The Art Of Spiritual Restoration

The ArT of

Spiritual Restoration

THE ART OF SPIRITUAL RESTORATION

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he Art of Spiritual Restoration

I think it started in California. Christians meeting each other on the street began asking one another, “How’s your walk?” The phrase was somewhat new to me, but the meaning behind it was as familiar as could be. Your “walk” is your course of living, the path God has set before you. “How’s your walk?” is another way of asking, “How are you doing on your course? Are you still heading in the same direction, or have you veered right or left? Is your lifestyle consistent with the new creature God has made you?” How is your walk? There’s a worthy question behind that seemingly-innocent phrase. Sometime in the future (if not already in your past), the

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answer to that query may cause you embarrassment or shame. Or, you may avoid responding altogether. Many of us, at some point, stumble along the way. A temptation of one sort of another trips us up, and we fall headlong into sin. Our deviation from the path may last a moment, or it could be the start of serious long-term rebellion that sours us from within. Obviously, the difference lies in our willingness to confess, repent, and start again. But there’s another factor in that equation: the Church, and its efforts to restore believers who have been “caught in sin.”

Caught “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” (Galatians 6:1). As a young boy growing up in Baltimore, I loved to catch my brother in the act of wrongdoing. Whether the offense was large or small (it really didn’t matter to me!), my response was the same: “Ooooo, I’m gonna tell!” Why was I so eager for opportunities to turn “state’s evidence” on my own brother? Simple. It gave me a chance to enjoy all of the credit with none of the blame. My innocence made it easy for me to turn to Mom and Dad and point out that “he did it.” I remember thinking, “This time

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it’s him, not me.” That may be the prevailing mentality on the playground—and perhaps in society in general—but it has no place in the family of God. Paul tells us that our goal is to help one another walk in the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16), not to circle like vultures waiting for someone to slip up. It has been said with tragic accuracy that the Church is the only army that shoots its wounded. The Greek word for “restore” suggests an image of setting a broken bone. Our job is to help our brothers and sisters mend, not to add to their injuries. It’s important at this point to be very specific about what it means to be “caught” in sin. Our verse does not say, “If you think someone is sinning” or “if someone seems like the type who

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would sin if given half a chance.” Paul is talking about clear, unmistakable first-hand observations. We should be equally specific about the word “sin” (“trespass” in the NASB) in this context. We’re talking about a believer who has strayed off the path—not someone who has wholeheartedly bought into a lifestyle of sin. Outright rebellion calls for discipline—a very different response. Instead, we are talking about someone who is on the right road, but got caught making a wrong turn. If you catch someone making an illegal turn, it’s your job to “set his bone.” One of the reasons that hurting people avoid coming to church is because they don’t see the church as a place where broken lives are mended. Often, church people are more proficient at gossip and back-biting than your garden-variety pagan. Suppose an unmarried young woman in your fellowship becomes pregnant. Don’t add to her problems by demeaning and isolating her in the name of “moral purity.” Help the girl! Offer her acceptance, understanding, and practical assistance. Imagine a hospital that decided to preserve the health of its staff by refusing to admit sick people. Ridiculous! Your church is a hospital of sorts, specializing

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in the treatment of broken lives. You can’t fulfill your calling by stigmatizing or rejecting the very people who need ministry most. God saved you to be a bone mender.

You who are spiritual . . . Not all Christians are restorers. For every genuine, spiritual “orthopedic surgeon,” there is at least one quack who is as likely to kill you as cure you. In 1970, I was playing a serious game of football. During a routine play, I was hit with a cross-body

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block. My cleat was planted so firmly in the ground that when my body was slammed in one direction, my leg twisted in the other direction. The result was a loud pop and some of the worst pain I have ever experienced. After an ambulance ride to the hospital, a freshfaced intern walked in, intent on impressing his superiors with his diagnostic talents. He managed to spot my broken leg on sight, and set about the standard procedure in such cases: twisting and jerking the fractured bone back into place. Though well-intentioned, this inexperienced medic didn’t realize that my bone was not only broken, but shattered. The last thing my leg needed was to be yanked about. I’m sure they heard me screaming up on the fifth floor. The birds outside probably thought I was trying to sing with them. I can’t describe the pain. I tried not to compromise my testimony, but somehow, this “doctor” had to be stopped! At last, a real physician came to my rescue. This man had some experience under his belt, and specialized in bone disorders. He took X-rays, analyzed them carefully, and acted accordingly. I was admitted to the hospital and taken into surgery. There, my leg was opened up. Steel plates were installed. My bones were reassembled with screws and pegs. The intern meant well, but he was clearly out of his league.

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When a brother’s life is shattered, he needs more than a well-intentioned amateur. He needs someone who knows what God wants done, and how to do it. “You who are spiritual” are to do the restoring. What does it mean to be spiritual? Paul defines spirituality at the end of 1 Corinthians 2: The spiritual individual possesses the mind of Christ. How do you know if you meet this standard? Very simple: Do you view life from a divine perspective? That’s it. Are you going to give me God’s solution to my dilemma, or will I be saddled with your opinion? I’ve seen people become “spiritual” only when it is convenient. They’ll say, “Well, girl, here’s what I think the Lord would have you do…” when it is obvious that they haven’t given a thought to God’s wishes. What they want is to get a little further into your business. That’s why it’s important to seek restoration from people who’ve developed a long-standing reputation for genuine

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spirituality.

