“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
The Scripture refers to the church as the household of God. A local congregation (like Valley Grove Baptist Church where I pastor) is a tangible expression of the household of faith. In the household of faith we are brothers and sisters, and we have mutual responsibilities to relate to one another as children of our Father God. The all-inclusive law that should prevail in the household of faith is the law of love.
As members of the household of faith, we are also servants of Jesus Christ. To us has been given the mission of sharing Christ with the whole world. The longer I remain in ministry, the more I am convinced that the greatest handicap the modern church must overcome in leading the world to a knowledge of Christ is found in the failure of those of us who profess to be Christians.
I’ve said on many occasions, we should not expect lost people to act like Christians — but bless God we should expect Christians to act like Christians. And the longer I live, the more I see that our response to those who have fallen into some sin and are failing to be good representatives of Jesus Christ is woefully lacking.
It has been stated that Christians are the only people who shoot their own wounded. Do you really believe that we are making a proper response when we project a feeling of superiority to fallen brothers and sisters? Is it really proper for us to look down on them as failures and to compliment ourselves for our great success? Do you really think we should enter into a conspiracy of criticism and point out their faults and flaws as we chastise them?
The Apostle Paul says in our verse today that if we are true followers of Jesus…if we are truly spiritual…if we are spiritually mature believers, we have a major responsibility toward those who have fallen into sin. Notice that Paul addresses us as “Brethren.” As brothers and sisters we are to LOVE one another and to be helpful to one another. Paul calls the brethren “you who are spiritual” meaning that the Holy Spirit lives inside of us and we are led by the Spirit and we experience and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. In today’s world, we need Christian brothers and sisters who are not just professors of the faith but who are truly possessors of that faith to step up to the challenge of caring for those who fall into sin.
Let me quickly make two statements that I believe to be true.
First, ALL of us will stand in the need of the ministry of restoration at some point in our walk with Christ. The fact that you and I got saved does not eradicate and immobilize our fallen human nature. We continue to live in a sinful environment. I also believe that the devil works continually to deceive, defeat and destroy us.
Too many churches today baptize the new converts but they fail to continue in the discipleship process. While regeneration (salvation) is an important and necessary step in our spiritual journey, what happens AFTER that experience is equally important. We call that sanctification. That is the process that begins when we get saved and continues until God calls us to Heaven. We are to grow and mature in our walk with Christ. We are certainly commissioned to evangelize and baptize — we are also tasked with this discipleship process. I’m afraid that we have made the fatal mistake of leading people to become converts and then failed to lead them on to maturity.
One of my favorite verses in Psalm 23 says, “He restores my soul.” The ministry of restoration is a continuous need in the family of God today. If you haven’t needed it YET — you will!
Second, I believe we have a duty to love our fallen brothers and sisters. If we are going to engage in the ministry of restoration, we must give careful attention to both our attitudes and actions toward others.
I continually pray that God will deliver me from an attitude of self-righteousness. That attitude produces a harsh and critical spirit toward others. And that wins NOBODY to Christ. Sometimes it is easier to be a Pharisee than it is to be a Christian. Jesus was accused of being the friend of publicans and sinners — and the truth of the matter is — HE WAS!
Instead of passing judgment on those in the family who fall into some sin — we should love them and come alongside them to help them be restored to fellowship with God and with the church.
Read our verse today in a couple of other translations…
(Williams Translation)
“Brothers, if anybody is caught in the very act of doing wrong, you who are spiritual, in the spirit of gentleness, must set him right; each of you continuing to think of yourself, for you may be tempted too.”
(Phillips Translation)
“Even if a man should be detected in some sin, my brothers, the spiritual ones among you should quietly set him back on the right path, not with any feeling of superiority but being yourselves on guard against temptation.”
(New English Bible)
“If a man should do something wrong, my brothers, on a sudden impulse, you who are endowed with the Spirit must set him right again very gently. Look to yourself, each one of you: you may be tempted too.”
My friends, it is unchristian for us to be critical, indifferent or to feel superior toward those brothers and sisters who fall into sin. As a part of God’s family, we are to be involved and engaged in the ministry of restoration. God will judge sin — don’t worry. But judging sin is not a task given to you and me. We are to love, teach, evangelize and help grow baby Christians into full-grown mature believers.
Why don’t we try to put these 5 simple things into practice in our lives…
1. Put Christ’s LOVE to work on behalf of those who have fallen
2. Practice the FORGIVENESS of Christ toward those who have fallen
3. Lift up those who have fallen before God’s throne of grace in PRAYER
4. ENCOURAGE those who have fallen to repent of their sin and return to Christ
5. Provide Christian sympathetic HELP in their time of difficulty.
Have a great day.
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