James 5:19
Hello and God bless you Bro. Ignatius,
In James 5:19-20, the chapter titled "Conversion of Sinners", it states:
"My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." *(footnote in my Bible states: When a Christian is instrumental in the conversion of a sinner, the result is forgiveness of sins and a reinstatement of the sinner to the life of grace.)
I thought that this particular passage showed that we christians are able to recognize when a fellow christian commits some kind of (possibly grave) sin, we can "judge" that a sin was and/or is being committed and we can, as other passages state, in gentleness and without hypocrisy, try to advise them through scripture and the Catechism of the gravity of a particular sin, so that the "sinner" will recognize and have knowledge of their wrongdoing, and possibly repent. (whew! That's a long sentence - sorry!)
However, my parish Priest (R.C.) told our little Bible study group, that this is not about fraternal correction. That we cannot take this scripture out of context, and to read the passages before that. That Paul is speaking about forgiveness, and ill health due to sins committed.
I guess I'm confused because I just can't see it the way my parish Priest explained it. Could you please explain to me just exactly what this passage is about?
Thank you so much,
from claire
QUESTION from claire on June 2, 2004
ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on June 3, 2004
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Dear Claire: You are correct. There is no possibility of "bringing back a sinner" unless we first judge that the person is in sin. Then to bring him back how can we convince him to coming back without fraternal correction. In addition, it is a different passage talking about sin due to sickness. This passage is about the apostolic concern for those who stray from the right path. This, moreover, is a mission of the laity. As mentioned in the Navarre Bible Commentary, arguably the best commentary today, that the "Second Vatican Council teaches that this apostolic concern stems from the Christian vocation itself and therefore is something all Christians should have; referring to the apostolate of the lay people, (the Council) says specifically that it is, 'a sharing in the salvific mission of the Church. Through Baptism and Confirmation all are appointed to this apostolate by the Lord Himself' (Lumen gentium, 33)." On the subject of judging see my article on the Three Secret Strategies that I mentioned in a previous post.
God Bless, |