Correction

How do you handle correction? Recently I emailed a fellow "Christian" on some of the remarks that his local ministry said. I had called to question him initially and then in a response he denied much of our conversation. I thought it best to email him and make sure that we were clear, I did rebuke him for several things including some sin that I was aware of. Well the response I got was beyond anything I would have imagined. It was hostile, threatening and most of all arrogant. He resorted to calling me names, because that is what most people do who cannot attack an argument in itself. I have been corrected on numerous occasions by other Christian brothers, and really I am very thankful for it. If it is right biblical correction then we should rejoice and get sharpened. I know that many big time leaders today like Rick Warren have been corrected by the smaller Godly ministries. In fact some of these ministries pointed out inherent sin, yet the reply is an adamant defense of themselves. I believe that is what it comes down to, will you stand for God or just yourself. I have to examine myself on this issue all the time. We must always follow the model of scripture, sometimes that person who is correcting us might be God's tool for discipline.
Hebrews 12:5-11 - 5My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; 6for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives. 7It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. God's motive in disciplining us is His love for us (v6).