Turning Back a Straying Christian - 06/30/2024

James gives one final word of encouragement to his “brethren.” He is concerned about the “brother” or “sister” who has strayed “from the truth.” James expresses how important it is for Christians to work at turning back a straying Christian to “the truth.” (James 5:19, 20).

James points out that “any among you” can stray from the truth. He understands that Christians, believers in Christ, can stray from the truth. While Christians should never stray from the truth, if they do, a fellow Christian needs to help them come back to the truth.

The concept of “to stray” means to wander from a course of action, which in this context is the teachings of “the truth.” It is leaving the teachings of Christ and going back to living the life a person lived before becoming a Christian. When a person does this, they are facing spiritual death if they do not turn back.

While James gives this word of warning, he also gives a word of instruction. He speaks to those who have not strayed and instructs them to take action upon those who have strayed. James wants them to know that the Christian “who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save [the sinner’s] soul from death.” James also wants them to know that in the process of turning one back, they have covered “a multitude of sins.”

What a fitting way to close his book by emphasizing the saving of a soul from death. All the things James wrote in this book are about how one should live because they are a Christian. Would it not seem quite logical to encourage his readers that they should work with and help Christians who have strayed from the truth? It is all about helping each other.

In helping others, we need to be constantly reminded that we too may need some help coming back. We should always be living our lives in such a manner so that we will not stray from the truth. Christians need to be diligent in examining themselves to make sure they are abiding in the truth and not straying from it.

Here’s one final thought about helping a straying Christian to turn back to following God. When the straying Christian sees the love we have for them and our kindness and gentleness in dealing with them, then our efforts become more powerful to them.

Christians need to be looking out for each other and be willing to help each other “turn back” if one has strayed from the truth. Providing this help is just one of the ways a Christian is demonstrating they are living God’s way. - cgm

Scriptural quotations from the NASB1995.