Tuesday, August 3 Call the elders.​—Jas. 5:14.

[Áine]

Tuesday, August 3

Call the elders.—Jas. 5:14.

 

The elders have a number of concerns when they receive a report of serious wrongdoing. They are primarily concerned with maintaining the sanctity of God’s name. (Lev. 22:31, 32; Matt. 6:9) They are also deeply concerned with the spiritual welfare of their brothers and sisters in the congregation and want to help any who have been victims of wrongdoing. In addition, if the wrongdoer is a part of the congregation, elders are concerned with trying to restore him if that is possible. (Jas. 5:14, 15) A Christian who gives in to wrong desire and commits a serious sin is spiritually sick. This means that he no longer has a healthy relationship with Jehovah. In a sense, the elders are spiritual physicians. They endeavor to make “the sick one [in this instance, the wrongdoer] well.” Their Scriptural counsel can help him to restore his relationship with God, but this is only possible if he is genuinely repentant.—Acts 3:19; 2 Cor. 2:5-10. w19.05 10 ¶10-11

[Vinnie]

When someone gets seriously sick, and we're talking about more than just a cold.  Nothing they do on their own will make them well.  They need to see a doctor for a correct diagnosis and medication to make them well.  Only then will they be able to bounce back and recover. The same can be said about serious spiritual sickness.  Call the spiritual doctors before you are too far gone.