Restoration

A couple of Sundays ago, I sat in on a different Life Group (Sunday school class) than the one I usually lead. They were in the middle of a series of lessons on “Moral Earthquakes” – dealing with faults and sins that can cause big trouble. The lesson this particular Sunday was on how we as Christians ought to respond to others who have been hit by their own moral earthquakes.

I’ve been involved in church all my life and I’ve seen my fair share of Christians stumbling into sin. In my relatively short adult life (I’m 36), I’ve seen a lot – from some of the most “major” sins to a whole host of “minor” ones. I’ve seen brothers and sisters in Christ commit adultery and ruin their marriages. I’ve seen Christians become addicted to a whole host of things, pornography not the least among them. I’ve known Christians to lie, cheat, and steal. I’ve known some to mistreat their neighbors, co-workers, and fellow church members. I’ve known some with terrible anger control issues. I’ve known some who harbor bitterness and resentment. I’ve known Christians who mistreat their spouses and neglect their children. I’ve known some who see the church as a place to be served rather than to serve. I’ve been around plenty of Christians who feel entitled to have everything in church their own way, who get angry when asked to help, who complain when the pastor doesn’t preach like they like it, and who stir up trouble when the church doesn’t plan worship music or budget money the way they’d like.

I can think of specific people for nearly all of these situations. They aren’t just random church members – they are my friends, my fellow Sunday school members, my basketball teammates, and fellow deacons. I don’t just know of them, I know them.

None of this surprises me. I know the depths to which people can easily and quickly fall. (And lest I sound self-righteous, I know I am not at all immune to sin, either.) I encouraged a friend of mine just yesterday to not give up on being in the ministry because “Lord knows us sheep need some shepherds, even when we are stupid and belligerent.” Maybe I should have said “…especially when we are stupid and belligerent.”

One situation has replayed in my mind in recent days. Many years ago, there were two couples in our Sunday school class who were great friends. They were the kind of friends who would hang out together outside of church - eating, playing, and just enjoying each other’s company. Something went wrong, however, and the wife of one couple and the husband of the other ended up having an affair together. They eventually divorced their spouses to marry each other. The stranded spouses were left to figure out what went wrong while trying to piece their lives back together.

This week I’ve been reviewing what I did to help that situation and what I’ve done over the years to help the others I’ve mentioned. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve not done much. And the few times I have tried to help have not always been very effective.

In Galatians 6:1 Paul says, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.” The word “restore” here (katarizo) carries with it the idea of mending – as in the mending of broken bones. People are to be restored to their original function and purpose. In my experience, “helping” someone who has fallen into sin often means “confronting” them – and this not always with the purpose of healing, but to chastise. And this healing and restoration should be done “gently.” That is the same word (prautes) used to describe one of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23). Gentleness is not weakness or timidity, but great strength under great control.

I’ve not done a good job of “gently restoring” my friends in the past. I did next to nothing to try and bring restoration to the offending couple I mentioned above. And I’m afraid I did not do much to restore the couple who was left, either. Perhaps their “sin” wasn’t as great, but I think they each admitted their own faults in not maintaining their marriages prior to this event. And certainly they needed restoration and healing, too. G, if you happen to read this post, please forgive me. I’m glad our Lord has healed and restored you despite the lack of support from very many in your church family.

I’ve got to work on my katarizo with prautes – not for my own sake, but for the sake of others. God is in the business of healing and restoring people, and so should I be.

I’ve rambled a bit today. Hopefully ya’ll can make some sense of my thoughts.