Should You CORRECT a Brother?

If you become aware of a Christian caught in a sin, the most loving thing we can do is help them see they are headed in the wrong direction. In fact, the Bible commands it: “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.” (Gal 6:1)

We all fall! Each one of us takes turns to get distracted or become lazy or weary in well-doing.

 “Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.” (1 Thes 5:14:).

All of us are sinners, so before sharing with others, we must make sure that we are dealing LOVINGLY with them (Mat 7:1-5).  In other words, we can’t be picky about a speck in someone’s eye, when there’s a beam in ours. We can’t approach people self-righteously, but we MUST correct in love. And we don’t need to be sin-free to correct another Christian. Just admit that you too fall at times, and there’ll be a time when you’ll need their help and correction too. ‘Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up” (Ecc 4.9,10)

We should be faithful to warn someone from being taken captive to do Satan’s traps. “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Tim 2:24-26).

But we cannot force that person to repent if they choose to ignore and grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). We are responsible to lovingly warn them, but we are not responsible for their decision.

God told Jeremiah to rebuke the people for their sins even though He knew they wouldn’t listen (Jer 7:27). And God told Ezekiel that if he didn’t warn people of their sins, their blood would be on his hands (read Ez 33:1-16).

Correcting others is part of sharing the truth, and sharing the truth is our duty to the whole world.