What am I to think when I see Christians doing wrong things?

Scripture often contrasts light and darkness.

There was a time when each of us was darkness. Paul plainly states, “You were once darkness” (Ephesians 5:8).

But he goes on to say, “But now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Paul is simply highlighting a truth that Jesus had already shared in his Sermon on the Mount. The Savior tells his disciples (including us), “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). He wants us to be his reflectors because he is the “light of the world” (John 8:12).

It all sounds so easy, doesn’t it? You know, just like the song “This Little Light of Mine.” “I’m going to let it shine. Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.”

But sometimes—and if we are honest, often too many times—the world looks at the lives of many of God’s children and might think that their gospel light is not burning brightly—if even at all. We too can observe the same thing. What are we to think when we see Christians doing wrong things?

Truths about Christians and sin

To be clear, when God states we are to “live as children of light,” he doesn’t view this as optional. It is his will that we lead holy lives (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7). But God’s Word points out that we will constantly have to struggle to conduct ourselves in this way. The Holy Spirit tells us in Romans 7:18-25 that on this side of eternity there will always be a battle between our old self (sinful nature) and our new self.

So when the world seems to see the old self winning that war, it will rarely, if ever, give Christians the benefit of the doubt. Instead, unbelievers often think that Christians should be living sin-free lives. Those outside the church don’t comprehend the biblical teaching that, in this world, Christians are not able to lead perfect lives. Christians still sin—sometimes blatantly.

Such actions, however, do not warrant the world labeling every Christian a hypocrite (pretend believer). Men of great faith, such as Moses and David (whom God called “a man after my own heart” in Acts 13:22) in the Old Testament, as well as Peter and Paul in the New Testament, were, at times, very good at sinning. However, at the same time, they were even better at trusting in and treasuring God’s forgiveness given in the gospel. This same forgiveness equipped them to strive to make changes in their lives of holy living.

This forgiveness provides us with the same result. It completely wipes away the guilt of our sin and equips us to grow in our life of holy living. Remember that the believer’s sanctified life is a process of growth.

With Paul, we will strive to “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of [us]” (Philippians 3:12).

Truths regarding faith and forgiveness

Unfortunately, sometimes those within Christ’s church do incorrect things when they see a Christian doing something wrong. They have a pharisaical attitude, looking down on their fellow brother or sister struggling with sin. Jesus cautions us about having a “holier than thou” arrogance. He frankly reminds us, “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). Before we think to ourselves, I would never do anything like that, remember that “if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12). John echoes, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

In Matthew chapter 18, Jesus, the one who forgives, shares with us several important truths regarding sin, faith, and forgiveness. At the very beginning of the chapter (vv. 1-9), he holds up the faith of a little child as the faith to be emulated. He cautions us not to cause that same child, who believes in him, to sin by our unsanctified living. Finally, he urges us to get rid of whatever it might be that is preventing us from living a holy life, even if it means cutting off limbs or gouging out eyes.

Jesus then reveals to us the proper attitude toward those who are sinning (vv. 10-20). He invites us to go after them like they are lost sheep. But what if they don’t listen? Jesus lays out the proper guidelines to deal with those who continue in sin and remain impenitent.

Jesus concludes this chapter with a striking story to emphasize several things, including what to do when we see a Christian doing something wrong (vv. 21-35). First, we need to see the truth that every person, including Christians, struggles and, at times, gives in to temptation. It starts by looking in the mirror where we stare at our enormous debt of sin to God. It’s a debt so big that we can never begin to repay it. But God, who is rich in mercy, displays and gives us his unlimited forgiveness. He has completely wiped out the debt of our sin by the blood of Jesus.

We all have struggles and temptations and know that every day it can be challenging to let our light shine.

The end of this chapter also teaches us how we should forgive others. When we experience and clearly understand what God’s grace and forgiveness in Christ mean to us, we will be quick and bold to forgive those who sin against us, including when we see a fellow Christian doing something wrong.

We all have struggles and temptations and know that every day it can be challenging to let our light shine. So when it looks like a brother or sister in Christ is hiding this light under a bushel or when Satan appears to have blown it out, we strive to speak the truth in love. At the same time, we seek to have a heart that listens and relates. We realize that our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ have chinks in their Christian armor of sanctified living, just like we do.

We are not outwardly perfect on this side of heaven. But we also take God at his word that because of Christ’s forgiveness, our status before God right now is one of being declared perfect. Finally, we know that day is approaching when the Lord Jesus will transform our sinful bodies to be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:21).

In the meantime, treasure the truth that we are “God’s special possession, that [we] may declare the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Author: Kenneth Brokmeier
Volume 113, Number 03
Issue: March 2026

For further study

Living as children of light describes Christians’ lives of sanctification. Dig deeper into the topic of sanctification in Sanctification: Alive in Christ by Lyle Lange. Part of the People’s Bible Teaching series, this book biblically lays out the difference between justification and sanctification and shows the proper relationship between the two.

Available from Northwestern Publishing House. Learn more at nph.net.