Church Reconciliation And The Sinner: A Bit More Perilous Than People Believed It Was

Last weekend I had the good fortune to listen to an outstanding sermon based on Paul's letter to the Galatian church. Galatians is one of my favorite books because it is about living the Christian life with the help of the Holy Spirit. As a former "fundamentalist" I am an expert on living life by means of rules and guidelines, and I am greatly aware of the spiritual death that results. The sinner and church reconciliation was a common topic of conversation, not to say contention, in those circles. Hold on for some tough information!

The preacher started his review by talking about Paul's first instruction to the church in chapter 6: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual, build up such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted." We recognize that Paul is speaking of Christians who are "caught...in...sin" since he urges that they be reestablished in the church, and Paul would not have assumed non-Christians to have anything to be restored to.

The reason that dealing with the sinner among Christians is so challenging is that just about everything that is biblically required of us is contrary to the flesh. The flesh is uncomfortable with conflict and, when it is present, mobilizes "fight or flight" responses. Biblical principles, conversely, mandate us to stay engaged and be submissive. Here are three points from Galatians 6:1 to take into consideration:

1. Taking no notice of the sinner is not an option. "if anyone is trapped in any sin... build up such a one." This is an imperative. We may not ignore and we are not allowed banish, unless it is as a last resort.

2. The purpose of confronting sin is restoration. "...restore such a one." Even Matthew 18:15-18, which terminates in conceivable excommunication from the church, has restoration as its ideal purpose: The opening stage of confrontation ends: "...if he listens to you, you have won your brother." The subsequent measures provided for are undeniably intended to have the same consequence. Even when the church is forced to "he should be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector," we must presume that the intent is to reveal to the sinning Christian what he is giving up by refusing to confess his sin. If and when he does so the church will commence the process of restoration that is the complete opposite of the course that led to his removal. Similarly, Paul tells the Corinthian church that there is a particular person associating with them whose sin is so blatant that "I have made a decision to deliver such people to Satan for the devastation of the flesh, so his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Bear in mind that Paul's purpose is that the person ultimately be "saved."

3. You must have the appropriate intentions to be qualified to challenge. "... you who are spiritual, reestablish such an individual in a spirit of gentleness." Anger and frustration are harmful motives for church reconciliation and unity.

Each time we find ourselves reacting to Christian sin within the church with irritation, self-righteousness, stress or fear, we must promptly realize that the people or church involved are in hazard from both the sin and the response to the sin. We are not qualified to even begin dealing with the sin until we have addressed our reactions to it. We have to pray and submit to the Holy Spirit until we can genuinely say that we are prepared to battle with the sin but reconcile the sinner.

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