What's a little dust between friends

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:37 ESV)

Jesus was clear that we should not judge or condemn others. I think we would all agree with that statement. We are in no position to judge or condemn anyone for their sins. We are all sinners and will continue to sin. The doctrine of sinless perfection is a heresy. We should look inward at our sins and evaluate ourselves. Most of the time, he was confronting the Pharisees, who judged and condemned people when they themselves were sometimes even worse than those they condemned.

I always love to read Jesus’s words, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?” (Matt 7:4). What an illustration of the pot calling the kettle black.

But wait did not Paul say, “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.” Is not confronting a brother or sister judgmental? First, Paul is a church planter and evangelist; he must teach giving instruction to those involved in the growing church. In planting churches, instructing overseers, deacons, and the church, he needs to ensure sin is not swept under the rug but that it is addressed. Paul always said we should “correct” with love and compassion. Judging and condemning are inherent to a position of authority. When it comes to sin, only God is sinless; therefore, only God can “judge” sin. In Galatians 6:1, the original word Paul uses is paraptoma (Παράπτωμα), which means to slip or to fall. We all slip into sin, do we not?

Paul is also telling us to correct, not condemn. We are to help a brother or sister in their restoration by bringing their sin to their attention with love and mercy, not by putting them down or making a spectacle of them. A judge condemns and does so out of a responsibility to sentence those who have violated a law or principle. This is not done out of love but duty, authority, and position. In confronting the sin of a brother or sister, we do it in private; we counsel them. This is not judgment or condemnation but care and love.

No one likes to be embarrassed. If one sins and is confronted, it is not only embarrassing, but it affects the psyche, bringing sadness in the conviction of the Spirit because we have sinned against God and must repent. Plainly said, it hurts our hearts when we sin against the very Savior who died so that our sins could be forgiven.

Do not ignore the sins of a brother or sister in Christ. Do not sweep sin under the rug. Confront them with love. Pick them up, dust them off, and help them as they recover from their fall. Next time, it will be you who is picked up and restored.

Grace and Peace!