We all live in the same fallen world, subject to trials, sufferings, and burdens. We fall into sin and continually need to repent. Yet we’re also called to “admonish the sinner”? Who—ourselves? Others? Whose sin is worse than whose? And how is this practice an act of mercy and not of judgment or alienation?
We would do well to remember our ultimate goal: union with God in heaven. No sin can exist in God, so we are called to cooperate with God’s redemptive grace while here on earth to expunge sin from our lives and souls. And if not here, then by His grace.
We might act as a conduit of God’s saving grace when we call our fellow brothers and sisters away from sin and into healing, holiness, and communion. But it remains a delicate matter, stepping into another’s hurt, another’s pain, another’s sin. Feeling seen in this area is enough to make one run further away from and not towards the saving light.
So, when we see our neighbor falling into sin, and feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit to speak to it, we must do so with kindness and gentleness. Condemning the already broken, causing greater suffering to the already suffering soul is not the answer. Love over judgement.
The spiritual works of mercy are about having a caregiver’s mentality. A family caregiver is devoted to their family member in need. It’s a selfless act. If Christians can think of themselves as caregivers for their fellow Christians, then they might carry out the spiritual works of mercy a little differently.
It’s not about admonishing the sinner in a harsh way.We are all broken, some with illnesses and some with weaknesses but the sinner can be corrected.
Examine first your own sins before you try to punish someone else. Don’t be afraid to reevaluate your own spiritual formation and practices. This will only increase your ability to channel the Holy Spirit in the moment of fraternal correction.Look inward to inspect your motives when feeling prompted to correct another. Make sure they are coming from the Lord, exercising His mercy, and not one’s own judgment.We are guiding our fellow man in their spiritual needs and doing so requires love.Even if you have good reason to admonish a sinner, speak to them directly so they can answer to the complaint. Give them an opportunity to address it before you share it with anyone else.Punishing a sinner won’t help absolve your sins or theirs. Be mindful that causing scandal drives more away from Our Lord, including the one spreading the scandal.It is blessed and merciful to save someone from separation from God, but it requires cooperation with Him. God respects our free will, which He gifted to us, because He knows that there is no love, there is no authentic “choosing Him” unless it is chosen freely. There is no such thing as “forced conversion,” through threats of condemnation, coercion, guilting, or otherwise. Saving someone from sin is much gentler, as God is with us.The purpose of the spiritual works of mercy and admonishing the sinner is to guide someone back to God. But it can only be done with the individuals consent, as their hearts are made ready. Jesus never “forces” us to follow Him.Our loving God casts out shame—He heals us from it. Therefore, it has no place within His Body, the Church. As those from the fallen world seek to come into communion with Him, for the first time ever or for the first time in a while, we welcome them and kindly assist in their reunion.
We would do well to remember our ultimate goal: union with God in heaven. No sin can exist in God, so we are called to cooperate with God’s redemptive grace while here on earth to expunge sin from our lives and souls. And if not here, then by His grace.
We might act as a conduit of God’s saving grace when we call our fellow brothers and sisters away from sin and into healing, holiness, and communion. But it remains a delicate matter, stepping into another’s hurt, another’s pain, another’s sin. Feeling seen in this area is enough to make one run further away from and not towards the saving light.
So, when we see our neighbor falling into sin, and feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit to speak to it, we must do so with kindness and gentleness. Condemning the already broken, causing greater suffering to the already suffering soul is not the answer. Love over judgement.
The spiritual works of mercy are about having a caregiver’s mentality. A family caregiver is devoted to their family member in need. It’s a selfless act. If Christians can think of themselves as caregivers for their fellow Christians, then they might carry out the spiritual works of mercy a little differently.
It’s not about admonishing the sinner in a harsh way.We are all broken, some with illnesses and some with weaknesses but the sinner can be corrected.
Examine first your own sins before you try to punish someone else. Don’t be afraid to reevaluate your own spiritual formation and practices. This will only increase your ability to channel the Holy Spirit in the moment of fraternal correction.Look inward to inspect your motives when feeling prompted to correct another. Make sure they are coming from the Lord, exercising His mercy, and not one’s own judgment.We are guiding our fellow man in their spiritual needs and doing so requires love.Even if you have good reason to admonish a sinner, speak to them directly so they can answer to the complaint. Give them an opportunity to address it before you share it with anyone else.Punishing a sinner won’t help absolve your sins or theirs. Be mindful that causing scandal drives more away from Our Lord, including the one spreading the scandal.It is blessed and merciful to save someone from separation from God, but it requires cooperation with Him. God respects our free will, which He gifted to us, because He knows that there is no love, there is no authentic “choosing Him” unless it is chosen freely. There is no such thing as “forced conversion,” through threats of condemnation, coercion, guilting, or otherwise. Saving someone from sin is much gentler, as God is with us.The purpose of the spiritual works of mercy and admonishing the sinner is to guide someone back to God. But it can only be done with the individuals consent, as their hearts are made ready. Jesus never “forces” us to follow Him.Our loving God casts out shame—He heals us from it. Therefore, it has no place within His Body, the Church. As those from the fallen world seek to come into communion with Him, for the first time ever or for the first time in a while, we welcome them and kindly assist in their reunion.
