How do you view others when they sin?

Do you get angry?

Do you look down on them?

Do you think they are no longer qualified to receive God’s forgiveness and your forgiveness?

Do you attempt to play the “my sin is not THAT bad” game?

Does your heart ache for that person to be right with God?

Do you extend mercy because you recognize the truth in this saying: “There but for the grace of God go I.”

Whatever my initial response is to another person’s sin, I need to quickly get myself viewing that person, and his or her sin, through the eyes of God. Why? Because God sent Jesus to die for ALL sin, not just those sins we consider heinous. ALL sin is rebellion against God. The cost to Jesus is the same for lying, murder, the murder of abortion, child abuse, gossip, sexual sin, unkind words, and every other sin you can name.

Let’s look at anger. Anger can be an initial response to someone else’s sin. What does God say in the Bible about anger? The AMPC version states in Ephesians 4:26: “When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.” There needs to be an end to the anger. When we let go of anger, then we are in a better frame of mind to help another sinner. Some interpret this verse literally, “don’t go to bed angry”. I believe that is a great interpretation. Have you ever gone to bed angry? How did that go for your night’s rest? For me it doesn’t go well. I’ve learned to talk with God about my anger before I allow it to settle into my heart and mind. I don’t want anger to find a comfortable place in me, because that won’t bode well for me. It will then spill over into all parts of my life. Then, another person’s sin has infected my life, and that is not worth the consequences.

Michael Tait, formerly of the Newsboys, recently admitted to multiple sins. His former Newsboys made a comment regarding the news of his sins: “the remaining members of Newsboys, Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips and Adam Agee, released a statement last week expressing “horror, heartbreak, and anger,”…”

Michael’s sins are grievous. But God challenged me. He asked me if I thought my sins weren’t grievous. Of course, my sins are grievous. I cannot try to rationalize my sins by comparing them to anyone else’s sins. I have to compare my sins to Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God. 

This perspective changes my reaction to the sins of others. It humbles me, and that is the best response I can have to the sins of others – humility. Remember, “But for the grace of God, there go I.”

As soon as I begin to judge, or continue in anger for an extended time, or look down on the other person then pride is having its rule in my life. Now who is the sinner to be dealt with? Me!!! 

Imagine it is you who has been slowly led astray by the enemy of our souls. One day you wake up and realize how far you have fallen from God. How would you want others to deal with you and your sin?

Should it be posted on social media and be broadcast to the world? 

According to God’s Word, the call to God’s people should always be a path towards restoration.

Is His restoration really our goal when addressing someone’s sin? Or is it vengeance?

We sin against God. Each and every one of us. Jesus is not indignant toward us. His words at the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”, reveals his love for us. God reveals His love for us through Jesus.  Through Jesus , we see the love of the Father for all of rebellious humanity. While we were still sinners, Jesus gave his life for us. 

Since I am still sinning each day, though I don’t want to sin [see Romans 6-7], I need to be very cautious in how I react when someone else sins. God calls me, and all his people, to a different standard. He has set out His standard in His living word. 

These are some of the ways in which God calls His people to respond to the sins of one another. We cannot lose sight of what Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, we are not fighting a battle against flesh and blood (one another) but against powers and principalities. 

What is the most effective way to deal with sin?  Prayer, seeking God. After all, He is the one who has the power to change us.  According to James 5:16, we should: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Why? “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

 What does our sin reveal about us? It reveals we are broken and need to be mended. There is only one way to be made whole again, and this is through Jesus.  We need to be made new in Christ. Only by the power of His Holy Spirit can that happen. 

Anger will never bring healing. God‘s lovingkindness and forgiveness bring healing. The gospel is a message of forgiveness and healing, healing of our relationship with God, and healing in our relationships with one another. 

What do our responses to our own sins and the sins of others reveal about what we believe the message of the gospel is all about? Romans 12:3 states: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”  I believe we would be far more effective for the gospel of Jesus Christ if we would respond to the sins of one another with brokenness.

What might you and I need to do to mend a broken relationship with a fellow Christ-follower? 

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk about these thoughts.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.