Christians, especially church leaders, ought to be gentle with all (wise as serpents, harmless as doves). We know that we ought to restore fallen folk gently (Galatians 6:1f). Well, Hebrews 5:1f reminds us of this fact as well. Why should we be gentle with “ignorant people?” Because we too are subject to the same weakness. And our leadership isn’t something that we deserved or earned, but was given to us by God’s calling. Isn’t it easy to become prideful about our righteousness or at least prideful that we do not have someone else’s ignorance and sinful straying? It is our very weakness towards pride that causes us to forget who we are and where we’ve come from.
So, what to do with “ignorant” people? Speak gently as a fellow fool. This does not mean we will not rebuke, confront, challenge. But we will do so knowing full well that we too are likely to go astray even as we confront the person on their issues.
Musings on Faith and Psychology 