Volume 39   Number 3                                                                                     November 1996

In every church, there are going to be differing levels of maturity, and what would be no real test to you may be a very strong temptation to your brother. This is why, in Galatians 6:1 we read, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

If we see that our brother has been taken by surprise by Satan, and sinned, what is our natural reaction? Probably to jump all over him, and tell him he should know better than to do such a wicked thing. But if you claim to be spiritual—a mature Christian in knowledge and experience—the apostle challenges you to prove it by how you handle this problem. Do you want to restore your brother, or drive him away? We might say we were only trying to do the right thing, but by doing it the wrong way, we still lose our brother.

The word restore means to mend a net that was torn, to be able to use it again. This is why we are told to do it in the spirit of meekness or gentleness. Satan might be tempting you, trying to get you puffed up with pride, so consider your own attitude first. The writer warns you, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."

The law of Christ commands us to love our brother, to treat him as we would want to be treated ourselves. How careful we should be, then, that we try our best to not make a greater problem out of one that should end here and now; to keep the matter in perspective, to be humble, open and honest, being fair to each other in our remarks, to always work hard to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Go to that brother; explain the circumstances, and your feelings about it, as meekly and calmly as possible; and what correction you feel is necessary. Certainly, then, you should both seek a solution for the problem where all are winners.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, to just be given a token effort. Do you feel before it starts that it "won't do any good"? If you begin with that attitude it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy, because you will blind yourself to seeing your brother's point of view.

If both parties are not willing to make every effort to settle the matter quietly and privately, just between themselves alone, they could both have perpetual black eyes. We are warned in Galatians 5:15, "When you bite and devour each other, beware that you be not consumed by each other." Like two wild animals, so busy constantly fighting each other until both are dead, Christians can squabble until they both destroy their influence for good, or even split the church. Instead of quarreling and trying to justify ourselves, should not we rather attack the problem, instead of attacking each other?

It should never be the purpose of either party to just degrade or sorely humiliate the other; to resort to angry words, name-calling or insults. It is so easy to let our emotions and personal desires control us, so that we lose our brother when we are supposed to be trying to gain him. May we always do our best, so we don't lose a friend or make him our enemy!

Why must a disagreement drive a wedge between brethren? Rather it should be a time for sober reflection of the problem, so that it can be avoided the next time; a time to grow closer to each other, to understand each other better. Here is an opportunity to turn a negative experience into a positive one: instead of driving us apart, let it draw us closer together.

The children of God are supposed to be peacemakers: ones who try to get people to work together; to get them to stop fighting; to be reconciled to each other; to labor together side by side. This is the only way we can defeat Satan, and win souls for Christ. If we want to be like our Father, we are not willing that any should perish, but that all might come to repentance.