When Someone Wanders from the Truth

"It’s not our job to play God."

Often this statement is used to rebuke Christians who want to warn fellow believers about serious sins. For example:

“We need to talk with Sue. She professes to love the Lord, but she’s sexually involved with her boyfriend.”(1)

“It’s not our job to play God.”

True. It’s not our job to play God. It’s our job to obey God, and He says:

"If someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins." James 5:19-20  (See also Matthew 18:15-17.)

If we know that a fellow believer is involved in serious sin, we should:

1. Make sure we’ve dealt with our own sins before confronting someone else (Matthew 7:5).(2)

2. Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

3. Refuse to have fellowship with professing Christians who continue in serious sins after being confronted by church leadership (Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:11).(3)

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(1) For more on this: Sexual Sin is Serious.
(2) This doesn't mean we need to be perfect in order to confront someone else, but it means we need to be serious about dealing with our own sins. In addition, we need to make sure we aren't judging others more harshly than we judge ourselves.
(3) Some churches refuse to obey the instructions of Matthew 18, but 1 Corinthians 5 still warns Christians to avoid professing Christians who are involved in serious sins. 

Bible Love Notes