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Church Reconciliation And The Sinner: Way More Problematic Than People Supposed It Was
Last weekend I had the good fortune to listen to an awesome sermon using Paul's letter to the Galatian church. Galatians is one of my favorite books because it is about living the Christian life through the Holy Spirit. As a former "fundamentalist" I am an expert on living life by means of rules and ordinances, and I am very mindful of the spiritual death that results. The sinner and church reconciliation was a frequent topic of conversation, not to say dispute, in those circles. Hold on for some hard facts!
The preacher introduced his assessment by discussing Paul's first instruction to the church in chapter 6: "Brethren, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual, rehabilitate such a one in a spirit of kindness; each of you looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted." We are aware 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 reckoned non-Christians to have anything to be restored to.
The main reason that confronting the sinner among Christians is so challenging is that everything that is biblically required of us is contrary to the flesh. The flesh is awkward with conflict and, when it is perceived, calls up "fight or flight" responses. Biblical principles, conversely, require us to stay engaged and be submissive. Here are three elements from Galatians 6:1 to bear in mind:
1. Turning away from the offender is not optional. "if anyone is trapped in any sin... recover such a one." This is an imperative. We may not ignore and we are not permitted banish, aside from as as a last choice.
2. The purpose of confronting sin is restoration. "...restore such a one." Even Matthew 18:15-18, which terminates in possible excommunication from the church, has restoration as its ideal aim: The beginning phase of confrontation finishes: "...if he listens to you, you have won your brother." The following measures provided for are plainly intended to have the same consequence. Even when the church is compelled to "he should be like a Gentile and a person who collects taxes," we must infer that the intent is to reveal to the sinning Christian what he is wasting by refusing to confess his sin. If and when he does so the church will commence the course of restoration that is the antithesis of the course of action that contributed to his banishment. Similarly, Paul tells the Corinthian church that there is a particular person amongst them whose sin is so blatant that "I have made a decision to convey people like that to Satan for the ruination of the body, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Notice that Paul's purpose is that the person eventually be "saved."
3. You must have the proper purposes to be eligible to confront. "... you who are spiritual, reestablish such a one in a spirit of gentleness." Anger and annoyance are unsatisfactory grounds for church reconciliation and harmony.
Whenever we find ourselves reacting to Christian sin within the church with anger, self-righteousness, stress or fear, we need to clearly know that the individuals or church involved are in hazard from both the sin and the reaction to the sin. We are not qualified to even begin combating the sin until we have attended to our responses to it. We have to pray and surrender to the Holy Spirit until we can truly say that we are prepared to battle the sin but reconcile the sinner.
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