Friends Don't Let Friends Sin

Galatians 6:1

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.

I hear people say many times, "Judge not, that you be not judged." Of course, they quote correctly from the scriptures. But what most people miss is the purpose and true meaning of judgment. Too often many will say nothing to a sinning brethren so as to avoid any conflict or be perceived as accusatory.

But when the bible refers to judging one another, it is the context as brothers and sisters in Christ to righteously judge others in the faith and to deal with the exposed sin.

The bible also carefully lays out how we are to judge others, and deal with the sin of another member of Christ in Matthew chapter 18:15-17

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

This is the process of church discipline. However, when it comes to a Christian's sin and judgment, it more like a rescue or life saving event. The judgment we may pass onto another Christian, is in fact, to be a process to properly restore that sinning brother or sister, and not to condemn them. In the end, judgment, along with rewards and condemnation, belong to God Almighty.

We are to strive to help one one another in this spiritual journey through encouragement, and a spirit of gentleness. When you pass judgment onto your children for misbehaving, you do it out of your love for them. You don't punish them for the pleasure of it.

Likewise, if we find a fellow saint who is sinning, we are to handle it with dignity, respect, gentleness and love, but also firm and admonishing, so we may win back that brother or sister who has sinned.

We must also be vigilant and aware of our surroundings, and learn to rely on and accept the council of another when we fall into temptation, so we may be restored when we sin. We are not to be going around pointing our bony finger in the face of a sinning brother, lest we fail to see the sin in our own life.

Matthew 7:3 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?"

Remember, the judgment we exercise is not to condemn, but to restore a precious life!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Tom