I’ve had multiple conversations with people about how someone that has been labeled or calls themselves a Christian acts far from the way that they should. Be it a single act or a complete lifestyle. After all, a Christian person is supposed to represent Jesus.
We must understand this is not a new thing. A modern day problem. Think about Judas for a minute. He was a Disciple, he had the title. He was supposed to represent Jesus. Yet he was a thief as we read in John 12:6 (NET) Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it. Then he ultimately betrayed Jesus.
He had the best leadership that one could have. He was supposed to be a top tier follower of Christ at the time. He held a position, but he was corrupt.
What about Peter? Peter denied Christ and then is later rebuked by Paul for being hypocritical.
What about Paul? The man that spoke so passionately about grace, but when he was given the opportunity to extend it to John Mark, he failed to do so.
Now Peter and Paul found a place of repentance, but unfortunately Judas did not.
There is something that we can learn here. From Judas we learn that just because someone has the title or position does not mean they are doing the right thing.
From Peter and Paul we can learn that even a devoted person can mess up.
All of these fall into this verse in Proverbs 24:16 (KJV) For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Peter and Paul got back up, but sadly Judas did not.
Jesus warned about this in the parable of the tares and the wheat.
Matthew 13:24-30 KJV 24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
We see here that there will be those that look the part, but the determining factor is do they produce fruit. So it is clear that there will be some that are tares. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 17:20 KJV).
What are we supposed to do with this? Let’s look for direction in 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.”
So we should restore them. In Galatians, “restore” implies fixing what is broken. Human effort alone cannot mend a broken soul; prayer invites God’s power to do the deep healing work. The Bible explicitly connects intercessory prayer, praying for someone else, to healing. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:16).
While there may come a time to intervene and have a conversation we must remember that there is a second part to the verse from Galatians: considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Tempted to what? The temptation may not be falling into the same sin our brother committed. The immediate temptation for the onlooker is spiritual pride, arrogance, and gossip. By running him down, we have already succumbed to temptation. We are no longer “spiritual” (walking in the Spirit); you are walking in the flesh.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:3-5 (KJV) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
You see when we begin to tear someone down instead of lifting them up in prayer then we have placed a beam in our eye and can no longer help them. The moment we look at a brother’s fault and choose to gossip, mock, or condemn them, our pride instantly becomes a bigger sin than whatever fault they committed. This beam can become an illusion of personal perfection. We soon forget all the mistakes or sins that we have been guilty of that have been forgiven and want to begin to cast stones.
Jesus said, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation (Matthew 26:41). This is how we must approach these situations. We don’t want to injure a brother or sister that has fallen and cause them to not be able to get back up.
Then what about the one that is a tare? We still approach it with prayer. We let God guide us completely in both instances. After all the disciples didn’t help Judas hang himself.
We also shouldn’t let any of these cause us to put everyone into one basket, so to speak. We don’t discredit the Disciples because one of them is bad and we shouldn’t put on all Christians the actions of a few.
We must approach all things with prayer. Whether we are dealing with a brother who has slipped into a fault, or standing face-to-face with a tare whose heart is far from God, human anger and gossip will never accomplish God’s righteousness. Prayer is what clears the beam from our own eyes, guards our hearts against the temptation of pride, and invites the healing power of the Holy Spirit into broken situations. Instead of tearing others down with our words, we must lift them up to the Master of the harvest, trusting that He is the only one who can truly judge, heal, and restore.
Romans 14:4 (KJV) Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
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