Restoring the Fallen in Meekness
It is impossible for one drowning man to restore another. The same principle applies in spiritual things; so the apostle Paul, speaking by inspiration, says: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” The one who is not himself spiritual can not restore one who is fallen. He may scorn the fallen one, but scorn is not a restorative agent. He may criticize him, but criticism has no elevating power. He may spread abroad the fault of the erring one, and discourage any feeble effort to reform, but that is not the spirit of meekness. No effort for the restoration of the one who has yielded to temptation will avail, unless the one who makes the effort realizes the possibility of his being in a like condition himself. To effectually restore, there must be spirituality and meekness, and a consideration of one’s own danger. To attack a wayward brother or sister with an air of social superiority, or an assumption of superior holiness, can only add to the load. To attempt the restoration of the unfortunate backslider is of itself a profession of spirituality, and if that virtue be lacking, the lack will surely be manifest. The spirituality is manifest in the meekness that comes of considering one’s own liability to err—if not in the same way, at least in a way to put one in a like dangerous position.