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How To Treat A Backslidder

When we hear about the sin of the world, for the biggest part, it doesn’t affect us.

When we hear about the sin of a brother or sister in Christ it hits home.

  When we hear of one of our own, a child of God, falling, we should have a heart of compassion, and concern and a hand that is reaching out to help.

  Unfortunately, we are known to kick our wounded, ridicule the fallen, and treat them as they have leprosy. 

  There are three things not to do when we hear of a Christian family or individual falling and there are three things we are to do when we hear of a Christian family, individual falling.

Things not to do.

1.      Do not Assume anything. Pro 18:13  He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

2.      Do not be a Busybody.   1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
  If we are not directly associated or if we or our family are not going to be effected, why get involved?
  (1 Tim. 5:13) idle, tattlers, busybodies, house to house

3.      Do not Cast it. (Lev.19:16)  Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among the people.  Since when did Fox news or CNN employ you?
  I understand we are living in a world that loves the “dirty low-down” on people.
  Hee-Haw made fun of it with their “gossip” song.
  Tabloids and high production news casts make it a reality and have gotten us used to sensationalism and callousness.
  Joseph brought his brothers evil report to his father.

(Pro. 17:9) He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Things to do.

1. Pray to the Father.  Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
  Bring it to Jesus.  No one can really help in the matter as much as Christ.  He will lead us and open doors for us to reach out to the fallen.

2. Reach Down and Restore.  (Gal.6:1) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

  *How hard it must be for some people to come back to Christ when all they remember about the church they went to was full of busybodies, tattlers, condemners, and casters.
  They are having a hard enough time with the pull of the world.  Why would we want to be pushing them away at the same time.
 There should be a tug of war going on and love should prevail.

 (Pro. 10:12) Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

  Sometimes people feel guilty by association.  This should never be.  It wasn’t for Christ.

  Woman at the well.  Woman caught in adultery.  Zacheus crowd. 

  Christ wanted to restore us unto Himself in such scope, He was numbered with the transgressors. (Isa. 53:12)  Then He made “intercession for the transgressors.”

3.  Take Heed.  (1 Cor. 10:12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

      What makes us so super spiritual that we had power over the flesh and the devil not to slide as far as others?
What gives us the strength to be assured we will never fall?

 The biggest concern I have for young converts is the pull of the world.  It is strong, and it is a battle.
However, before that battle comes along, there has to be true salvation.
This is the biggest battle a person will face.
It is easier to get saved than it is to be restored at times.

Do you need salvation this morning?
Do you need a heart for a backslidden family member or friend?
Do you need an extra dose of encouragement for yourself to keep you from departing from the faith?

  Find the help you need this morning.

Rev. 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

  Looking for a verse to set a foundation for this thought, I came across this one and it fit right into the characteristic of the person we are dealing with this morning on both levels.

  I am dealing with, “How are we to treat a Backslidder.”
The one who has backslidden has definitely left their first love, but we, as Christians, if we do not have the right attitude and action towards those who are struggling, then we too have left our first love.