Contemplative Bible Reading

Galatians 6:1-2 (New International Version)

1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

I have a friend who consults with organizations for a living. When asked about what he does, he replies, “Art restoration.”

Let me interpret. What he does most of the time is speak with persons one at a time about things that are puzzling them. These puzzles can be from work, home, anywhere. Often the solutions to these puzzles were within the person. They knew the answer all along, it was just that people had muddied these solutions through the years. They had ruined a beautiful piece of art. He helps to restore the piece of art.

This passage in Galatians is a challenging one, and there are many lessons I have learned from it. Today, I concentrate on the act of restoring the person.

“When a person is caught in sin or wrongdoing” There is no doubt or debate about what has happened. The person has done wrong. Sometimes morally, sometimes they have violated the law. And they have been caught, not maybe, not sort of, they have been caught.

Now what do I do as a Christian?  I read this passage as a command – restore the person, and do it gently.

Suppose a Christian has violated the law of the state as well as  sinning against God. That person goes to jail. I cannot “write them off.” I am commanded to restore them. This may mean visiting them in jail. This may mean visiting them often after they are released from jail.

Often in churches, we wait until the person comes back to us confessing and asking for forgiveness. I don’t see that in these verses. Instead, I see a command to go to the person and help them back.

I also see the concept of gentleness here. No “I told you so. Have many times did I tell you that you should stop doing such-and-such?” Those statements are not gentle. Those statements do not restore – they chastise instead.

Restoring a person is much easier if the person wishes to be restored. Willingness to change one’s life is a great help.

But what if the person resists being restored?

What if the person is suspicious of our motives at restoration?

What if the local church doesn’t want the person back?

Each of these challenges are likely, and there are many more. But none of the challenges erases the verses from Galatians.