I often say that the hardest part of pastoring is damage control; that is, undoing the damage that someone else has done.
Someone says something hurtful or teaches something harmful and I often find myself doing the repair work.
Take Alexander and Hymenaeus.
Paul tells Timothy to wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Tim 1:19, 20
Their faith was a shipwreck; it was damaged and affected others.
When a ship begins to go down, what is the most important item to save?
It’s the lives of passengers!
Sometimes you can’t save the ship, just the people.
And many times “teachers” are too far gone and will not relent in their false beliefs but you can save those affected by them.
That’s rebuilding after the shipwreck!
In another place Paul said that Hymenaeus and Philetus have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 2 Tim 2:18
The belief and teaching of Hymenaeus and Phlietus wrecked the faith of others.
Today the magazines, books, Television, radio, and Internet is filled with false teaching that can shipwreck your faith.
Stand strong in the faith that God has given.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:11-13
Read your Bible and protect your faith with the armor of God.