What is the Biblical way of dealing with a person when they fall?

[Stan]

A take off on another topic, that folks, and myself wanted buried and locked.

No need to mention names, ok?

What is the Biblical way of dealing with a person when they fall?

[GreatLakesGramma]

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

1Jn 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.

The goal is restoration. But this does not preclude discipline or accountability. To leave one who has given in to weakness in the same position where they will continue to be tempted in the same way is a mistake. This is far from a loving thing to do. They need to be removed from the temptation and placed in a position where they will be able to lean on the strength of others until they become stronger themselves. And they may need to stay in that place of accountability for the rest of their life.

And in some cases, such as child molesters, they should never be allowed to associate freely with certain persons again, for the sake of the possible victims as well as for their own.

[Guest]

[ClubV12]

If there are to be permanent consequences, what other group of people would fall under a life time restriction of some kind?

For instance should improperly married persons face a lifetime ban on a leadership position or church office? Adulter's? Gays?

I mean, as long were handing out lifetime sentencing in recogniztion there is no hope of permanent recovery, ever, under any circumstances, regardless of evidence of sincere repentance, who else fits this guideline?

And I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm asking a serious question. I understand the concern over certain groups of people and the potential for a "lifetime" ban of some kind. So, who are these people and what do we do about them? And on what do we base this lifetime ban? Psychologist studies? Scientific evidence point to a propensity for sin? The withering news reports influencing American opinion and popular belief?

[Scion]

What do you mean by "fall?" You mean like committing a sin, or you mean like leave the Church, stop fellowshipping, stop praying? I'm not familiar with the original discussion you're talking about, so I don't know the context.

Makes a difference, though. If the person errs in judgment, they should be restored according to that passage already cited.

If they resist and don't want to talk to you, you can't force them into grace.

[Gerr]

Amen. Amen. Amen!

[Naraiel]

I could not help but notice the title of this thread: What is the Biblical way of dealing with a person when they fall?

Well, the Biblical answer to this question will depend on what kind of fall is the question refering to. If the question is referring to falls into sin, then the Bible has two answers for this very question, depending on what category of sins is talking about.

The Bible only refers to two kinds of sins:

"If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." 1 Jhon 5:16-18

So, as you can see, the question, What is the Biblical way of dealing with a person when they fall [into sin]?, must be answered according to what God's Inspiration says on the matter. In this way faithful christians can have clear consciences before God and men.

If the question is referring to sins unto death the Bible has one answer, if is it referring to sins not unto death, the Bible has another answer.

For those christians who want to know more about the key difference between sins unto death and sins not unto death, they can look for the thread titled, What is the Biblical Requirement to have a Clear Conscience? They may find some interesting Bible passages, and inspired comments from E.W

I would say for now, that scripturally, one who knowingly sins [sin unto death] after a claim of conversion and acceptance into Church membership must undergo a TRUE conversion, and be baptized afresh.

We read,

Quote:

“Those who have been baptized can claim the help of the three great Worthies of heaven to keep them from falling, and to reveal through them a character that is after the divine similitude. This is what we claim to be --followers of Jesus. We must be molded and fashioned in accordance with the divine pattern; and if you have lost your Christlikeness, my brethren and sisters, you can never, never come into communion with God again until you are reconverted and rebaptized.” [sermons and Talks Volume One, page 366, emphasis added]

Even more powerfully,

Quote:

“The principles of righteousness must be implanted in the soul. The faith must grasp the power of Jesus Christ, else there is no safety. Licentious practices are getting to be as common as in the days before the flood. Not one should be buried with Christ by baptism unless they are critically examined whether they have ceased to sin, whether they have fixed moral principles, whether they know what sin is, whether they have moral defilement which God abhors. Find out by close questioning if these persons are really ceasing to sin, if with David they can say, I hate sin with a perfect hatred.

“My burden is that ministers of the gospel shall preach the truth as to what constitutes true conversion. They are not to lead down into the water souls who are not converted. The church is becoming composed of men and women who have never realized how sinful sin is.” [Manuscript Releases Volume Six, page 165]

Adventists today know no such words as these!

Or is the question referring to another type of fall?

[Brother Peter]

Quote:

By Stan

What is the Biblical way of dealing with a person when they fall?

It would be of great help to everyone if you state the condition of the "fall". What I mean by that is "If one falls and get's up and continue walking, he would be like the man that falls into sin and when he hears the truth he repents and forsake his sins and walk in the light that he has received.

But if one falls and is not willing to get up and walk again, then he is like the the man who falls into sin and when he hears the truth refuse to repent and forsake his sins, but instead continue there in.

Now these are two description that can be apply to the word "fall" in the biblical terms so in order not to let anyone walk in darkness, it would help to point which one you are referring to because both have different results. One man has the sin cuts away from his life because he repents and forsake his sins while the other man is destroyed with his sin that he holds on to and continue there in. That being said one will be able to shed more light from the word of God and the SOP as to how we can deal with one who has fallen .

____________________

Bro. Peter

[cricket]

I would say for now, that scripturally, one who knowingly sins [sin unto death] after a claim of conversion and acceptance into Church membership must undergo a TRUE conversion, and be baptized afresh.

By what criteria is true conversion measured; and by whom is it measured?

[ClubV12]

Peter, I think, is a good example of conversion. He walked and talked with the Lord in person, but it wasn't until he denied even knowing the Man, with curses, that he understood the sinfulness of sin. That was when he was converted.

[cricket]

And today? By what criteria is true conversion measured; and by whom is it measured?