The Sinner And Church Reconciliation: A Bit More Dangerous Than You Actually Believed It Was

Last weekend I had the good luck to listen to an outstanding sermon based on Paul's letter to the Galatian church. Galatians is one of my all-time favorite books due to the fact that it is pretty much all about living the Christian life through the Holy Spirit. As a former "fundamentalist" I am an expert on living life by means of laws and guidelines, and I am greatly aware of the spiritual death that results. The sinner and church reconciliation was a prevalent field of discourse, not to say dispute, in those circles. Hang on for some challenging information!

The preacher began his review by sharing Paul's initial orders to the church in chapter 6: "Brethren, if anyone is caught in any sin, those of you who are spiritual, build up such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to himself, to make certain you too will not be enticed." We know that Paul is speaking of Christians who are "caught...in...sin" since he demands that they be reestablished in the church, and Paul would not have regarded non-Christians to have anything to be restored to.

The reason that dealing with the sinner amid Christians is so problematic is that everything that is biblically required of us is contrary to the flesh. The flesh is uneasy with conflict and, in its presence, mobilizes "fight or flight" reactions. Biblical values, on the contrary, call for us to stay engaged and be submissive. Here are three guidelines from Galatians 6:1 to take into consideration:

1. Overlooking the sinner is not an option. "if any person is caught out in any sin... recover such a one." This is an imperative. We may not overlook and we are not allowed banish, unless it is as a last resort.

2. The purpose of addressing sin is to restore. "...restore such a one." Even Matthew 18:15-18, which ends in possible excommunication from the church, has restoration as its ideal objective: The opening stage of confrontation ends: "...if he listens to you, you have won your brother." The subsequent steps contemplated are undoubtedly intended to have the same result. Even when the church is required to "he should be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector," we must presume that the intention is to make clear to the sinning Christian what he is sacrificing by refusing to confess his sin. If and when he does so the church will start the operation of restoration that is the complete opposite of the procedure that led to his removal. In the same way, Paul tells the Corinthian church that there is a man or women amongst them whose sin is so blatant that "I have made a decision to give such people to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, in order that his spirit may be be spared at the judgement of of the Lord Jesus." Notice that Paul's purpose is that the person in due course be "saved."

3. You must have the appropriate reasons to be qualified to challenge. "... you people who are spiritual, bring back such a one in a spirit of gentleness." Anger and disillusionment are harmful motives for church reconciliation and unity.

The instant we notice ourselves reacting to Christian sin within the congregation with anger, self-righteousness, stress or dread, we must instantly realize that the people or church concerned are in jeopardy from both the sin and the reaction to the sin. We are not qualified to even begin confronting the sin until we have addressed our reactions to it. We have to pray and submit to the Holy Spirit until we can without a doubt state that we are able to challenge the sin but reconcile the sinner.

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