clcgh.org Building The Capacity Of Christian Leaders, Equipping The Saints For The Work Of Ministry, Redirecting Straying Christians To The Sound Knowledge Of Christ
Apostles, pastors, deacons and other church leaders are not super human beings. As men and women like everyone else, they are not above mistakes. So, sometimes, they go astray, backslide or fall.
A minister of God may go astray when he fails to keep the teachings of the Word of God. David confirms this when he says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word” (Psalm 119:67).
From the Scripture above, we learn that afflictions which believers suffer often come because we neglect God’s Word and go our own way. Those who are humble return to God and make a decision to live by His Word.
Like David, many church leaders in our generation also go astray and are afflicted. Of course, some of them restore themselves, but others need to be encouraged and supported by others.
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, YOU WHO ARE SPIRITUAL SHOULD RESTORE HIM in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1).
A Christian who is caught in a transgression is actually a strayed believer, who ought to be brought in his rightful place in Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul, who wrote the scriptural verse above, in his letter to the churches in Galatia, clearly admitted that born-again Christians including pastors can be caught in a sin or go astray.
Peter fell into a sin of hypocrisy and Paul rebuked him. He “opposed him to his face…” However, he did that in the spirit of love and gentleness, so in the end, he won back his brother (Galatians 2:11-14).
In a situation like this, Paul teaches that spiritual Christians should restore the straying leader or Christian. Spiritual disciples of Christ are mature church folks.
The apostle did not say we should abandon them to their fate and gossip about them. He did not say we should make hate speeches about them or speak evil about them.
All he instructed was that spiritual believers should restore them. As already indicated, spiritual Christians are mature Christians who have grown in the things of the Spirit and have developed their spiritual senses.
They are also described as those who are spiritually “strong and stand by the power and grace of the Spirit of God.”
The restoration can be achieved through intercessory prayers, counselling and teachings, But Paul warns that these things should be done in the spirit of gentleness.
This means the processes and acts of restoration should be in attitudes of humility, kindness and quietness. In other words, those who are being restored should not be subjected to harsh or violent confrontations.
Spiritual believers who volunteer to bring about restoration should refrain from being proud or project themselves to be better than others.
To them, Paul exhorts: “…Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).
By James Quansah
