Of late, I have seen well-rehearsed heresy hunters broadcasting their evidence on social media. It’s nothing new in Church history. At times, it can resemble a public burning at the stake for the offenders.

A few days ago, I wrote about a house church in Corinth that Paul addressed and their unwillingness to address a man living in open sexual rebellion. The man must have had enough influence in the church to sway the leaders and harm the entire church through his negative life choices.

Just as the prodigal son in the Lord’s parable dishonored the Father and broke fellowship with him, this unrepentant man had reached such a state. His hardness of heart and insensitivity to the Spirit became an invitation to demonic access to him and the Church.

Paul’s letter of rebuke and correction to the church was strong and direct. A year later he writes again, telling the Corinthians to reaffirm their love, forgiveness, and comfort to the man who had caused so much trouble and hurt so many.

Paul told the church, “When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes” (see II Corinthians 2: 10-11).

Satan outsmarts us when our focus turns to exposing others. When we have become unwilling to extend forgiveness and restoration. When we keep our focus on someone’s past behavior with no relief in sight. Who among us could endure such rejection?

My prayer is that God’s love will be demonstrated through us. His love will breach any hardness of heart we may have when we discover an offense in us toward another person. True restoration can only happen when we place their outcome in God’s hands, not ours.