galatians 6:1 says
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Samwise proposed being caught in a sin is much like being trapped in a BEAR TRAP.
YA KNOW, STUCK, HURT, BLEEDING, BROKEN, and unable to get away ... without help.
what are you gonna do when you don't have someone to help you???
We went around the room answering the question: ARE YOU A GOOD COMMUNICATOR?
frodo said, "huh?"
placido said," let me call my wife..."
the consensus was NO. The point here is if we are going to relate , then we need to be able to both listen and then to relay what GOD has called us to do and say.
The idea of the bear trap is based on the fact that so many men find themselves broken and trapped. the last thing they need is someone to point a FINGER. the following verses in galatians 6 tell us to RESTORE him gently. the NCV says GENTLY AND HUMBLY.
The Meaning behind the word, GENTLY, is much like a DOCTOR SETTING A BROKEN BONE or REPAIRING A DISLOCATED LIMB. If we are gonna help men, who are overtaken by sin, if we are gonna help them STOP, RECOVER, and finally REPENT, then We need to do it in such a way that accomplishes these three.
Its NOT enough to reaffirm their sin. It does little good to tell them how to GET OUT OF THE BEAR TRAP, if we don't help them. WE MUST BE AGENTS OF PEACE.
We discussed how the church, overall as an institution, HAS FAILED TO DO THIS. in short, its up to us, to be spiritual FIRST, and rescue agents SECOND. lets be the ones to help our bruthers who are CAUGHT IN THE BEARTRAP.
we DON'T COME OUT OF THE BEAR TRAP THE SAME WAY WE WENT IN.
The only way we can be SPIRITUAL is because we have the HOLY SPIRIT. we are NOT better than the one trapped in sin, but we are not in that sin, and we, ourselves , are not stuck in the same bear trap. it is inconcievable that we could help another bruther if we are dealing with our own TRAP.
If we aren't careful, we too will fall into temptation.
Galatians 6: 7-9 , what we plant is what we will GROW. Our garden will look like WHATEVER we put in it. Time, oh boy, this will determine the appearance of the GARDEN.
the type of things we PLANT, will always show up in its due season.
Samwise mentioned that we need to PUT JESUS IN, SO THAT WE GET JESUS OUT.
very similar to the concept of GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT.
The GARDEN is where WE develop SPIRITUAL FRUIT or where we grow SPIRITUAL DEFEAT.
FRODO asked me if the church helped me.
ReplyDeletehe was asking if the church helped me deal with my sin. then helped me recover from the aftermath. then if they put me back in to produce for the church.
i would have to say ... maybe???
for the most part, i would say my pastor did an incredible job helping me understand the scope of my sin. he did an excellent job pointing me in the direction of a great counselor.
as for the rest of the congregation ... nah.
nope. and not really. perhaps because they were not equipped to deal with situations where sin is involved. at least not like mine.
and as far as allowing me to produce again, well yeah, i kinda did.