Turn the wanderer back
Going after the one who drifts
James closes his letter with a quiet, enormous promise. If anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, know this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. The one who goes after the wanderer is doing something of eternal weight.
It is easy to let wanderers go — to feel the drift of someone slipping away and decide it is not your place, or too awkward, or simply their own choice. James calls the pursuit a soul-saving act. Shepherding includes the uncomfortable work of going after the one who is drifting: having the awkward conversation, refusing to let someone wander off in silence, caring more about their return than about your own comfort. Not every wanderer comes back. But the leader who will not even try has quietly left a soul to the dark.
“If a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.”
— Paul, on restoring the fallen — Galatians 6:1 (WEB)
Shepherding includes going after the one who drifts. Turning a wanderer back is a soul-saving act, worth more than the leader’s comfort.
“Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back...”
James treats the pursuit of a wanderer as eternally weighty. A leader formed here refuses to let people slip away in silence out of awkwardness. The inner work is caring more about someone’s return than about avoiding discomfort.
Notice who is drifting and go after them — have the awkward conversation, pursue gently, refuse the silence. Restore the straying rather than writing them off. Treat the return of one as worth real effort and risk.
Leaders let people drift away by calling it their own choice, when really it was too awkward to pursue. The blind spot is mistaking passivity for respect while a soul slips into the dark.
Name one person drifting away that you have let go in silence. This week, reach out and begin, gently, to turn them back.
It is easy to let someone drift away — too awkward, not your place, their own choice. James calls going after them a soul-saving act, worth more than your comfort.
Who is drifting away from you right now that you have been letting go in silence?