Lifting Those Who Fall

'...If another believer is overcome... help that person...' Galatians 6:1 NLT

Ever been confronted by somone who believes you are in the wrong and gave you a self-righteous attitude? I have. As a pastor I'm regularly told when I'm in the wrong. Its something I've learned to live with over the years. But it still hurts. When church leaders insisted a woman '...caught in the act of adultery' be stoned (John 8:4 NLT), Jesus replied, '...let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone.' (John 8:7 NLT) Ouch! Lisa Harper writes: 'Are we aware of other people's mistakes because they confided in us, or have we appointed ourselves the "moral police" to justify examining the blemishes in everyone else's behavior? Is our ultimate goal to help restore prodigals, or do we have a hidden agenda to elevate ourselves by condemning those around us?... I've been confronted twice by other Christians, the first was a red-faced stranger who was furious with me for wearing knee-high leather boots with a short skirt to her church. She called me a "Jezebel." The second was a good friend who tenderly pointed out my pride in a specific situation. The name-calling left a bruise on my soul; the compassionate rebuke turned me toward the forgiving arms of our Heavenly Father.' God alone has the perfect combination of holiness and mercy to stand in judgment of the human heart. The Bible says, 'If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.' The only One who was worthy to condemn us, chose instead to pardon us and, in light of our own sinner-saved-by-grace [status], when the Holy Spirit impresses you to confront someone who's messed up, do it with honesty, compassion and humility. Otherwise you are just doing it in your-self! You are loved...