Galatians 6 - The Church Should Not Shoot Its Wounded!

Galatians 6 - NIV

Enduring Word Commentary

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

As Paul closes out his letter to the Galatians, he gives some practical instruction. Since he has just been talking about how to overcome the desires of the flesh by walking in the Spirit, he realizes that there will still be times when people fall into sin in the body of Christ. He describes this person as being "caught in sin". 

Another translation uses the word "overtaken" instead of "caught". I think understanding this word Paul uses is key to interpreting this verse correctly.  Here's what one commentator says, 

Paul’s wording here speaks not of a determined and hardened sinner. Instead, the idea is of someone who has fallen into sin, finding themselves trapped in a place they never thought they would be. Overtaken “Contains the idea of falling. It is not the deliberate, the planned, aspect of sin that is stressed here, but rather the unwitting element. Mistake rather than misdeed is the force of the word, though without absolution of responsibility.” (Ridderbos, cited in Morris)

Notice Paul says a person should be "living by the Spirit" before they take on this role. This doesn't mean they are perfect, but they are walking with Christ in obedience to the Holy Spirit. When they sin they confess it and turn what what they know is wrong. The person Paul is talking about is trapped by a  sin has an iron tight grip on them. They need help, which only God can provide.  Importantly, God uses others in the church to restore the person to felllowship with God and the body of Christ. 

There is another key word in this passage we need to interpret correctly. Paul says, "Carry each others burdens." A few verses after these, Paul teaches each person should, "Carry their own load." So What's the difference between a burden and a load. 

A burden is something so big one person can't carry it. A load is something we should be able to manage on our own. Someone has likened a burden to a huge boulder, which one person could not possibly carry by themselves.  Picture a man or woman with a huge boulder on their backs trying to carry it alone. This is why Paul says to, "Carry one another's burdens". 

We all go through times when we experience a burden we can't carry alone. We need a brother or sister in Christ to come alongside of us and bear the weight with us.   

Someone remarked disdainfully, "The Church is the only ones who shoot their wounded!" Wow! May that never be said of my church or your church. 

Our model for this kind of behavior is our Lord Jesus, himself. Jesus carried the burden of our sin to the cross. When you see the depictions in movies of Jesus carrying his cross to Golgotha, it gives you a visual of Jesus literally carrying our iniquity on his back. Jesus didn't shoot the wounded, he died for them.

Paul concludes by saying, "In this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ". This is the law of love. This is the same principle the apostle John expresses when he says, "No greater love is there than this than a man lay down his life for his friends." 

Do you know someone who is caught or is overtaken by their sins? What role could you play in restoring this person gently? Before you do this make sure you are "living by the Spirit", or you may get caught up sin too. 

Jesus, thank you that you did not shoot us when we were wounded. But you were wounded for our trespasses and crushed for iniquities. On you was laid the punisment for us all. Help us to bear the burdens of our brothers and sisters, who are bearing the heavy weight of sin in their lives, so that they might be restored to you and to us. Amen.