These new family relationships also contain specific obligations and responsibilities. In Galatians 6, the apostle Paul completes his letter to the believers in Galatia by providing instruction on how to minister to the extended family of God. Unfortunately, some Christians add misery to affliction rather than minister comfort and healing to a fallen member of the family. The words overtaken in a fault refer to being seized by sin. In fact, Paul uses a medical term that refers to the practice of setting a broken bone,1 a procedure that necessitates a firm, yet gentle, loving touch.
Restoration also requires direct confrontation.
No one can set a bone from fifty miles away. Such was the procedure believers used in Corinth when a church member had fallen into sexual immorality. The man was eventually restored to fellowship as a useful member of the family. It was also how Paul dealt with Peter earlier regarding Peter's abrupt refusal to eat with Gentile believers. He did not discuss Peter's problem with anyone else but confronted Peter directly.