Romans 15:1 – We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
We all fail. Everyone one of us sin in some way, small or big, seen and unseen. When we see another being weak, then our first impulse, seeing how we are called to live a life of love, should be to do whatever the Spirit calls us to do to uphold the person. If we see someone about to step into a deadly situation we will do anything we can to stop the person from doing so. If they have been hurt and lay in mortal danger, won’t we run to help? If we belong to Christ, we must! Not out of duty, but out of love. So if a Brother or Sister is erring, should we not, out of love try to help them?
Many people errantly protest that we are not to judge others. This is not fully understanding. It is true that in Matthew 7:1-6 and in Luke 6:37-38, 41-42 it is taught for us to not judge. But what is being taught is not for us to not discern between sinful acts and righteous acts. Rather it is teaching us that we have no right to say who is going to hell or heaven. That determination is between that person and Jesus only. So there may seem to be, but there is not, a contradiction between other verses and the errant understanding of these verses in Matthew and Luke that we are not to judge what others do. The above verse in Romans is calling us to help those who are sinning (as does James 5:20). How can we help if we do not evaluate and judge what is being done? In fact, Jesus taught that we should evaluate what others are doing, especially those who claim to be believers. He calls us to judge if the works are right or wrong (Matthew 7:15-20). Galatians 6:1 states “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” How can we know if someone is in sin if we do not evaluate, or judge, what they are doing? The truth is that we are to judge if what someone is doing is right or wrong. Besides, isn’t it what is commonly done whether a Christian or not. If someone murders a child we all would say that is wrong. Yet, though an extreme example, that in itself is a judgment of what someone has done. Let’s not be silly, we all judge the actions of others. As Believers, we are called to do so. Yet we do not do so out of some self-righteous motivation, but out of love. Family, if we see another sin, come to that person in private, not making a show of it, and lovingly try to help the person. That is what we are called to do. However what none of have a right to do is to say that another is definitely going to hell. That is solely between God and them. So we must judge or we cannot help. In an attempt to not make this writing too long, I will stop with this. Certainly there is many more verses to prove the point, but for those who have an ear to hear, it is enough.
When we love someone, we want to help. Let us be a shoulder to lean on when a shoulder is needed. Let us be compassionate when compassion is needed. Let us be the instrument, the voice of the Lord, as we are led. At all times let us pray for each other. Of course we always first run to the Lord. But when God made us He made us all to help each other, just as He made Eve to be the partner of Adam (Genesis 2:18, 21-22). We all need Jesus. And we also need each other, it is God’s design. Let’s lovingly help each other. Praise our all-knowing and wise God! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.