received the Holy Ghost you have an inner witness and you don't need to debate. If you have the Holy Ghost you should be able to discern who is right and who is not without debate.
Some would say open rebuke is better than secret love.
(Proverbs 27:5 [KJV]) Open rebuke is better than secret love.
But that is not public rebuke. Its rebuke between 4 eyes as you can see below.
(Matthew 18:15-17 [KJV])
[15] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
[16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
[17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Also over the internet is not suitable for Matthew 18:15-16 because internet is not private and Matthew 18:17 is for a congregation and Youtube or internet forums are not congregations, they are big open city squares. So if you rebuke someone between four eyes (Matthew 18:15) on the internet, then it is another party watching apart from the four eyes. If you take one or two more witnesses with you (Matthew 18:16) then there is still another witness that you have not taken with you that is watching.