Christians: Lifeguards on duty

[DynamiteLotus]

I'm sure you've seen the commercial. The one with the girl drowning in a lake while her friend looks on and eventually turns her back. "If your friend was in trouble - you'd help him/her, right?" I think it's an anti-drug commercial.

This prompted another question for me: "If your brother/sister in Christ was in trouble (sinning) - you'd help him/her, right?"

To what extent would you go to try and save someone from "drowning?" Simply pray for the person? Confront him/her face to face in a private setting? Bring the sinner before the church and congregation?

Would your actions be persuaded by your relationship with the sinner or perhaps the sin itself?

Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.

 

[jay1_z]

We must also use wisdom when handling a situation like this. Confronting someone in public may turn them away from christ and thats the exact opposite of what you want to do. You must be an example and show that person how to act along with prayer.

 

[CeCe]

We must also use wisdom when handling a situation like this. Confronting someone in public may turn them away from christ and thats the exact opposite of what you want to do. You must be an example and show that person how to act along with prayer.

I completely agree. Publically shaming someone is more likely to make the person run. And what an opportunity for some to abuse. There are those who would take great pleasure in embarrassing someone so everyone can see how "righteous" they are. If someone is in trouble, it should never be ignored, but the person should not be humiliated by it. This should be done privately.

 

[DynamiteLotus]

I agree as well - I found the supporting scripture last night, but was hoping to find more. I don't necessarily agree with a public confrontation, but what if you've tried a private setting? Is the sinner's life not worth the risk of a public confrontation? If your intentions are true and you desire to set the sinner on a more righteous path - would you not do everything you could to save him/her?

I personally would pray first and then go to the sinner by myself. I would also seek counsel from my pastor and perhaps bring him to meet the lost one. If those efforts failed, I would again turn to prayer - adding the person to the church prayer sheet. I think my relationship with the sinner would actually persuade my actions; I'd also leave a public rebuke up to my pastor's discretion.

 

[CeCe]

In looking at that particular passage, it seems to be referring to sin in leadership--namely the elders of the church.

 

[PottersClay]

I completely agree. Publically shaming someone is more likely to make the person run. And what an opportunity for some to abuse. There are those who would take great pleasure in embarrassing someone so everyone can see how "righteous" they are. If someone is in trouble, it should never be ignored, but the person should not be humiliated by it. This should be done privately.

Publically confronting someone is supposed to be a last resort.

Matthew 18:15-17 5 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.​

 

[DynamiteLotus]

Matthew 18:15-17 5 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.​

That's the scripture I was looking for last night!!

 

[CeCe]

Publically confronting someone is supposed to be a last resort.

Matthew 18:15-17 5 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.​

So there are steps, is that right? Rather than something more abrupt. I've heard of people just being "called out" from the pulpit. Completely out of the blue and the pastor had even prepared his sermon on that particular sin a few times. Which sounds so premeditated. Just for the purpose of publically shaming them.

 

[PottersClay]

So there are steps, is that right? Rather than something more abrupt. I've heard of people just being "called out" from the pulpit. Completely out of the blue and the pastor had even prepared his sermon on that particular sin a few times. Which sounds so premeditated. Just for the purpose of publically shaming them.

Absolutely. God does not expose us to shame in public, and those who would call out someone's sin in public are entirely out of line.

The only exception to that in scripture is when Paul confronts Peter about his hypocracy in dealing with the Gentiles

Gal 2:11-14 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"​

But even this is not the same thing. Peter was confronted publically for a public offense. Had the offense been a personal sin, it would have been handled very differently.

There's also another important verse that we must remember when trying to reach someone who's fallen into sin:

Galatians 6:1 "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."
​

 

[rockwell]

To the degree of the sin is the way in which the Lord should deal with him/her.
If he/she commited a private sin in which no more than 3 people were affected then it is a private matter which should be resolved with those 2-3 people.

If the sin was commited in public or if the person has a ministry then he/she is required to apologize in public and step down from his/her ministry for a while.

That's the way i see things done here.

however you should always approach your pastor and discuss this in private first.

God Bless.