Setting the Broken Bone

Restoring a wayward brother is a manifestation of loving relations in the church. Considered in Galatians 6:1 are the prospective situation ("if a man is caught in any trespass"), the persons who respond ("you who are spiritual") and the purpose of the response ("restore such a one"). When a brother steps aside from the narrow way that leads to life the easy, unloving response is to ignore it, avoid the brother or pretend the situation does not exist. Love requires us to another very different, proactive response.