Christians should confront the sin, restore the believer in the spirit of meekness, and then forgive and confirm their love toward him.
Les Feldick teaches that a believer's fall should break our hearts, not make us joke or gossip. The goal is restoration—not ignoring the sin and not harshly condemning the person. Scripture directs spiritual believers, especially church leaders, to restore such a one, while remembering their own vulnerability to temptation.
Galatians 6:1 — This verse directly commands believers to restore a brother overtaken in a fault, making it the central biblical instruction for the question.
Scripture is clear that when a believer is overtaken in a fault, those who are spiritual are to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering themselves lest they also be tempted (Galatians 6:1). Those who help are then told to bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). After discipline has been exercised, Paul instructs believers to forgive the disciplined person and to confirm their love toward him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow (2 Corinthians 2:7-8). John likewise says that if a brother sins a sin not unto death, the believer should ask, and God will give life for those who sin not unto death (1 John 5:16).
Les Feldick teaches that a believer overtaken in sin should never be met with joking, laughter, or casual indifference. Hearing of a Christian who has fallen should break our heart, and we should be burdened and pray for that person. Those in church leadership are responsible to go to the person and do all they can to restore them into fellowship. Les emphasizes that a gross, immoral sin in the believing community must not be ignored or treated as 'people are people.' Instead, the church is to take the bull by the horns, confront the person, and point out that they are living in sin. This confrontation is done in the spirit of meekness, recognizing that every human being is prone to fall and that even church leaders could be taken in the same sin. After the church has dealt with the sin, the next step is to forgive the person and confirm love toward him, lest he be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Restoring includes bearing one another's burdens, helping the fallen believer overcome weaknesses, and encouraging him that he can overcome sin. The goal is restoration, not punishment or putting the person out.
No. Les Feldick says this should never be the mindset of a believer. Instead of joking or laughing, hearing of a Christian who has fallen into sin should break our heart. We should be burdened and pray for that person. Church leaders are responsible to go to the person and do all they can to restore them into fellowship.
Restoring means helping the believer overcome weaknesses and encouraging them that there is no need to be a Christian failure or to constantly live in sin. It must be done humbly, not with arrogance or pride, recognizing that none of us are totally immune and that we also could be tempted and fall into the same trap.
No. When a gross, immoral sin is known, believers are not to turn the other way and say 'I can't judge.' Les says we are to take the bull by the horns, point out that the person is living in sin, and not just let them live as though nothing is amiss. The church must make a point of it and confront the person as a body of believers.
After the church has dealt with a sinning believer, the next step is to forgive him and confirm love toward him, lest such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Les emphasizes that even though the Corinthian church had disciplined the man, a minority had wanted to leave him alone—yet once the discipline had happened, forgiveness and love were necessary.
Forgive and Confirm Love After Discipline
After the church dealt with the Corinthian man, Paul says the church is to forgive him and confirm its love, lest he be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Don't Make Light of a Believer's Sin
Les says the average church may joke about a gross sin, but a believer's heart should break; the response is prayer, burden, and restoration by church leadership.
Meekness Because Anyone Can Fall
Restoration requires spiritual believers to act in meekness, since even church leaders can be taken in the same sin—every human is prone to fall.
Confront Sin, Don't Look Away
When gross immorality is known in the believing community, believers are not to say 'I can't judge' but to take action and point out the sin.
Restore, Not Condemn, in Meekness
Galatians 6:1 is conditional—it can happen to anyone—so spiritual leaders are to restore the fallen brother in meekness, not arrogance.
Bear Burdens and Encourage
The believer who restores should realize he could also be tempted, bear the fallen one's burden, and encourage him to overcome sin.
A Prayerful Response to a Sinning Brother
Les connects 1 John 5:16 to church discipline: if a brother's sin is not unto death, believers are to ask and help restore him to fellowship.
Corporate Discipline for Open Sin
Open sin in the church is not to be ignored as 'a free country'; the body of believers must confront the sinning couple when gathered together.
Galatians 6:1: 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.
This is the central command to restore a believer overtaken in sin, with meekness and self-awareness.
Galatians 6:2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Restoration includes bearing the fallen believer's burden and helping him overcome weakness.
2 Corinthians 2:7: So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Paul tells the church to forgive the disciplined man so he is not overwhelmed with sorrow.
2 Corinthians 2:8: Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
Confirmation of love follows the forgiveness and discipline.
1 John 5:16: If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
Believers are to ask for a brother who sins, showing a prayerful response.
1 Corinthians 5:4: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul's instruction for the gathered church to confront sin in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Yes. Les Feldick says the average church may make light of it and laugh, but that should never be the mindset of a believer. Hearing about a Christian who has fallen into sin should break our heart and move us to pray and be burdened for them.
No. The church is to deal with the sin, confront gross immorality, and not simply leave the person alone. After the discipline, the believers are then told to forgive him and confirm their love toward him.
Those who are spiritual, especially church leadership, are to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness. Les says it is the responsibility of those in a place of church authority to go to the person and do all they can to bring them back into fellowship.
Because every human being is prone to fall into sin, and even church leaders could be taken in the same kind of sin. Going in meekness keeps us from pride and reminds us we could also be tempted and fall into the same trap.
Watch the Teaching: What It Means to Be Sealed by the Holy Spirit — 2 Corinthians 1:21-22