Brethren, if a man should be precipitated, also, in some offense, you, who are spiritual, be attuning such a one, in a spirit of meekness, noting yourself, that you, also, may not be tried. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fill up the law of Christ
Paul to the Galatians 6: 1-2, Concordant New Testament
Back in my church days, there were plenty of opportunities to accuse those who were deemed to have crossed the line and once again succumbed to the behaviors of sin. I say accuse because that is exactly what we were taught to do by those within the mainstream church. If one was deemed to be engaging in wrong behavior, it was common knowledge that we, as believers, were to approach said brother and remind him of his errors in judgement. Yet more often than not, this approach ended up in fractured relationships and hurt feelings. Admit it, wo wants to be reminded that we're behaving badly? Especially from those who they have come to trust in as sharing in their belief of Jesus. I mean, one does not see church as somewhere they will be confronted by the self-righteous, right? Wrong! For one of the main reasons which people give for leaving the traditional church is that those within its walls are far too righteous when it comes to how they perceive themselves. We're believers, and we've been saved by the blood of Jesus. Yet this assurance melts away when we're confronted by a brother who we see as engaged in sin. When this happens, the battle lines are drawn. The combatants are the righteous within the church against those behaving wrongly outside of its domain. In the worst of cases, this comes down to an argument of who's right and who's wrong. Who's saved and who's not. I know of what I speak, because I've recently been exposed to the wrong behaviors of a brother who claims to be a believer, but his confessions are placed in doubt by his questionable behaviors. Then the question arises, how should we as believers approach one who has, for lack of a better word, gone astray? Well, as I've done so often before, I turn to the words of the apostle Paul, who speaks to this issue in the book of Galatians. Paul speaks to approaching such a brother "In a spirit of meekness" {Paul to the Galatians 6:1}. Unfortunately, this approach goes against all we've been taught by those within the church.
I can recall many circumstances where more than a few people were sent to confront a so called sinning brother. Those within the church will justify this approach with scripture {Matthews Account 18:15-17, Paul to Timothy(1) 5:20}. We're told that if we approach a wayward brother and succeed in gathering him into the flock once again, that we have gained our brother once again {James to the twelve Tribes 5:19-20}. While I agree with this approach, how is it that we're approaching our brother who we ourselves see as sinful? More often than not, it is through a spirit of accusation and not the meekness spoken of through the evangel of Paul. We see ourselves as justified in the word of the Lord in accusing our brother of his wrongdoing. As I said, the battle lines have been drawn before this so called intervention even began. Not only will this approach put the person whom we've come to save on the defensive, but will present ourselves as many in the outside world see Christians, as judgmental, holier than thou church goers. This is NOT speaking to someone in meekness. When we approach someone who is struggling from the perspective that we have wandered in our lives as well, we immediately turn a confrontation into a conversation. THIS is what we want. I want to talk with my brother about how he feels that he is behaving. How would he see someone who was behaving in the same way. All too often, someone who has wandered knows in their heart that they are doing the wrong thing, but they're afraid of the condemnation they'll get from those around them. I know that in those times where I have struggled, that the last thing I felt I needed was to be convicted of my wrong behaviors. What I needed was meekness from those around me. We can definitely learn a lot from this approach. It has never been the desire of the Father to condemn, but to reclaim what has been lost {Matthews Account 18:12-14}.
"What are you supposing? If it should be occurring to any man, with a hundred sheep, that even one of them should be led astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine sheep on the mountains and go and seek the one that is straying? And if he should come to find it, verily, I am saying to you that he is rejoicing over it, rather than over the ninety-nine that have not strayed. Thus it is not the will in front of your Father Who is in the heavens that one of these little ones should be perishing"
Matthews Account 18: 12-14, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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