Turn him

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. – James 5.19-20

This is the contrast to the passage above dealing with not judging our brethren and not grumbling about them. Sometimes our fellow Christians do mess up. Sometimes they wander away from the truth. Sometimes they (and we) do get off track. 

So God has a plan for that. 

When we see someone who gets themselves off track our task is not to judge and condemn them. Our job is to lovingly turn them back from their sin. 

When Paul wrote to the Galatian believers he gave these instructions – ‘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. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.’

We have no right to sit as judge because we are just as liable to wander from the truth, be in error, or be overtaken in a fault. Our attitude must be meekness and gentleness with one goal in mind – to restore him to fellowship. 

Too often we are tempted to simply kick the erring brother to the kerb. If they can’t cut they ought to get out of the way and let us who can get on about our business for the Lord. That certainly may be the tough guy approach and it sure is easier that trying to help – but certainly is not God’s way. 

When we see our brother wandering he needs us to come alongside him, put our arm around him, and lovingly guide him back on the path.