“My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted” (Galatians 6:1)
Some say that the church is filled with hypocrites, and they are right.
Some say that the church is filled with messed up people, and they are right.
Some say that they know better people who aren’t Christians, and they are right.
The church is filled up with messed up people because the church is filled up with people like you and me.
That’s why the spirit of gentleness is essential. We’re going to mess up because there are no perfect people in the church. And when we mess up, sin, transgress the role of the church is never to condemn but always to restore. That’s a good thing. That’s a great thing! Because we’re all going to mess it up. We’re all going to need restoration.
The thing that makes the church different than any other organization is grace and the spirit of gentleness, because the church is the place of restoring people into a right relationship with God and with one another.
Praxis: Faith in Action 