As I walk around town, there are a series of street preachers. Somedays in the Octagon, sometimes silently standing by the hospital on days when terminations occur. Most people ignore them — and most of the time they are preaching the unvarnished truth.

But this is seen as rude, impolite. You are not supposed to confront. Rubbish. Paul does not mince words here.

Acts 13

7He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8But the magician Elymas for that is the translation of his name opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9But Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11And now listen — the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he went about groping for someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

via Daily Lectionary Readings — Devotions and Readings — Mission and Ministry — GAMC.

Sometimes we have to say things that are offensive. “Do not continue to see that woman, she’s poison and will divorce you like she did her last three husbands”. “You cannot afford to drink because you become depressed. You must be abstinent”

What can we learn from this? Firstly we need to pray about any preaching and confrontation. Paul was filled with the Spirit — and he backed it up by blinding the wizard.  Secondly, we need to be pretty clear as to what the problem is — and have an idea of the solution.

And finally, we are not responsible for the other person. God can change them: we can but draw them to a point where they can see change is an option.