Gently . . . If someone is hurting, they need tenderness. They need somebody to apply a healing salve to the wound, not salt and vinegar. That gentleness is one of the fruits of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:23. But Paul adds another perspective to the term in our passage, Galatians 6:1. “. . . watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” A gentle spirit is the result of realizing that we are what we are by the grace of God—not as the result of our own wisdom, intelligence, or skill. Often, the only distinction between us and the person caught in sin is simply that we didn’t get caught. Consider the pregnant young lady I mentioned earlier. Her situation may be the result of a single sexual encounter, while another woman who’s been sleeping around for years escapes notice. Which has been more immoral? Don’t approach restoration with a condescending attitude. “Watch yourself,” as our verse tells us. Look at what God has saved you from . . . and for, remembering that you are vulnerable to the same temptation that trapped the brother or sister seeking your help. Those who consider themselves “beyond” such temptation are usually the

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most vulnerable of all! Members of a family help one another; that’s part of what it means to be a family. And God says that His family should be a healing and loving community that cares enough to restore.

Bearing Burdens Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load (Galatians 6:2-5). What is a burden? It’s any load which is too heavy to handle. Every Christian, at one time or another, finds himself under the weight of one or more of life’s stresses. Some carry the “single parent” burden, trying to function as mother, father, and provider. Others have shouldered the load of living with an unsaved spouse. Financial troubles weigh heavily on many of us. The list goes on and on. The Bible tells us to bear one another’s burdens. Whose burden are you helping to bear? “Professional Christians” are often avid churchgoers, generous donors, and shout “Amen!” with the best of them. But that wasn’t my question. Whose burden are you bearing? Whose load is

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lighter because you showed up? You may say, “Pastor, there are 1,000 people in my church, and they all have burdens. I can’t bear them all.” Fine—don’t try to bear all 1,000 burdens. Find

one. Do you know why so many faithful Christians suffer burnout? Because you’ve got 100 people trying to bear 1,000 burdens. The others are sitting on the sidelines, saying, “God hasn’t led me to a ministry yet.” Obedience has nothing to do with feelings. Find a need, then minister. Now don’t misunderstand me. You’re not supposed to own another person’s burden; you’re simply to help them carry it. Don’t make their misery your own. But you can weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn. When we bear one another’s burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If we put that admonition into practice, we would never rob, cheat, steal, or defraud.

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Yet we live in what has been called a “dog-eatdog” world. That means I’m going after mine before you get yours and if I can get yours, too, so much the better. That’s how the world thinks. Remember, the spiritual man has the mind of Christ.

Something or nothing? Some people act as if they’re too good for burden-bearing. Maybe they have a few extra clothes in the closet. Perhaps they pull down a bigger paycheck, or drive a faster car, or live in a nicer neighborhood. Watch out! Our passage says, “each one should test his own actions.” Are you really the “something” you think you are? The proof is in your works, your actions. If your feet aren’t taking you where God says to go, then your self-assessment was in error. Be careful—your opinion about yourself may fail to measure up to reality. As chores requiring my attention pop up around the house, my wife records them on a list we keep on the refrigerator door. On Monday (my day off ), my job is to work through the list. Lois knows that, because of my schedule, anything remaining on the list on Tuesday won’t get done for another week. Though Lois is quite understanding about my shortcomings (usually!), she would be quite jus-

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tified in responding like this: “You said you’d clean the garage.” “Well, I meant to, but…” “‘Meant to?’ ‘Meant to’ doesn’t fix anything; the garage stays just as dirty. ‘Meant to’ may be nice for you, but it doesn’t help me.” Many Christians live their entire lives with good intentions that never turn into action. “I meant to get involved in the church. I meant to serve the Lord. . .” How is the church to function until you and the Lord get right? What will happen to Christ’s body between now and the day you decide to bear somebody else’s burden? How long must God wait? Your actions are the measure of your spirituality, not your noble aspirations. And those actions are to be measured on their merits alone, not according to how the “crowd” is performing. A wife came to her husband and said, “Honey, I need more attention. I need more of your time. Don’t you love me?” In typical male fashion, the husband answered, “Girl, if I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t bring my money home; I’d gamble it away like Billy up the street. Or I’d work 25 hours overtime each week like Jim who never comes home. Or I’d chase anything wearing a dress like Frank down at the office. I don’t do any of those things. Come on, am I really so bad?”

