Articles
Mending the Net
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1, NKJV)
This admonition reflects the very spirit of Jesus, the one who came to seek and save the lost. The gentle care of Jesus is seen throughout His ministry. Now Paul enjoins the “spiritual” of the churches of Galatia to imitate this spirit.
The word “restore” literally means to mend the net. It meant to adjust, put in order, or to restore. It was used of setting a dislocated limb, or restoring a person to their rightful mind, or of fully equipping someone for a given purpose, or of mending torn clothes.
Here the spiritual are instructed to mend the soul of one overtaken in sin. They are instructed to help the fallen brother “put the pieces back together.” They are to help them get back on the right course, and to equip them with the tools necessary to win the next battle. How can we do that?
First, be truthful. It is our goal to bring the fallen back to a right state of mind. Jesus forthrightly instructed the woman taken in adultery: “go and sin no more.” We must feel the pain of sin, else we will never realize the need to “sin no more.” Accountability, prayer, and strategies for avoiding another sin are tools that will definitely help. Hopefully, the fallen will develop a desire to be delivered.
Second, be available. Assisting those overtaken in sin can be taxing, even after the sin is acknowledged. Old habits are not easily broken. Developing habits that are productive do not come easy. We are instructed to “bear one another’s burden” (Galatians 6:2, NKJV). As Christians we are to assist each other against the temptations to sin.
Third, be approachable. Those who are spiritual have no right to feel superior. Paul says: “considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” There is a delicate balance between acknowledging the sin and a reckless, harsh treatment of the sinner. We must remember our goal is not to ostracize, but to heal. Humility rather than humiliation will better insure our success.
Rickie
