28 March, 2024

Leading People Toward Redemption and Restoration (Part 3)

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by | 30 May, 2010 | 1 comment

By Ken Swatman



“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.”

“”Audrey Hepburn, American actress



Everything about Jesus””his birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection””shouts redemption and restoration to a lost and broken world. Jesus” foundational purpose was, and still is, to seek and save the lost, to purchase back that which was bartered, sold, or stolen, and to reestablish and heal our relationship to his Father.

As pastors and leaders, we are entrusted with the position and responsibility of helping people navigate the deep waters of sin, repentance, redemption, and restoration. In this series of articles, we have looked at a healthy model for confronting sin and identified the process, fruits, and character of repentance. Now we will explore the practical issues surrounding redemption and restoration.

Redemption

Redemption simply is reestablishment of Christ”s ownership of our lives. Redemption is a past, present, and future activity. When Jesus died on the cross, he paid the penalty owed for our sin, breaking its power to condemn us now and forever. Through humility and repentance, we must examine our attitudes, actions, and intentions, allowing Christ to redeem them (to own them), and make them new. This is a process we must undertake every day of our lives, until we are fully, perfectly redeemed in his eternal presence.

Leading people through the redemptive process is a difficult and time-consuming task. Learning to give Christ ownership of every area of our lives is a scary proposition. It takes courage, vulnerability, humility, and much prayer to willingly expose the dark corners of our sin to the light of Christ”s truth. Fear, shame, punishment, and the pain of exposure can cause us to hold onto our sin and hide from Christ”s redemptive grace.

Redemption is a key component of repentance. As we lead people through the process of repentance””through the process of challenging and removing incorrect and sinful values and replacing them with God”s values””we must pull everything that doesn”t match up into Christ”s presence and ask him to own it, to redeem it.

I repeat, this is a long, hard process that takes patience and wisdom on a leader”s part. Remember that redemption is a choice; Jesus never forces anyone to be owned or made new. The redemption process begins with confession of sin. This is God”s promise in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” As navigators leading people through the repentance/redemption process, we must first encourage an authentic acceptance of sin and confession before God, and where appropriate, others.

As we lead people through the repentance/redemption process, we must be clear about their need to repent of the sin being addressed, but we must remember the manifest sin is likely the tip of an iceberg of issues going on in their lives. God desires the redemption of the whole person, not just a part. Relational issues, addictions, sins of the father, emotional, mental, and identity issues all may be contributing factors to outward sin. The process of repentance and redemption must take into account the whole person, and for this you might need to enlist professional help.

A leader”s role as navigator is to help people identify the difficult issues in repentance and redemption and lead them toward the resources and people trained and equipped to deal with some of the larger issues involved. When professional help is brought into the process, a pastor/navigator must stay focused on helping them understand their identity in Christ and how he has, can, and will redeem every aspect of their lives. Set the course, identify the areas that need to be redeemed, and let the Spirit lead the process of redemption.

Restoration

Restoration, like redemption, is a process. I believe God desires all broken relationships to be mended, and for all broken and hurting people to have a renewed sense of purpose, unity, and joy in the body of Christ.

The process of restoration takes hard work, humility, and intentionality. Moving too slowly through the restoration process may create an environment of frustration and shame, but moving too quickly into restoration may distract from the redemption process and allow boundaries to be prematurely removed, which can open the door to further hurt and pain.

Restoration of self-identity and purpose“”The restoration process should always seek to restore that which was lost first: a personal sense of identity and purpose in Christ. No one sins without first forsaking his or her identity in Christ and call to live in him. Restoration of identity and purpose begins in the repentance phase of the process by addressing those areas in a person”s life that do not match up with God”s character, will, or truth.

In the redemption phase we seek to bring those areas from darkness to light so Christ can renew and redefine them. Restoration of self finds its completion when one is able to authentically accept who one is in Christ, and who Christ is calling him or her to be.

At this step in the restoration process, one should see evidence of authenticity, humility, and a renewed passion for holiness. In people I am discipling through the restoration process, I specifically look for three fruits of self-restoration:

1. An authentic assessment and acceptance of self; this is evident in a willingness to be vulnerable about growth areas.

2. A sense of humility and hope in self-assessment and self talk; this shows a proper understanding of self that has moved beyond shame and resentment.

3. An acceptance of the pain and mistrust of others. Face it, not everyone will forgive and even fewer will forget, but an attitude of humility and grace in the midst of others” judgments shows deep repentance and redemption.

Restoration of relationships“”Sin never hurts only the sinner; it hurts everyone in relationship to the one who sins. Family, friends, churches, and communities all can be affected. Restoration in terms of relationships is largely given, not earned. Someone who has offended another can work hard to repent, change, grow, and build trust, but restoration of relationship with the offended is a gift of grace and trust.

Pastors and leaders who help people through the restoration process must be clear on biblical admonitions to forgive others, yet careful not to cause greater harm by forcing reconciliation upon, or judging those who just can”t or won”t reconcile. Sometimes restoration of a relationship is simply agreeing not to be in relationship. We can still forgive and allow someone to be redeemed even if we do not continue to have a relationship.

Building trust and credibility with a person one has hurt takes time and patience. As trust is restored and credibility is established, relationships can begin to heal.

Restoration of position and authority“”When someone in a leadership position falls into sin, restoration of position and authority is difficult and often improbable, but not impossible. Restoration of position and authority can happen only when the personal and relational restoration issues have been resolved.

Pastors and leaders should travel carefully the path of positional restoration. Accountability systems should be firmly in place. Measurable goals and regular personal, spiritual, and positional assessments must be initiated and continued through the whole restoration process. Issues and concerns during the process must be addressed quickly and openly so the process is not derailed by further sin, hurt, or misunderstandings about the restoration process.

For someone to be restored to a position of leadership and authority, everyone involved must be a part of the process. Family, friends, those who have been offended, fellow leaders, and congregations all must be led through a process of forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration. When restoring someone from a place of sin, I encourage you to employ the principle of “faithful with little, faithful with much” (see Matthew 25:21).

There is no greater joy as a pastor and leader than to see sinners repent, people redeemed, and relationships restored. Through careful planning and leading you can be an integral part of the restoration process. As you navigate people through the deep waters of sin, repentance, redemption, and restoration, prayerfully remember the words of Solomon, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).



Ken Swatman is senior pastor with Oregon City (Oregon) Christian Church. He served as a police and fire chaplain for six years and is certified in crisis intervention and stress management.

1 Comment

  1. Mary

    Four years ago you wrote and posted this. Today this has spoken greatly to my heart. Thank you for listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit – and for letting Him direct your pen as you wrote. Blessings to you and to your ministry.

    Mary Hamrick
    Chicago, IL

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