Over the years, I have watched people justify their contempt for those they believe have compromised the church's standards. I have seen Christians take sides over someone's failure until the argument became more important than the person. Somewhere in the discussion, the lost soul disappeared behind the sin everybody was talking about.
Exposing sin became more important than saving the sinner.
Now, this country preacher believes in preaching against sin. We have no authority to call what God has called evil good. Repentance belongs in our preaching, and holiness belongs in our living. But I wonder whether we sometimes become so determined to prove someone wrong that we forget why we are preaching in the first place.
Do we want that person restored, or do we want everybody to know we were right about them?
The Lord knows which desire is ruling our hearts.
Consider Jonah. God sent him to Nineveh with a warning of judgment. Jonah went the other direction. Later, he explained his resistance:
"Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil." —Jonah 4:2, KJV.
Jonah knew something about God's character. He knew that repentance could bring mercy, and he did not want mercy extended to Nineveh.
When the people repented, and God spared the city, Scripture says:
"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry." —Jonah 4:1, KJV
What a terrible place for a preacher to find himself—angry because people responded to his preaching and escaped destruction.
Yet Jonah's spirit can settle into a church pew just as easily as it settled into that prophet's heart. We can speak about judgment with conviction and speak about mercy with suspicion. We can insist that sinners need to repent, then question their sincerity when they do.
We ought to ask ourselves whether we would rejoice if the person we most strongly condemn came to Christ.
Would we welcome the evidence of a changed life? Would we thank God for His mercy? Or would we keep bringing up the past because we had grown accustomed to holding it against them?
God asked Jonah:
"Doest thou well to be angry?" —Jonah 4:4, KJV
That question still deserves an answer.
I have also noticed how selective we can become about sin. Some sins are treated as though they place a person almost beyond the reach of grace. Other sins are allowed to sit comfortably among us.
An obvious moral failure may bring public outrage, while gossip passes from one church member to another under the heading of concern. We condemn someone's conduct while overlooking our own pride, bitterness, dishonesty, or unforgiving spirit.
The Bible does not teach that every sin has identical earthly consequences. Some actions cause profound harm and require serious accountability. But none of us has permission to excuse the sins we prefer while treating another person as beyond redemption.
James writes:
"For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." —James 2:13, KJV.
Before we speak as though grace belongs to us and judgment belongs to everyone else, we need to remember where the Lord found us.
Paul told the Corinthians:
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." —1 Corinthians 6:11, KJV
"And such were some of you."
Every church needs to remember those words. We are people who needed washing. We needed forgiveness. We needed the Holy Spirit's transforming work. Whatever righteousness we now possess gives us reason to thank God, not permission to despise our neighbor.
God has already declared His judgment against sin. We do not have to persuade Him that wickedness is wicked. The sinner, however, needs to hear that Jesus Christ offers forgiveness and a new life. Until that person repents, the danger is real. That is precisely why our concern should be urgent and compassionate.
Jesus said:
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." —Luke 19:10, KJV.
If we claim to carry His message, His purpose ought to shape our attitude.
Sometimes sin must be exposed. Hidden abuse must be brought into the light. Vulnerable people must be protected. A church must never use forgiveness to conceal wrongdoing or pressure those harmed into silence. Repentance does not erase every earthly consequence, and restored fellowship does not automatically mean restored leadership or immediate trust.
But even necessary correction must be governed by the Word of God:
"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." —Galatians 6:1, KJV
Notice the command: "restore such an one."
Notice the spirit: "meekness."
Notice the warning: "considering thyself."
There is no room there for enjoying another person's disgrace. Spiritual maturity should make us better able to help a fallen person, more careful about our own weakness, and more faithful in protecting those affected by sin.
When Christians take sides, we should stop and ask what we are trying to accomplish. Are we seeking truth? Are we protecting those who have been harmed? Are we calling the guilty to repentance? Or are we feeding an argument that gives us somebody to dislike?
The armor of God does not authorize contempt toward people. Paul tells us:
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." —Ephesians 6:12, KJV
People remain responsible for their choices. Yet our spiritual battle must never become an excuse to surrender our hearts to hatred. We cannot overcome evil by letting it govern our conduct.
Paul describes the servant of the Lord this way:
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." —2 Timothy 2:24–25, KJV
Gentleness does not weaken the truth. It helps us deliver the truth with the purpose God has given us.
I cannot change another person's heart. That is the work of God. But I can examine my own. I can refuse to spread a story merely because it damages someone I dislike. I can speak honestly without speaking cruelly. I can pray for repentance, willing to rejoice when it comes.
And I can remember that the person standing before me is more than their worst act.
Jonah cared deeply about the plant that sheltered him. God directed his attention toward the people of Nineveh:
"And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?" —Jonah 4:11, KJV
I wonder whether we sometimes care more about protecting our comfort and reputation than reaching the people God has placed before us.
The church must preach repentance. It must practice holiness. It must protect the vulnerable and deal honestly with wrongdoing. Through it all, it must remember the mercy of the Savior it represents.
This old country preacher has needed too much grace to begrudge it to somebody else.
May the Lord give us eyes that recognize sin, hearts that grieve over its harm, and a love that longs to see the sinner saved.
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