Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1-2 NIV
Galatians 6:1-2 calls us to a vital ministry. It instructs us to restore someone caught in sin gently. This biblical command guides us in restoring a fallen believer. Our human response often leans towards judgment or withdrawal. However, God’s wisdom offers a different path. It urges compassion and healing over condemnation.
When a fellow believer stumbles, our natural thoughts might turn to anger. We may feel disappointment or self-righteousness. Sometimes we wish to protect our own reputation. Moreover, we often confuse necessary discipline with outright condemnation. We might wrongly assume a person facing consequences should also lose our love and prayers.
Yet, the Kingdom’s ‘straight path’ calls for a radically different approach. It asks for restoration instead of rejection. Moreover, divine wisdom teaches us a crucial truth. Discipline corrects actions, but prayer is essential for true healing. We are not meant to be judges. Indeed, we should be medics who tend to the wounded. We fulfil the law of Christ by shouldering burdens, not by pointing fingers.
Surrendering our own understanding means letting go of gossip. It means we stop speculating about the details of someone’s fall. Instead, we must choose to intercede for them. We should ask God to break sin’s power in their life. Simultaneously, we ask Him to guard their heart against despair.
We do not ignore their error; truth always matters. However, we wrap that truth in the same grace which caught us when we stumbled. Furthermore, to ‘restore gently’ means acknowledging a shared reality. The ground at the Cross is level for all. Indeed, we are all one bad decision away from needing the same mercy we are asked to give.
Practising Grace While Restoring a Fallen Believer
Before speaking about someone who has fallen, first look in your spiritual mirror. Galatians 6 warns us to ‘watch yourselves.’ Ask if you pray for them with a humble heart. Do you see yourself as a fellow sinner saved by grace? Or do you look down with Pharisaical pride?
When news of a fall reaches your ears, let it stop there. Take it straight to your knees in prayer. Commit to praying specifically for their restoration. Ask for their repentance, protection from shame, and healing for those they have hurt. This commitment truly embodies restoring a fallen believer.
If disciplinary actions remove them from a position, do not let it remove them from your fellowship. This applies unless safety becomes a concern. A simple text, a thoughtful note, or a quiet word offers encouragement. Such gestures can be a lifeline. They prevent a season of discipline from becoming a season of destruction.
Living It Out
You might feel disappointed when a leader or friend fails. Yet, God is neither surprised nor finished with them. Indeed, He restores souls, often using His people. This confirms love, but, it does not condone sin. Let go of condemnation. Instead, rest in knowing the Good Shepherd seeks to save the lost. Praying for the fallen helps fulfil redemption’s holy work.