Yes — the proper attitude is meekness, sorrow, and restoration toward the one overtaken in sin, never joking or self-righteous judgment.
Instead of smiling or gossiping about a fallen believer, Christians are to pray for them, encourage them, and forgive them. Galatians 6:1 instructs those who are spiritual to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering themselves, lest they also be tempted. Les stresses that church leaders and members must confront open sin corporately, but always with the goal of restoration.
Galatians 6:1 — This is the key verse Les uses to show that spiritual believers are to restore an overtaken believer with meekness, not judgment.
1 John 5:16 — This verse shows that when a believer sees a brother sinning — a sin not unto death — he is to ask and give life through prayer, pointing to restoration rather than condemnation.
Galatians 6:1 gives the central instruction: "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." The command is directed to believers, and the goal is restoration of the one caught in a fault — carried out with meekness and self-awareness. First John 5:16 tells believers who see a brother sinning a sin not unto death to ask, and "he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death," while noting that there is a sin unto death. First Corinthians 5:6 warns that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," showing why sin cannot simply be allowed to remain. Hebrews 3:13 calls believers to "exhort one another daily... lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin," and Romans 3:23 reminds that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Les acknowledges that Scripture tells believers not to judge one another, but he insists that changes when gross, open sin is known in the believing community. The church is not to "turn the other way" or say "I can't judge"; instead it is to "take the bull by the horns" and point out that the person is living in sin (Clip 0). Les criticizes the typical response to a believer overtaken in a gross failure: "they smile about it, they joke about it," and never consider that the person needs prayer, encouragement, and forgiveness (Clip 1). The biblical response, he says, is to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, since every human being — including church leaders — is prone to the same fall (Clips 2 and 6). Because "a little leaven" spreads through the whole lump, Les teaches that the church must deal with born-again members who bring reproach to the name of Christ (Clip 3). This confrontation is corporate: the gathered body confronts the couple or individual in the name of the Lord Jesus (Clip 5). The goal is never to kick the person out, but to restore, forgive, and continue to love them (Clip 6). Finally, Les connects this to faith: we only recognize sin when we believe what God says about it (Clip 7).
Les says the average Christian "smiles about it, jokes about it," and never considers that the fallen person needs prayer, encouragement, and forgiveness. He also notes that churches today watch couples living openly in sin walk in "as though nothing is amiss" — and that is not the way it is supposed to be.
Galatians 6:1 commands: "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." Les stresses that every human being is just as prone to fall as the next, and that coming down in harsh judgment on a fellow believer sets yourself up to be the next to fall.
Les says the church is to take the couple or individual and confront them as a body of believers, gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus. It is a corporate matter, not something to be winked at or ignored. The reason action is necessary is that a little leaven leavens the whole lump — unaddressed sin spreads through the congregation.
Les says our whole daily walk is prompted by faith in God. Unless we believe what God says about certain activities or acts, we don't know that they are sin; when God says it and we believe it, then we know what it is. He pairs this with the call to "exhort one another daily... lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" and the reminder that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Confronting Gross Sin in the Church
Les teaches that while believers are generally not to judge, when gross immorality is known in the church, they must 'take the bull by the horns' and point out the sin rather than look away.
The Wrong Response: Joking Instead of Praying
Les faults the common reaction of smiling and joking about a fallen believer, insisting that they need prayer, encouragement, and forgiveness instead.
Restoring with Meekness
Les emphasizes restoring the fallen one in a spirit of meekness because every human being, including church leaders, is prone to the same fall.
Why the Church Must Act: Leaven Spreads
Les explains why the church cannot ignore gross sin: just as a little leaven spreads through the whole lump, unaddressed sin takes over the church.
The Sin unto Death and Church Discipline
Les connects 1 John 5:16's 'sin unto death' to a believer in deep, open sin, saying God has mandated the church to take disciplinary action to restore them.
Corporate Confrontation of Open Immorality
Les says open immorality must be confronted by the gathered body of believers in the name of the Lord Jesus, not left alone.
Leaders Restore, They Don't Kick Out
Les clarifies that church leaders are not to kick the fallen one out but to restore them with meekness, forgiving and continuing to love them.
Recognizing Sin by Faith
Les teaches that recognizing and dealing with sin begins with faith — believing what God says — and includes daily exhortation against sin's deceitfulness.
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 foundational verse for the proper attitude: spiritual believers restore the fallen with meekness and self-awareness.
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.
This shows that believers are to respond to a brother's sin with prayer that gives life, not gossip or mockery.
1 Corinthians 5:6: Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
This verse undergirds Les's point that unaddressed sin in the church spreads and must be dealt with.
Hebrews 3:13: But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
This verse supports the daily encouragement believers are to give one another against the deceitfulness of sin.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
This reminds every believer — including those confronting sin — that all are prone to fall, supporting a meek approach.
Les notes that Romans stressed believers are not to judge, and for the most part that is true. However, when gross immorality is known in the believing community, the church is to deal with it and point out the sin rather than ignore it.
Les says the person needs prayer, encouragement, and forgiveness, not jokes. First John 5:16 says to ask and give life for those who sin not unto death, and Galatians 6:1 says to restore such a one in meekness.
Les describes it as a believer going into deep, open sin that everyone knows about. In those cases God has mandated the church's disciplinary action to restore the person, or bring them to the place where the Lord will take them home.
Les warns that coming down in harsh judgment on a fellow believer sets yourself up to be the next to fall. Restoring in the spirit of meekness means considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Judging Other Christians