Spiritual "limbo"

[Nathan_L]

Firstly I apologise I haven't worded this more clearly, but have endeavoured to explain best I can without spending too long writing it out.

Suppose a professing christian of 20+ years that you personally knew, bore fruit and believed to be genuinely born again, fell into some griveious sin and tarried there for many months with no real signs of conviction or repentance.

Do you start to wonder if they were truly born again.

If so, why?
If not, why?

I know the regenerate are not exempt from falling into serious sin, and if they do will ultimately be brought to repentance and be restored - David being the classic example. However, during this in between period of time - however long that may be - it seems from our perspective at least (I know ultimately this isn't really the case), that this individuals genuiness of conversion is in a sort of limbo state where the outcome will be proven in time based upon whether they ever truly repent and return it to The Lord or not.

My question is, how do we manage the tension during this period of said individuals "spiritual ambiguity" or "limbo" period, particularly if it is close family?

 

[Dkshotwell]

If the person in question is persistent in a sin after being confronted about it, we are to treat them as an outsider. That doesn't necessarily mean, however, that he or she isn't a true believer. There are countless testimonies of believers going off the rails for years and then returning, and I am not including false converts in this. I know because I was such a one. Be charitable, continue to witness, and hope the best for them. Believe me, if this person is saved, The Lord will correct and return them, even if He has to kill them in the process.

 

[Ed Walsh]

Do you start to wonder if they were truly born again.

I'm not so sure of what you may wonder, but I'm sure that if this man is a believer, his sin will find him out and exert greater and greater pressure and fearful thoughts until he repents or the Lord takes him. The Lord leaves the 99 to search for that which is lost. If this is not happening at all, it is a bad sign for your lost friend.

 

[TylerRay]

Firstly I apologise I haven't worded this more clearly, but have endeavoured to explain best I can without spending too long writing it out.

Suppose a professing christian of 20+ years that you personally knew, bore fruit and believed to be genuinely born again, fell into some griveious sin and tarried there for many months with no real signs of conviction or repentance.

Do you start to wonder if they were truly born again.

If so, why?
If not, why?

I know the regenerate are not exempt from falling into serious sin, and if they do will ultimately be brought to repentance and be restored - David being the classic example. However, during this in between period of time - however long that may be - it seems from our perspective at least (I know ultimately this isn't really the case), that this individuals genuiness of conversion is in a sort of limbo state where the outcome will be proven in time based upon whether they ever truly repent and return it to The Lord or not.

My question is, how do we manage the tension during this period of said individuals "spiritual ambiguity" or "limbo" period, particularly if it is close family?

Paul had fears regarding the spiritual state of the Galatians after they went back from Christ and began observing the ceremonial law (Gal 4). Sometimes people have false fruit and temporary, non-saving faith. We ought to judge charitably, but charity does not overlook grievous sin that is not being repented of. Indeed, the charitable thing to do is to fear for the soul of your friend, and seek to reclaim him as a brand plucked from the fire.

As regards your friend's self-assessment, if he's in open and unrepentant sin, he has forfeited his grounds of assurance, whatever the actual state of his soul may be. He should be afraid for his own soul.

 

[jwithnell]

This is a good time to gently come along side and stir the spiritual embers that will reside in one of Christ's own. Accusations and severe warnings will not go far. I am forever grateful for the nudge a brother gave me 1,500 miles away from home and working on a wildfire.

 

[Nathan_L]

If the person in question is persistent in a sin after being confronted about it, we are to treat them as an outsider. That doesn't necessarily mean, however, that he or she isn't a true believer. There are countless testimonies of believers going off the rails for years and then returning, and I am not including false converts in this. I know because I was such a one. Be charitable, continue to witness, and hope the best for them. Believe me, if this person is saved, The Lord will correct and return them, even if He has to kill them in the process.

Hi friend,

I too wandered away from The Lord, for 11 years. The nature of my wandering was so severe, I often question if I were ever really saved to begin with despite really thinking I was.

I guess seeing this unfold in someone much older in years and longer in the tooth in the faith stirs up an extension of the same question I wonder about myself in my past. I may never know either way in this life, but look forward to a conversation with The Lord about it in eternity.

Meanwhile my question remains, and the fact I don't know doesn't trouble me greatly it's more of a pondering and a turning it over in my mind.

 

[Nathan_L]

This is a good time to gently come along side and stir the spiritual embers that will reside in one of Christ's own. Accusations and severe warnings will not go far. I am forever grateful for the nudge a brother gave me 1,500 miles away from home and working on a wildfire.

Hi, thank you for the reminder of the importance of gentleness. I believe I have conducted myself that way so far, but it's always good to hear truth again.

However, in this particular situation gentle nudges and coming alongside has thus far bore no fruit. There have been flashes of seemingly encouraging signs of repentance but each time have been swiftly followed by worse circumstances than before.

The nature of this sin is very severe, acts of deep betrayal are being committed daily and a real threat of danger for Him and by extension those in His home is present and real. Prayers are needed.

I'm not so sure of what you may wonder, but I'm sure that if this man is a believer, his sin will find him out and exert greater and greater pressure and fearful thoughts until he repents or the Lord takes him. The Lord leaves the 99 to search for that which is lost. If this is not happening at all, it is a bad sign for your lost friend.

I agree, I fear for him greatly.

 

[jwithnell]

@Nathan_L
In such severe cases, we have to defer to church leadership, assuming we've done what we can with "go to your brother." Prayer, obviously (I've prayed for 30 years for someone).