What is the responsibility of church leaders when a Christian falls into sin?
Spiritual church leadership is responsible to go to a believer overtaken in a gross fault and do all they can to restore that person into fellowship. They must not joke about or make light of the sin; instead, they should be burdened, pray for the fallen Christian, and seek restoration.
Les teaches from Galatians 6:1 that "brethren" refers to believers, both men and women. If a man is overtaken in a fault—a rather gross sin—those who are spiritual, as the church leadership, are to restore such a one. Les contrasts this with the average church today, which may make light of it, joke about it, or laugh about it. That should never be the mindset of a believer. When we hear of a Christian who has fallen into sin, it should break our heart, not become a joke; we should be burdened and pray for that person. And if you are in a place of church authority or church leadership, regardless of denomination, it is your responsibility to go to that person and do all you can to restore them into fellowship.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
More Questions
Who is supposed to restore a believer who has fallen into a fault?
It is those who are spiritual — especially the leaders of the church — who are to restore a person who has fallen into a fault.
Should Christians confront a fellow believer who is living in open sin?
Although the general teaching is that we are not to judge, when there is an openly gross, immoral sin within the believing community we must not look the other way, but must confront the person and point out that they are living in sin.