My unmarried daughter is pregnant. I found out my son is gay. My pastor is having an affair. My husband is addicted to pornography. I am having an affair. All of these people may not be believers but many are.
What is our response when we are given this kind of information? Outwardly we act sad and say "Oh my, I will be praying for you." Inwardly we may be finding fault with the bearer of this news. In fact we begin to find fault with who they are and what they could have done or shouldn't have done that would help this situation. Our thoughts are not about restoration.
We live in a broken, fallen world. Even believers are susceptible to these kinds of temptations. Paul is speaking to Christians when he writes to the Corinthians warning them about sin in their church. In I Corinthians 10: 12 he warns them "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
Galatians 6: 1-5 speaks of our restoring a person who is overtaken in a trespass in a spirit of gentleness, considering ourselves lest we be tempted. We are called to bear one another's burdens. For most of us, myself included, our goal is not so much to restore an erring brother or sister in love, but to judge and condemn them. Let me be quick to say, we are not to overlook these things or just try to shuffle them under the rug. There is church discipline to be done in some cases that are without repentance (Matthew 18: 15-20). However, it is bringing the erring brother or sister to restoration with Christ and the church that should come first. If we are intent on doing this out of love for one another, it would avoid unkind gossip that often comes from news like this.
One of the reasons many people will not share this kind of burden with us is because they are afraid we will find fault with them or their loved one caught in the sin. We need to create a safe environment for others to share these burdens - an environment that is eager to restore, not find fault. Remember, temptation comes to all of us.
"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."
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