By Scott Hilgendorff / Cowboys of the Cross
Don’t judge me.
Since the Christian faith is the dominant faith in the cowboy communities from ranching to rodeos, the idea that calling out someone’s sin is judging them is a common confusion. The reality is, the majority of the cowboy crowd identify as Christians, but far fewer are plugged into a good church or take the time to study God’s word and understand it better.
That’s why, just like most of the unbelieving world, there’s this misconception that when we talk about sin, we’re judging the people living out the sin we’re bringing up.
But James concludes his letter quite abruptly with a lesson in just one reason why have to be able to talk about someone else’s sin.
James 5:19-20 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
If our faith is real, we’re going to live it out and James has used the bulk of his letter to outline ways that a Christian lives out his faith describing every action being proof his faith is real; how the rich handle their power, how important the words we speak our, how to care for others who have less than us.
As he concludes his letter, he wants us to watch out for those whose are engaged in sin, to help them turn away from their sin and toward a Christ-like life.
If we see that as judging and reject their efforts, then we risk missing out on eternity in Heaven through a saving faith in Jesus. If we can’t talk about sin without being accused of judging, we can’t share the gospel. Sin has to be discussed in the open.
And here, James wants us to help others move away from their sin. If they are already believers, the goal is to restore them to a focus on their saving faith and living out that faith in the ways James has taught us throughout his letter.
They may not like it, but no one feels like their actions are being judged when a rodeo judge or producer fines them for breaking the rules. The goal of the fine is to correct the behavior, like swearing in the arena for the crowd to hear when missing a catch or entering and not showing up.
The point of the fine isn’t to run a contestant off, but to encourage right behavior that helps the event run smoothly or to remain pleasing to the crowd in attendance.
A lot more is at stake for Christians and James says our correction can lead them to saving faith in Jesus with everlasting life in Heaven. It’s the blood Jesus shed on the cross that covers our “multitude of sins” but our correction is what God can use to lead someone to repentance and salvation.
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