該如何處理犯罪的信徒？
哥林多後書二章4至11節
4我先前心裡難過痛苦，多多的流淚，寫信給你們，不是叫你們憂愁，乃是叫你們知道我格外的疼愛你們。
5若有叫人憂愁的，他不但叫我憂愁，也是叫你們眾人有幾分憂愁。我說幾分，恐怕說得太重。
6這樣的人受了眾人的責罰也就夠了，
7倒不如赦免他，安慰他，免得他憂愁太過，甚至沉淪了。
8所以我勸你們，要向他顯出堅定不移的愛心來。
9為此我先前也寫信給你們，要試驗你們，看你們凡事順從不順從。
10你們赦免誰，我也赦免誰。我若有所赦免的，是在基督面前為你們赦免的；
11免得撒但趁著機會勝過我們，因我們並非不曉得他的詭計。
信息分享
我們可以在哥林多前書第五章，找到今天這段經文的背景。當中涉及一位信徒與一位女士同居，但兩人並沒有結婚。教會知道這事，卻沒有作出處理。教外的人也知道這件事，當然對此印象不佳。
保羅曾經寫信提議教會的領袖與那位犯罪的弟兄面談，並將他逐出教會；但教會卻沒有這樣做。他們也許說：「我們的思想開通。」或「我們不想傷害弟兄。」
但保羅卻堅持要他們作出處理，他也許寫了另一封現已遺失的信去敦促他們。教會最終依照保羅的建議去做，將那個犯罪的弟兄逐出教會。結果卻出乎意外的令人振奮──那位弟兄竟然認罪悔改！
可是，當那位弟兄願意悔改時，教會卻似乎不大願意寬恕他。他們不明白教會執行紀律的目的，正是要挽回犯罪的肢體。
醫生為病人動手術的最終目的是甚麼？當然是為了讓病人盡快康復。教會執行紀律的最終目的是甚麼？就是要幫助犯罪的肢體盡快與基督及教會復和。保羅說：「我勸你們要向他顯出堅定不移的愛心來。」（8節）就是去寬恕他、以愛心待他和挽回他。
失足的信徒需要我們去愛護、寬恕和幫助；當然，還可能需要作出嚴懲。但箴言二十七章6節說：「朋友加的傷痕，出於真誠。」
請再讀加拉太書六章1節。讓它深藏你心中，以致當有信徒失足犯罪的時候，你便記得他最需要是你的愛。
主啊，你若究察罪孽，誰能站得住呢？（詩一三零3）
HANDLING A SINNING CHRISTIAN
2 Corinthians 2:4-11
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.
6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,
7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Message
The discipline of an erring member is almost the hardest task any church can face. Yet sometimes it is absolutely necessary for the sake of the church and for the sake of Christ and even for the one concerned. A key verse is Galatians 6:1: "If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual, should restore him gently." Think over those words.
The background of this passage is in 1 Corinthians chapter 5. A church member was living with someone who was not his wife. The church was aware of this and had done nothing about it. The outside world knew of it too and was not impressed.
Paul wrote telling the church to meet and expel the man from their membership. But the church had not done so. Perhaps they said: "We are broadminded" or "We don't want to hurt our brother".
Paul insisted, possibly in a letter which we don't have, that they should do as he said. Finally the church did act as Paul had advised and they expelled the sinning brother. The result was perhaps, unexpected, but encouraging - the man repented!
But now that he had done so, the church seemed reluctant to forgive him. They did not realize that the purpose of church discipline is the restoration of the sinning member.
What is the ultimate purpose of surgery? It is for the speedy recovery of the patient. What is the ultimate purpose of church discipline? That is for the recovery for Christ and the church with the sinning member. Paul said, "I urge you to reaffirm your love for him." (v.8) Forgive him. Act graciously. Take him back.
Those who fail need our love, forgiveness and help. It may take strong action as well. But Proverbs 27:6 says it so well: "Wounds from a friend can be trusted."
Read Galatians 6:1 again and let it speak to your heart, before dealing with a friend who has failed. He needs your love most of all.
IF YOU, O LORD, KEPT A RECORD OF SINS, O LORD, WHO COULD STAND? (Ps 130:3)