Loving each other enough?

Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James 5:20

They are to be messengers, watchmen and stewards of the Lord; they are to teach and to admonish, to feed and provide for his family, to search for his children in the wilderness of this world’s temptations, and to guide them through its confusions, that they may be saved through Christ for ever. Formed by the word, they are to call their hearers to repentance and to declare in Christ's name the absolution and forgiveness of their sins.
The Ordination Service

How much do we love each other? What would be the greatest sign of love for a fellow church member: looking after their children, giving them money, praying for them, or as the TV advert used to say, giving them your last Rolo!

One of the most difficult, but greatest, expressions of love the New Testament talks about is when we challenge, guide and support each other out of sin towards wholeness. Ii was difficult in the world of James and Jesus and no less so in our privatised world where so often religion is personal and unaccountable. To many it seems judgemental, critical, embarrassing, and simply impossible.

But the Bible tells us of the amazing things which flow from the willingness to confront sin in ourselves and others. Wholeness, new life and even salvation can flow from loving someone enough to challenge their sin. Of course it must be done with gentleness and humility (1 Cor 4:21, 2 Cor 10:1, Gal 5:23, Eph 4:2, 1 Thess 2:7, 1 Pet 3:15).

Strangely, those caught in sin are often trapped in a private hell and long for someone to reach in and help, even though that would be painful. But too often pride or a misplaced feeling that we will offend conspire to stop that gentle word of encouragement to follow Jesus more.

This is beautifully summed up in the charge we give to those being ordained, but it’s also for all God’s people. We should all ‘search for God’s children in the wilderness of this worlds temptations and guide them through.’

Do we love our fellow Christians enough to pray and act to help each other away from sin?

Of course it starts with us, so here’s an ancient prayer from Lancelot Andrews:

Give me a heart, which may love thee with so true, faithful, and constant affection, as that nothing under the sun may separate me from the love of thee. Let me not follow the love of the world, or delight in the vanities of it any longer: but give me power to kill and quench all other love and desires, and to love thee only, desire thee only, and only think of thee, and thy commandments: that all my affections and thoughts may be fixed on thee; that in all temptations and adversities, I may have recourse to thee only, and receive all comfort from thee alone, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.

Today we also remember the ministry of Barnabas, who kept others from sin by encouragement:

Bountiful God, giver of all gifts,
who poured your Spirit upon your servant Barnabas
and gave him grace to encourage others:
help us, by his example,
to be generous in our judgements
and unselfish in our service;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
Amen.

Comments

[Jackie Sgarra]

Thanks Simon,just what I needed to hear today.