“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself .” (Galatians 6:1-3)
Many times Christians criticize and berate their fellow believers usually over some theological difference or definitions of sin as well as political opinions. Often they do so with triumphant self-righteousness. While we should never redefine or ignore sin to suit the dictates of our culture or society, we should not rebuke our fellow believers with malice or spite. Paul saw this as selfish boasting as he pointed out to the believers in Galatia. Selfishness and self-aggrandizement were the underlying motives of his legalistic opponents who taught law keeping as essential to the faith. They only want to be proved right and so exalted themselves. Yet, because of the cross none of us can boast in ourselves for none of us can earn our way into heaven.
Paul gloried in the cross because in Christ alone do we find righteousness and freedom. Perhaps when we look at those preachers we admire so much we should listen carefully to the way they present the gospel. Many are given to boasting and self-promotion or are adept in telling others what to do to improve their lives while their own lives are a mess. Those who preach the true gospel of salvation will promote the gospel of faith in Christ as well as the way of sacrificial living and giving. They will truly follow the way of Christ in their lives and pray that we do the same.
We who are called as saints are commissioned by God to preach the gospel with words and deeds. As we manifest the fruit of the spirit we will treat our brethren differently. We will not gossip about their sins, mistakes, quirks or burdens, nor we ridicule them in any way or boast in ourselves as if we were better or more spiritual than they. In fact, as Paul points out, we are not better than they. We are equal in Christ. None of us is perfect. We all sin and fall. We all have our own unique ways about us and our preferences, good bad and neutral. We are to treat others as we want to be treated: with mercy, understanding, and love. And so we will bear the burdens or our brethren. We will pray for them. We will assist them as we can. We will edify and teach them the right way to go. In this way we together with them grow into the likeness of Christ.