What happens when you harshly judge another believer who has sinned?
Coming down in harsh judgment on a fellow believer who has sinned sets you up to be the next one to fall. Instead, spiritual believers are to restore such a person in a spirit of meekness, offering prayer, encouragement, and forgiveness, not kicking them out or glibly letting it go.
Les teaches from Galatians 6:1 that the instruction is given to brethren, meaning believers. If a man is overtaken in a fault or gross sin, those who are spiritual—the actual leaders of the congregation—are not to kick him out. The word is restore. Restoration is to be done in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, because whenever you come down in harsh judgment on a fellow believer, you set yourself up to be the next one to fall. The average Christian may smile, joke, and never consider that the person needs prayer, encouragement, and forgiveness. The event in Corinth had a direct bearing on this verse, and instead of glibly letting sin go, believers are to deal with people and restore them, as Paul told the church of Corinth to forgive that man and continue to love him.
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
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.
How should the church respond to a believer who has been caught in sin?
When a believer is caught in a fault, those who are spiritual are to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness (Galatians 6:1).