My sister is a crime scene investigator in Singapore. One morning, she was abruptly awakened at 4 a.m. by the incessant ringing of her phone—a murder had occurred! She had just 48 hours to gather sufficient evidence to press charges against the murder suspect being held in police custody. Over the next few days, my sister carefully investigated the gruesome crime.
The first night she came home, she said, “When I close my eyes, I can see blood everywhere.” The second night, she mused, “I see only wounds and lacerations.” The third night, she announced, “I can piece together the crime sequence!”
In some ways, Christians are called to be crime scene investigators too. Take a look at Deuteronomy 17. In verses 2-13, we read twice: “In this way, you will purge the evil from among you” (vv.7,12). These verses highlight the importance of the Israelites investigating and dealing with sin in their community. Sin is so abhorrent to God that it can’t coexist with Him. He is holy, and He expects us to reflect His holiness. Moses, while restating the terms of God’s covenant to the Israelites, told them that the effects of sin should not be allowed to fester in the community. Like a cancer, it had to be diagnosed and eradicated.
They were to “investigate the matter thoroughly” (v.4), however. God didn’t want them to rush to hasty conclusions. There needed to be two or three witnesses involved (v.6). And to safeguard against false allegations, the witnesses had to throw the first stones (v.7). If the life of an innocent person was taken, they would personally bear the guilt.
When believers we know appear to have fallen into sin, we need to carefully investigate the issue. If sin is present, our goal should be to compassionately encourage them to repent before our holy God.
More:
• Deuteronomy 19:15-19
• Matthew 18:15-17
• 1 Timothy 5:19-21
Next:
What should be your response when you see a fellow believer struggling with sin? How have you grown spiritually through the ministry of someone who lovingly pointed out the sin in your life?
garymax on September 11, 2009 at 8:03 am
I certainly agree with you Poh. Your concluding paragraph requires waiting on the Lord though. Unlike your sister’s success in a couple of days, those we counsel may not respond favorably in a short amount of time. We have two sons who know they are in the wrong. They don’t dispute that. But they are not inclined to repent either. Their mother and I stand alone in the family resisting their respective sins, refusing to accept what they do as OK and we are perceived as unloving when we love them too much to accept what they do. But, in God’s timing we have to trust He will work it out. But it’s been and most likely will be, more than a couple of days. We have to wait on the Lord.
joyce on September 11, 2009 at 11:02 am
Garymax, your words resound with strength of conviction and enduring love. We want our children to follow after God wholeheartedly, and sometimes that desire is read as being judgmental, unloving, and legalistic. Blessed are you when people accuse you falsely because you stand firm for what is right (see Matt. 5:11-12). I pray for you and your wife — that you both would be strengthened to continue standing with your lights lit and that the warmth of the light will draw your sons to repentence.