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This is part of a series of posts based on the Churches Together in England publication one light: one world. If you click on the link you will find the biblical texts. This post of the same name covers the purpose of this series.
Galatians 6: 1 - 2
Paul is writing to individuals rather than churches. When one transgresses, we are called to bear the resulting burden together. This is not about condemnation but supporting one another in love.
How does this apply to institutions? Is the Methodist Church called to bear the Roman Catholic Church's burdens over child abuse? It's difficult to work out what this might mean in practice but the principle is not difficult to grasp.
All institutions fall short of our own and God's expectations. Indeed, it is likely God is more tolerant of our failures than we are. We may not have any choice about bearing one another's trangressions, as many are only too willing to condemn the churches as a whole for the failings of the few. Indeed, the Islamic fundamentalists who flew into the twin towers have fuelled new atheist anti-religion, which somehow justifies their anti-Christian as well as anti-Islamic rants.
Perhaps what this passage implies is we should treat one another gently, whatever tradition or religion, and set an example as to how we deal with transgressions. We're not always terribly good at this type of thing but this passage is at least suggestive.
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