How to Handle Straying Saints

In this practical and compassionate message, Chuck Swindoll addresses one of the most difficult tasks in the Christian life: rescuing a believer who has wandered from the truth. Swindoll begins by establishing that prayer is the most powerful weapon in this endeavor, serving as the force that unites separated souls and aids in the rescue of the spiritual “drowning victim” who may fight against those trying to save them.

Turning to the conclusion of the Book of James, Swindoll distinguishes between judgmentalism and restoration. He clarifies that while James 4 and Matthew 7 forbid hypocritical judging (looking for a speck in a brother’s eye while ignoring the log in one’s own), Jesus actually commands believers to remove the speck once their own vision is clear. Swindoll likens this process to delicate “spiritual eye surgery,” which requires precision, tenderness, and a steady hand, rather than harsh criticism.

The message outlines the specific biblical protocol for restoration found in Galatians 6:1. Swindoll emphasizes that the person attempting to restore a straying saint must be spiritual (Spirit-filled), gentle, and humble, realizing they too are susceptible to temptation. The ultimate goal is not to shame the wanderer, but to “turn them back,” thereby saving their soul from a death-like existence of divine discipline and covering a multitude of sins with love.

Message Key Facts:

• The Definition of “Straying”: Swindoll notes that the word translated “stray” shares roots with the word “planet,” evoking the image of a body wandering across the sky. He clarifies that this refers to a Christian leaving the truth they once knew, not an unregenerate person who was never in the truth.
• The Drowning Victim Analogy: Quoting Howard Hendricks, Swindoll illustrates that rescuing a straying saint is like saving a drowning man—they may fight you in their hysteria, but love refuses to let them go.
• Judgment vs. Restoration: There is a vital difference between “sniping” or slandering a brother (which is forbidden) and the delicate, necessary work of helping a brother remove a sin “speck” from their eye.
• Qualifications for the Restorer (Galatians 6:1):
  1. Spiritual: The restorer must be walking in dependence on the Holy Spirit, not acting out of pride.
  2. Gentle: “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city” (Proverbs 18:19). Harshness will not work; restoration requires a gentle spirit.
  3. Humble: One must look to themselves, realizing, “By the grace of God, I would be in your shoes”.
• The Meaning of “Death” in James 5:20: Swindoll interprets “saving a soul from death” in this context not as eternal damnation (since the text addresses “brethren”), but as delivering a believer from a “death-like existence” or the hard life of a transgressor under God’s discipline.
• Love as the Motive: The only valid motivation for intervening is love. Swindoll states, “Love won’t turn the other way… Love prompts involvement”.

Message References:

• James 5:19–20: The central text urging believers to turn back those who stray from the truth to save them from death and cover a multitude of sins.
• Matthew 7:1–5: Jesus’ teaching on judgment, emphasizing that one must remove the “log” from their own eye before attempting to remove the “speck” from a brother’s eye.
• James 4:11–12: The prohibition against speaking against or judging a brother, which Swindoll contrasts with the command to restore.
• Galatians 6:1–3: The guide for the attitude of restoration: being spiritual, gentle, and looking to oneself lest one also be tempted.
• Proverbs 18:19: A wisdom saying noting that an offended brother is harder to win back than a fortified city.
• 1 John 4:18 / 1 Peter 4:8: (Referenced in concept) The principle that “love covers a multitude of sins”.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll