In front of me at church is a girl with the tag showing. Maybe you like me have been in a similar position, I’m almost positive you have at one point or another. The position where someone in front of you has something that is not right that they can’t see but you can because of your unique perspective. You’re outside of a situation perspective so it’s easier for you to see. In moments like those we experience a dilemma. Do we say something? Or just ignore it?

In my case that day I wasn’t close enough to do anything about it, but I remember sitting there thinking that if someone really loved her, they would tell her. I know it’s just a tag, a small thing but if you care for someone you would be willing to point out something that they couldn’t see that was obviously wrong. You wouldn’t want them to look silly or be embarrassed. It’s a way we protect each other from things being out of place.  An observer should say something out of love to help someone else. 

Believe it or not, we do this in our Christian life although we do it very carefully. Not with literal tags, although that may happen in church sometimes, but I’m referring to the figurative tags that we can’t see ourselves. Those errors or places that need correction, that we can’t see in ourselves but are obvious to an outside observer. It’s even written about in scripture and it’s a concept I want to investigate here. 

First, I want to share an example from my own life in which I experience this principle being played out. I was walking with a friend and explaining how I felt disappointed over a specific situation. The truth was I was angry, my tone and my words were sharp with bitterness, but I could not see it myself. She however did. She very lovingly asked questions that led me to the place where I saw that I had allowed bitterness to take root in my heart. When I realized this, I dealt with it. She had pointed out very gently this error on my part, this proverbial tag if you will.  She didn’t have to help me. She could have changed the subject, agreed, and went along with my emotions and thoughts, but instead she used wisdom to help me see the truth which led me to freedom. She acted because she loved me and was doing her part to gently guide back her fellow believer. She was practicing true Christian action, being a true member of the body of Christ to me.

Do you know that although we workout our salvation with fear and trembling, and although when we stand before God we stand individually on judgment day, we are not alone in our faith.  In spite of that individual aspect of our faith God has created us to be a part of a body, the body of Christ. Does the hand care if something is wrong with the foot? Yes, because without both parts fully functioning the whole body is less, it is diminished. Clearly, God in all his wisdom wants us to care for each other in order to maintain the health of the whole body.  He wants us to not only have concern for each other but to also mentor each other, encourage each other, and yes at times to assist other believers by helping bring them back towards truth and wisdom.

In James 2 the question is asked “what good is it my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them” go in peace, keep warm and well fed”, but does nothing about their physical need, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.” 

Clearly, we are called as believers to an active faith in which we care for each other ‘s needs. One of those needs are physical needs. As it says in Hebrews 13” do not forget to do good and to share with others, for such sacrifices God is pleased.” Yet more that we are called to as a member of the body of Christ. Not only do we do good to each other and care for each other ‘s physical needs but we also need to be concerned with our brothers and sister soul, their spiritual health.  It says in Galatians 6 “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in sin, you who live by the spirit should restore the person gently. But watch yourself, or you will be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ”. 

Christ law is love and it’s a love lived out via actual active faith. In action, not only words.  So yes we should speak up, we should say something gently, not in condemnation or judgment when we see the hanging tags or areas of concern in our brothers and sisters lives. We do this in love not out of a desire to appear more righteous than them. We do this in wisdom through God’s word not based on our own judgments or even our limited understanding. We tread carefully but we still go forth in order to gently draw back those who need to be reconciled with God once again whether it’s in small or big ways. Perhaps it’s just a small step off the path but they don’t realize it. Do we say this the way, you must walk in it.  In a world that tells us that we should only be concerned with ourselves, I want to remind you today that God has called us to bear each other ‘s burdens and in this way, we fulfill the law of Christ. 

As believers, operating fully in our faith, we support each other, we mentor each other, we draw each other closer to Christ, we encourage one another in our faith and through our struggles, and we bear each other’s burdens. Let’s not lose this very real part of what God has called us to as his body. Let’s love others by this gentle and wise ministry of reconciliation.  This ministry of healing and caring that God has called us to as we minister to each other. What choice are you going to make? Are you going to say something or are you going to let your brothers and sisters walk around with their proverbial tags hanging out? It’s your choice, I hope you make the right one.