Galatians 6:1

1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

The story is told in the Early Church Fathers (writings done within 100 years or so of Jesus and the disciples) of John (the apostle) bringing a man to a friend of his who was a pastor and entrusting that man to the care of the pastor. John departed, and soon the man fell away from faith. A year later, John returned and was told what had happened. John immediately began a search, found the man, and helped him return to a life of faith. John was more bothered by his pastor friend than he was by the man who had fallen away.

The story was written by one of John’s church members and it may or may not be true, but it does illustrate a good point.

Often in Christian circles we shoot the wounded instead of loving them back to health. It is so easy to just pass judgment, or to just forget about someone who has wandered away from the faith. In Galatians, it was not so much wandering back into sin that was Paul’s concern, as he was concerned primarily with their lapse back into following the Mosaic Law instead of living by the Spirit.

The problem with leaning on the law, or our own good deeds, in our efforts to be righteous, is that there is no power there. When we live in dependence on the Spirit, we are empowered by Christ to live in the true righteousness that He Himself gives us.

Paul builds on this point in chapter five, as he says that when we live by the spirit we fulfill the law.

Paul is writing here to the “spiritual” ones, those who were living by the power of the Spirit and not in their own efforts.

Paul writes that when someone is caught in sin, they are to restore him or her gently.

The Greek word there for “caught” has two possible meanings. Some theologians think it refers to a person being caught in the act of a sin by a believer. Other theologians believe it refers to the person himself being surprised at sin rising up in his life. Whichever, the point is, that those of us who see this person, should make every effort to restore that person, and not to judge or condemn that person.

To set the sinning brother right concerning the sin itself might be good, but that would still leave him in the position where the sin could still creep back in and catch him again. The main thing that needs setting right in such a situation, is to get the brother restored to relying on the Holy Spirit, and to have his communion with Christ restored.

Paul also writes that we should look to slip and ourselves when we see others trapped in sin, because we too can be tempted. None of us are above any sin, and it is only by the Grace of God that any of us do not fall. With this in mind, we should always seek the welfare of our brothers especially when they are not doing well.

We are not to be Spiritual Cops then, Rather, we should be spiritual doctors, always ready with help for those in need.