Bearing Another's Burden

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another.

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if any one thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each man will have to bear his own load.

Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 5:24–6:10 (RSV)

Cancel culture, the present age phenomenon where people scour everything a person has ever said, done, even thought to destroy them in the public eye. It is done in a pitiless fashion, often with no regard for the truth or circumstance. The goal is to destroy, even if the person no longer holds the beliefs they once did.

No Christian should ever participate in such a thing. Our Lord has commanded us to pray for all, even our enemies. Anyone who intentionally seeks to harm another person in this way has turned their back on Christ.

St. Paul is clear about this as he teaches the Galatian Christians how to live in Christ. We begin by crucifying our sinful nature, so our passions and desires do not rule us. If a brother or sister in the faith sins, we seek to restore them to the Lord. We must not act as if we have never sinned or that their sin is somehow worse than anyone else's.

If you are tempted to delight in someone's falling into sin, look honestly at your heart, not in the self-excusing way we prefer, but as our Lord sees our heart. You will find sin that causes the other's sin to pale by comparison.

We have been redeemed so we may become the mercy and charity of Christ for all with whom we meet. Our new life is one led by the Holy Spirit in the daily dying and rising in Christ. If we turn to satisfy the temptations of sinful flesh, we mock God. The harvest that we will reap from that will be a bitter one.

Luther taught that we are to be a 'little Christ' to our neighbors. Our Lord calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. It is who we now are. The old ways of this world and our sinful flesh are behind us. We are to see Jesus in everyone we meet, showing the love we have for our Lord to all.