Reach out and Lift up

In first Corinthians, Paul wrote to the people there, and talked of a man who had committed adultery with his father's wife. He told them to "therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (1 Cor. 5:13). However, in 2nd Corinthians 2:6-8 Paul again addresses the problem of those who have sinned and been cast out. He says,

"Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him."

I find this passage of scripture one of the most beautiful examples of forgiving and loving one another. How many of us do not make mistakes? How many of us feel the shame, or the hurt from the consequences of our actions? Elder Holland discussed a scenario of a man, who in case of bad judgement, went out into rough waters, and then after being beaten by the waves, realizes his mistake and tries to come back to safety.

"When a battered, weary swimmer tries valiantly to get back to shore, after having fought strong winds and rough waves which he should never have challenged in the first place, those of us who might have had better judgment, or perhaps just better luck, ought not to row out to his side, beat him with our oars, and shove his head back underwater. That’s not what boats were made for. But some of us do that to each other.”

We are all in the position of both the drowning man and the saving boat. We all sin, and make mistakes we wish we could take back, and we are all longing for loving forgiveness from those around us. A forgiveness that can help lift us out of the sins we have committed and help us to rise above them and become better. However, we are also the holders of the oars. It is our decision whether we use those oars to beat others for their sins, or if we use them to reach out and lift others to higher ground through our own forgiveness and love.