Sometimes it is the most critical of us that ends up stumbling. However Galatians 6:1-9 provides some pointers on this and funnily it is not addressed at fallen brother/sister as you might expect rather it is addressed at their restoration not the person. Further it is directed at you and I (by this I mean we who have discovered such an issue with a brother/ sister). It reads as follows: "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. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
... the stumbling believer...
After we are saved we are not free from the pitfalls of sin. 1 John1:8 says if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Verse 10 states that if we claim we have not sinned we make him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives. James 3:2 reminds us that we all stumble in many ways. If believers did not sin then the New Testament would be irrelevant. The Devil goes about seeking who he may devour. Sin is like a trap once you get in and not careful it entraps you and further consumes you. Nobody gets up in the morning and decides to go out and lose their integrity on purpose. So if you know of someone that has been caught up in a trespass, look to do what Jesus did with the woman that was brought to Him "caught in the very act" by restoring gently.
...the spiritual believer...
Verse 1 also refers to "you who live by the Spirit" - a believer living by the Spirit will exhibit some characteristics that will enable them (you and I) to be able restore our beloved brother/ sister. Galatians 5:22, 23 addressed this earlier. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Being aware of the particular issue means that we have a responsibility to that person. We are not to stand aside with a pretext and not get involved. A classic modern day Christian (also something that I had sadly observed in myself) will respond with an attitude of "it is not my business" or to look at them and despise or condemn them in our hearts; and when they suffer for it say it serves them right or wish them bad. These are wrong attitudes! Neither are we to report them to the minister or church leadership or gossip about them or tell it to another Christian (often with the pretext of telling them so as to put it in prayer). No we are to restore them gently and help them back onto the right path.
...the aim of restoration...
That is to restore in the spirit of gentleness. This means that we are not to exploit the fallen brother, look down on them or bear judgement against them rather we should have tears running down our face understanding the heart of our Heavenly Father that does not want to see any of us fall away. Tell him his fault face to face and privately. We are not aggravate his/ her grief, do not scold or condemn him/her instead lift him up and gently restore his faith, run up to him, reach out your hand and comfort him with the gospel and embrace him like a mother would a child. Think of the joy of the father when his prodigal son returned home (Luke 15). Think also towards the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves the 99 and risks himself to find the lost one and in the same way he rejoices on finding his lost sheep so heaven rejoices (Luke 15 1-7). So as someone of whom a fellow believer's condition has been brought to your attention think of yourself as an instrument to be used by the Lord in restoring that brother back but in order to qualify as being such an instrument you yourself must be spiritual. This is because you will be risking yourself to help pull out your fallen brother. Romans 15:1 states that we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. We also ought to warn those that are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak and be patient with everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:14). We also need to look into your own life too and we will touch on that in following paragraph.
... the attitude of restoration...
Watching ourselves and being careful not to please ourselves in the restoration process is extremely important. We need to restore back our brother in consideration for ourselves lest we fall into the same temptation as we are putting ourselves at risk of it. Verse 3 in the Galatians text tells us not to think we are something when we are nothing. 1 Corinthians 10:12,13 also tells us to watch out if we think we are standing firm but also reminds us that no temptation or trial has seized us except what is common to man. God being faithful will never let us be tempted or tried beyond what we can bear rather He has provided a way out of every temptation or trial that we face such that we can bear it. Everybody is tempted, it is not a sin to be tempted but a sin to be yield to it. What comfort knowing though that when it comes God has provided a way out such that we do not need to yield to it. Thus in restoration we need to be careful if we think we are standing firm. Do you know that it is when you think you could never do something that is when you open yourself up to the possibility of it? Take for example Peter (Matthew 26:33-35) that was declaring his solidarity for Christ and ended up denying him three times that very night. This is how the enemy works, he picks up on these things and works to make us unworthy servants of Christ and tries to instill a spirit that will make us give up and continue to dwell in sin. So in that light when you see a brother that has fallen, remember but for the grace of God that could be you. In our reaction we have the potential to break anybody's heart and the heart of God thus we should be vigilant and put on the whole armour of God.
...bearing one another's burdens...
Verse 2 in Galatians 6 tells us to bear one another's burdens so as to fulfill the law of Christ. Bearing a fallen brother's burden will relieve them of it. The new testament shows how to be towards each other as believers by commanding one another, praying, loving, edifying, being hospitable and bearing each other's burdens. However we also come across other verses in the scripture that asks us to cast our burdens upon the Lord such as Psalm 55:22 and 1Peter 5:7. God does His work through people and we are doing God's work. To do so in fulfilling the law of Christ would mean doing so in love. John 13:34 states " a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" Galatians 5:14 confirms this by stating that the entire law is summed up in a single command of "love your neighbour as yourself". if you love your neighbour as yourself you don't steal from him, betray him, gossip about him etc... Further we should not think that we are above carrying people's burdens. We should rather have genuine concern looking back to verse 3 how can you think yourself something when you are not abiding in the law of Christ? We ought to test our actions verse 4 and check that we are not doing what we do out of selfish motives but does not mean taking it fully upon ourselves as verse 5 states that each should carry his own load. Rather we are relieving the brother and helping them to gently restore their faith.
Bearing each other's burdens is not easy and in every situation there is something we can do and it can help to focus on what we can do rather than what we can't do. Prayerfully consider what you can do in each situation and approach sensitively. Most importantly do not shoot the wounded because you can assured that the brother that has fallen into sin is hurting and most probably feels more at home in the dark places or with unbelievers due to the judgmental attitudes shown to them in church or among believers. Remember God welcomes home anyone who would have Him.
Prayer
Mighty God thank you for the unbelievable love and care that you have for us. Thank you that you do not turn us away as you are a faithful and loving father. Forgive us for breaking hearts knowingly or unknowingly and help us to realise when we are doing this such that we do not turn a hurting brother or sister away. Give us a heart of love to welcome them back with open arms. Teach us patience, humility, self-control and equip us with all the traits that we require in order to carry the burdens of a falling brother such that he may be fully restored and that we might rejoice with Heaven for the return of your children. Help is oh Lord that we do not yield to temptation in the process. We ask all these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who died to set us free from the burden of sin. Amen
With love...
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