We all know people in our lives who do stupid things, and the truth is we all are those people at times in others lives. But what is it that when we see someone down or struggling makes us want to sabotage them, ourselves, God’s kingdom, by spreading word of their “dastardly deeds”?
So many times when others fail we want to “tell the world”! We want the to be “corrected”, punished if you will! We want to see them sink in their own failings and “learn their lesson!”! But is that really what God wants?
I’m not saying we won’t experience or shouldn’t experience consequences. I’m a firm believer in consequences. What I’ve learned though is God is a God of mercy! God said LOVE covers a MULTITUDE of SIN. What covers the multitude of sin? LOVE DOES! And what does that look like? Well, let’s look first at the greatest example, Jesus!
His love covered us all, all of our sin!! The multitude of it. He said “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!” He loves us today in spite of the fact that we are not perfect. His love covers us and makes us perfect to be able to remain in Gods family.
So I ask you, when those closest to you, or your friends, or your ministry family, or your pastors, OR ANYONE... when you see them struggling or caught in sin, do YOU forgive them? DO you help them up? Do you cover their “nakedness” of sin? Jesus said “they will know you by your love for one another.”
So this culture of honor works like this; someone is taken in sin, they’ve messed up! We help them, in love, to see what they have done. If there is a repentant heart along with a willingness to clean up the mess, to those who KNOW about it, we help them go to those people and just apologize and repent. We don’t spread the word of their sin, to other areas that have not heard, we cover them! Why give the enemy more ground than he’s taken himself?
Then, when all this has happened (this is best case scenario obviously) we restore that person in honor from where they fell. Sure, we may discuss with them and those aware of situation/s how we can circumvent this from happening again. This generally involves some inner healing on the part of the one who did the sinning. Additionally, there is some form of personal accountability as well and a personal growth plan for that area of their lives. And, we all get to learn from this!
This really is about family and humility and the fact that none of us are perfect. Grace in real love saves the day! So I hope when someone you know is taken in sin and falls down before you get to sharing the “news” you’ll stop and remember is this what God did to you? Let’s put the fires of the enemy out and honor Him and those who He has died for. Be his hands my family! Love you all, have a great day.
~Shane