该如何处理犯罪的信徒？
哥林多后书二章4至11节
4我先前心里难过痛苦，多多的流泪，写信给你们，不是叫你们忧愁，乃是叫你们知道我格外的疼爱你们。
5若有叫人忧愁的，他不但叫我忧愁，也是叫你们众人有几分忧愁。我说几分，恐怕说得太重。
6这样的人受了众人的责罚也就够了，
7倒不如赦免他，安慰他，免得他忧愁太过，甚至沉沦了。
8所以我劝你们，要向他显出坚定不移的爱心来。
9为此我先前也写信给你们，要试验你们，看你们凡事顺从不顺从。
10你们赦免谁，我也赦免谁。我若有所赦免的，是在基督面前为你们赦免的；
11免得撒但趁着机会胜过我们，因我们并非不晓得他的诡计。
信息分享
我们可以在哥林多前书第五章，找到今天这段经文的背景。当中涉及一位信徒与一位女士同居，但两人并没有结婚。教会知道这事，却没有作出处理。教外的人也知道这件事，当然对此印象不佳。
保罗曾经写信提议教会的领袖与那位犯罪的弟兄面谈，并将他逐出教会；但教会却没有这样做。他们也许说：「我们的思想开通。」或「我们不想伤害弟兄。」
但保罗却坚持要他们作出处理，他也许写了另一封现已遗失的信去敦促他们。教会最终依照保罗的建议去做，将那个犯罪的弟兄逐出教会。结果却出乎意外的令人振奋──那位弟兄竟然认罪悔改！
可是，当那位弟兄愿意悔改时，教会却似乎不大愿意宽恕他。他们不明白教会执行纪律的目的，正是要挽回犯罪的肢体。
医生为病人动手术的最终目的是甚么？当然是为了让病人尽快康复。教会执行纪律的最终目的是甚么？就是要帮助犯罪的肢体尽快与基督及教会复和。保罗说：「我劝你们要向他显出坚定不移的爱心来。」（8节）就是去宽恕他、以爱心待他和挽回他。
失足的信徒需要我们去爱护、宽恕和帮助；当然，还可能需要作出严惩。但箴言二十七章6节说：「朋友加的伤痕，出于真诚。」
请再读加拉太书六章1节。让它深藏你心中，以致当有信徒失足犯罪的时候，你便记得他最需要是你的爱。
主啊，你若究察罪孽，谁能站得住呢？（诗一三零3）
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)