Emily, I think for us to be the kind of instruments who can be used to help restore clear spiritual vision, we must be in a constant place of self-evaluation and, more importantly, submission before the Holy Spirit for HIS evaluation before we can be useful. In other words, it’s not so much that I see something in you, do a quick eval on myself to make sure that I’m good, then help you out of that. It’s that I’m REGULARLY asking if there is ANYTHING in me that is an offense towards God and have Him deal with that. (Psalm 139). Once that is our lifestyle, then we are in a position to help and encourage those around us to move to that place of confession and repentance, as we are doing.

I think Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 5 is helpful in this:

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.1

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

I think Paul (as an overseer, thus the strong tone) is speaking from a desire to keep the Body of Christ pure but also for the concern of the individual in the sin: Purge them SO THAT his spirit may be saved…. In no uncertain terms is Paul speaking anything less than having passed judgment on the sin, but it is clearly the Word of God that has been the judge (notice verse 13 is a quote…Paul is simply quoting Old Testament instruction from God). We are not to judge based on what we feel is right or wrong but on what the Word of God says is right and wrong. The problem comes when, unlike Paul, we fail to continuously bring ourselves before the purging work of the Holy Spirit to keep us from those same sinful attitudes. If I stay close to Christ and am regularly brought to repentance of my own shortcomings, then I will be in a position to address the sins of others who claim the name of Christ, calling them to repentance, as well.

What about arrogance and hypocrisy? It would seem as though to call for repentance in someone else would be hypocritical and arrogant since we, ourselves, are guilty of sin. That would most likely be said by someone who has never been confronted with their own sin and shortcomings. Otherwise, they would understand that someone who has has been truly broken over their sin never goes to anyone from a place of pride, but rather a place of empathy and grace: “I understand how EASY it is to fall into this place you are in because I am so often there myself. That is why we need Christ to deliver us and MUST repent. I also know how destructive this is so that is why we have to encourage EACH OTHER to repentance and relying on Christ.” Those are not words of judgment, but rather words of someone who understands the desert conditions they find themselves in, encouraging the other to keep moving to the water to keep from dying (that analogy quickly breaks down, but hopefully you get the point).

So, really there is an attitude that precedes the action: am I desiring to address that person to deflect my attention away from my own guilt? Is it to make myself feel better by highlighting their sin? Is it because I have experienced forgiveness and restoration and desperately want them to feel the same refreshing I have? I am not the Holy Spirit, so I don’t bring the conviction, but I can be used by God to create an environment of repentance.

Thanks, Frank. I’ll have to check out that book.