I recently came across this article, and while not a frequent visitor of The Christian Post, the headline caught my eye—“The Bible’s Most Popular Verse.” While it is unlikely this truly is the most popular verse (at least I hope not), it certainly captures the ethic of the age: Be tolerant above all else.
So, to help us understand how to speak non-judgmental truth, let’s consider Galatians 6:1,
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
Background of the passage:
The Galatian relationships seemed to be skewed toward antagonizing one another rather than loving one another (Gal 5:15). In fact, only Satan is said to have a similar problem against other believers (1 Pet 5:8—different word, same idea). They wanted to inflict harm instead of help and elicit angered responses rather than heal (Gal 5:26).
For this problem, Paul prescribes the fruit of the Spirit. Thus Gal 6:1 is an application of “gentleness” and Gal 6:2 is an application of love. But, surprisingly, his applications are not what we would expect. Instead of saying, “Don’t judge it only leads to harm!” He says, “Try confronting in gentleness because it leads to restoration.”
So the questions for us is, how do we confront with gentleness, not judgment?
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression…”: See the person you must confront as someone caught by sin.
The word “In” can and should be translated “by.” The emphasis is on “being caught by” the transgression. Sin is described in two ways by Scripture. One emphasizes personal responsibility (Knows to do good and doesn’t do it; dishonor God by breaking the law) and the other emphasizes sin as trap. Something foreign to our true identity in Christ is at work when we sin, whether it be our own flesh (Gal 5:19–21), other people (Prov 1:10), or the environmental/circumstantial snares set out by Satan or other demons (1 Tim 3:7, cf. 2 Tim 2:26—taken captive by Satan). So, if anyone is caught in any of the works of the flesh (i.e. all the ones Jesus died for), see them as caught and make it your purpose to help, not judge.
“…you who are spiritual…”: Choose to be led by the Spirit to help this person.
Since he is applying Galatians 5 here, it seems he means, if you are really walking by the Spirit (v. 16), being led by the Spirit (v. 18), and “keeping in step with the Spirit” (v. 25). That is, Paul is not setting up a spiritual elite cadre of confronters, he wants everyone to follow the Spirit’s leading in this. Of course if you are led by the Spirit, you will act for the same reasons. You will do it for love, for sinners’ joy, to promote peace, while patiently enduring any backlash, and etc.
“…should restore him…”: Earnestly desire and sacrifice to clean up the mess sin has made of his/her life.
“Restore” has the idea of helping put the sinners life back into order. Sin makes life a big hurting mess. In the face of this mess, Judgmentalism must die at the feet of gentle and genuine concern. Before he was a sinner saved by grace, being led by the Spirit into Christlikeness, and now he is living the life of a common thief/adulterer/liar with all the mess that comes with those ways of living life.
“…in the spirit of gentleness & keep watch of yourself lest you too be tempted.”: With humility and gentleness, cast your message of restoration in a way that the sinner can understand it.
If we are led to confront by the Holy Spirit, we will have the fruit of gentleness (Gal 5:23). Gentleness means considering the person caught in sin, and crafting your “confrontation” so that they will not be offended by your presentation or demeanor even if they do become offended at the truth. For example, it is not, “I will give them a piece of my mind” or, “I’ll just tell them like it is” (unless that is what really speaks to them). Instead you’ll “tell it like it is” in language they can hear, language that expresses love for them (whether the sin was against me or not!!).
Perhaps the ultimate test of whether you come by the Holy Spirit or in a conceited, envious, and judgmental spirit (Gal 5:26) is how you view yourself in relation to sin. You figure, if sin has caught him, then it could catch me and I better watch myself. That is humility (part of the “such as these” in Gal 5:23). If, in self-righteousness, you view yourself as above sin you will find it very difficult to help people out of sin. You will stand aloof in your “righteousness,” and, with contempt, you will never get involved in any meaningful way in the tax collector’s life (Luke 18:9–14).
So instead of condemnation (“how could you do that?!?”), passivity/contempt (“so what if he did that?”), Gossip (“how could he do that?!?”), or self-righteousness (“I would never do that!!”), let us confront our brothers and sisters in love and help restore them to a joyful, loving walk in Christ.
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