Help!..I've fallen and I can't get up!

Several years ago there was a TV commercial that became a national joke. The byline was: "Help!..I've fallen and I can't get up!" I have come to realize that there are lots of ministers that have fallen and need help getting up. Unfortunately many believers within evangelical Christianity don't offer much hope (or help) for those who have fallen into sin.

There are several reasons why many denominations and church members are not helping to restore broken people:

• They don't believe it's biblical to do so (theological or scriptural reasons).
• They don't know how to (intellectual or procedural reasons).
• They don't want to (personal or emotional reasons).

All three of the above reasons are rather weak reasons and won't stand up to God's standard of truth, wisdom, love, and grace. Consider the following questions:

If there are any spiritually mature believers in the evangelical church today, what does Paul mean in Galatians 6:1a - "Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness..." What if the sinning person was a pastor? How will this broken person be restored (mended, healed)?

Even if our feelings are wounded, we know what God says in His Word about forgiveness and restoration. What if we don't do what God requires of us? We read in James 4:17 "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin."

When we do as the Priest and Levite did in Luke 10:30 and deliberately walk past the fallen and wounded, is that sin? When we refuse to get counseling for them or simply won't help them up from their fall, is that sin? We are commanded to restore in Galatians 6:1 and when we refuse to do God Word, which is right, is that sin? It sure sounds like it to me.