Failing to Hold One Another Accountable- is NOT Loving

We all suffer the consequences to our sin, regardless of who we are. If we are regenerate, we can be assured that we will not have to pay the penalty for our sins (for all of eternity), because Christ already paid the price and they are covered by his blood. This does not mean, however, that we should not be held accountable for our sins. Galatians 6:1-3 reads as follow, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” 

TO FAIL TO HOLD ONE ANOTHER ACCOUNTABLE FOR SIN IS NOT LOVING, and it is also not scriptural. In Matthew 18:15 we are told, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” We can be assured that the greater transgression we commit, the harsher the consequences we will have to suffer, effecting others along with us. In lieu of this, only those who care about us most will hold us accountable for our sins. Proverbs 27:5-6 reads as follows, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

I believe reconciliation with one who has offended us (or who we have offended) is only possible when both parties are obedient to scripture’s teaching. For those whose desire is to glorify God in all that we do, it will be our wish to be at peace with all those we are in contact with, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). Rather than feeling obligated to set someone straight, it will be our desire to act in their best interests, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5).

If we are members of the Body of Christ, we should be displaying the fruit of the Spirit within our lives, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). If we, (or others who profess to know and follow Christ,) are displaying the opposite of this kind of fruit, we should be held accountable for this, and steered to the scriptures. 2 Corinthians 13:5 gives us the following admonishment, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

To neglect to address sin in a brother or sister’s life is not being kind. Psalm 141:5 reads as follows, “Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.” It is also humbling to remember that we are to be “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:20-21). (That submission being only when others are pointing us to obedience to God’s teaching.)

Matthew 7:12 tells us, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets”, and Galatians 5:14 reads,“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:14). Love for God and love for others is the fulfilling of the Law, so we know that Matthew is speaking only in the context of doing good to others by pointing them to obedience to scripture’s teaching. If we, or a fellow member of the Body is (noticeably) stumbling in our walk, our love for one another (and for God) should motivate us to ‘gently’ admonish the offender, in the hopes that he/she will make things right with God (and us, if need be). :)