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Everything the husband said was true. But he failed to answer the question. His wife isn’t interested in what Billy or Jim or Frank might be up to. She wants more of him. This story reminds me of the parable of the publican and the Pharisee in Luke 18:10. The Pharisee came into the temple and said, “God, I thank you that I am not like all other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” Meanwhile, the tax collector stood off at a distance, beating his breast in repentance, not even daring to glance heavenward. “God, have mercy on me,” he cried. “I am a sinner.” Only the tax collector left the temple forgiven. The Pharisee had met his own criteria for holiness, but not God’s. Who are you pleasing? Are you pleasing God, or do you merely displease God a bit less than your neighbor?

Backpacks

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Our passage closes with a key line. “Each one should carry his own load” (Galatians 6:5). Only a few short lines ago, Paul was telling us to bear one another’s burdens. Now we are to carry our own load. How do we reconcile this apparent contradiction? This is a place where the original Greek text helps us out. The burden we’re instructed to share is a load that’s too heavy too carry. The load mentioned in verse five is more like a backpack. It’s what the soldiers used to carry their garments as they marched. Every Christian carries a “backpack.” It represents your basic responsibility as a member of God’s army. That’s why the Bible says, if a man doesn’t work, don’t feed him (2 Thessalonians 3:10). If he can’t work, that’s another story. But if laziness is the problem, the threat of starvation is the cure. He must carry his own backpack. Husbands will sometimes call me on the phone and say, “Will you straighten out my wife?” I tell them, “You’re the head of your household. That’s your backpack.” I’ll be happy to come alongside you when you’ve got a real burden. But don’t try to pass me your backpack. Taking it from you is not in your best interest. Part of each Christian’s backpack is a duty to care for the brethren. Members of God’s family with legitimate needs should not be turning to the government for welfare. Meeting those needs is

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the job of the church. First-century Christians would be appalled at the idea of childless widows in their fellowship living on government subsidies; that’s the church’s job. The greatest social system the world has ever known is supposed to exist within the church. It’s part of our backpack!

Conclusion As our world becomes increasingly hostile toward the cause of Christ, we cannot continue to expect comfort or assistance from sources outside the Body. We must start ministering to one another. In the same way that a healthy body possesses antibodies which automatically seek out and destroy disease, the Body of Christ has been uniquely equipped to address the weaknesses, sins, and struggles of its members. Whether you’re the pastor of a church that needs to become a more caring congregation, an individual believer seeking to minister to the wounded, or a victim of temptation in search of a helping hand, the biblical principles we have examined in these pages are vital. They represent the survival strategy of God’s family. As members of that family, we must fulfill our responsibilities before the Lord as individuals, as families, and as churches. Brothers and sisters, we must move beyond lazy Christianity! If you’re not currently a committed member of a local church, find one and join! Don’t wait until

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all your wounds have healed; the church is made up of people under reconstruction. Seek out a fellowship where mutual concern is a hallmark. Don’t expect perfection—that’s a certain path to disappointment and frustration. Instead, find a church with its heart in the right place and a steadfast dedication to the Word. Because each of us is vulnerable and fallible, the time will eventually come when you are the one needing spiritual restoration. When that day arrives, you will hope that the members of Christ’s body have understood the bottom line of this booklet: You are your brother’s keeper. So am I. So make sure you’re providing the help to others that you will expect when your day of trouble comes. It’s time we began caring enough to restore, support, encourage, motivate, and act.

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GO DEEPER If you enjoyed this, you may also be interested in other Tony Evans teachings.

The Caring Christian CD Series

Our image of the church is a place where hurting people can come for help. It’s a safe place where care, compassion and sensitivity are available to anyone who needs them. Unfortunately, real life doesn’t always match up with our image. In this probing series of messages, Dr. Evans examines a number of characteristics of the caring church and the people who make them up. He explores subjects like encouragement, confrontation, comfort and sharing, as well as some difficult concepts including church discipline and restoring wayward believers. Messages include: Caring Enough To Encourage - Hebrews 10:19-25 Caring Enough To Restore - Galatians 6:1-5 Caring Enough To Comfort - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Caring Enough To Confront - Galatians 2:11-21 Caring Enough To Love - 1 John 4:7-12 Caring Enough To Forgive - Colossians 3:12-17

HERE'S HOW

TonyEvans.org 1-800-800-3222

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About The Urban Alternative

The Urban Alternative (TUA) is a Christian broadcast ministry founded over 30 years ago by Dr. Tony Evans. At TUA, we seek to promote a kingdom agenda philosophy designed to enable people to live all of life underneath the comprehensive rule of God. This is accomplished through a variety of means, including media, resources, clergy ministries and community impact training. The Urban Alternative’s daily radio broadcast airs on nearly 1,000 radio outlets in America and in over 100 countries worldwide. Find us online at TonyEvans.org.

About the Author Dr. Tony Evans is the founder and president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry dedicated to restoring hope and transforming lives through the proclamation and application of God’s Word. For over three decades, Dr. Evans has also served as senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas. He is a prolific author of numerous books, including the best-selling Kingdom Man. His radio program, “The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans,” is heard daily on nearly 1,000 radio outlets. Dr. Evans is also the chaplain for the Dallas Mavericks and former chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys.

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