When we refuse to confront the sin of our brothers and sisters, we disgrace the Savior and those in the world ask why they should even consider joining the church? They are not wrong. Now how your church and small group works out the details of this process is beyond the scope of this book. However, one key point. The idea is not punishment. The goal is what and how can I communicate to this person to restore them to good standing? What is in their eternal best interest? I know that many will say that if they are saved then the sin does not matter? I would respectfully disagree. While they might be saved, their influence might keep others from the Kingdom to include the pain their sin inflicts on their children and other family members. We must lovingly confront sin of all types.
Notice that I said, “lovingly” we must approach those captured in sin as one broken person reaching out to another broken person. Search your heart first and foremost and get curious about why they are choosing the prison cell over the freedom of Christ. Do not make assumptions. Listen to their stories. Remember everyone has a name and a story. Take time to get to know it. Look for where God has been trying to speak to them over time.
A few years after coming to faith in Christ I remembered a guy named Stevie Ross. I had been a deckhand on a riverboat and Stevie worked alongside me. Sometimes Stevie would try to share the Gospel with me. I knew no better and rejected his lessons. At one point I even tried to get him fired for harassing me with the Gospel. At least on one occasion I tried to fight him. Looking back God was showing me Himself. He used Stevie to share the truth with me, but I was blind.
On another occasion I guy named Rama who was living out his faith boldly attempted share the good news with me. I rejected him as well and looked for opportunities to persecute him and attack him for any perceived sin. Looking back God was trying to get my attention.
As we hear the story of those that are lost it is certain that somewhere in their history the God of all Creation has made Himself known.
I so wish that I would have paid attention sooner. I would have missed out on so much hurt, pain caused by me and to me. I do praise God that my eyes were ultimately opened. However, I curse my own stubbornness. May God use you to open the eyes of the blind.
