How should we respond to wandering Christians? The Bible calls us to go after them with grace, not to shun or write them off. James ends his letter by admitting that some believers will drift from the truth, promising that they can be brought back, and reminding us that God often uses ordinary Christians to help restore them. Our response to a wanderer should be an open invitation to come home.
Some Believers Will Wander from the Truth
James is famous for calling Christians to a faith that works. His letter pushes us to show our faith by how we live, tame our tongues, and recognize what worldliness looks like. That’s a biblical challenge, but it can feel overwhelming, especially when we see people we love struggling to walk the line.
So what do we do with believers who don’t act or speak like followers of Jesus anymore? Should we launch a witch hunt or quietly cut them off? James closes his letter with two short verses that answer the question.
James 5:19-20 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Notice that James says “one of you.” He’s talking about people inside the church. Wandering happens, and James doesn’t pretend otherwise. He also doesn’t treat it lightly. There really is a truth to wander from, and drifting is serious. It’s easy to excuse sin when it shows up in our own lives or in people close to us, but James calls it what it is.
Wandering Doesn’t Have to Be the End of the Story
James could have ended with a warning to lock the door behind people who drift. Instead, he ends with hope. He describes no point of no return here, only the real possibility that someone who has wandered can be brought back.
That fits the heart of God throughout Scripture. Jesus told a story about a shepherd who left ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that was lost, then celebrated when he found it.
Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
God is a God of second chances because of Jesus. His death and resurrection paid for every sin, including the sins of believers who drift. No one who has wandered is beyond his reach.
You Can Help Bring Them Back
The most surprising part of James’s closing words is that God uses people like us. “Someone” brings the wanderer back. That means you and I can play a part in another person’s restoration by lovingly naming the drift and inviting them home.
Paul gives helpful guidance on how to do that well. Restoration should be gentle, and it should come from people who are humble about their own weaknesses.
Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Most of us lean toward one of two extremes: ignoring sin to keep the peace or reacting with harsh judgment. The gospel offers a better way. We tell the truth because we care, and we extend grace because we’ve received it. Sometimes that looks like a phone call, a coffee, or simply refusing to give up on someone in prayer.
The Takeaway
How should we respond to wandering Christians? With truth, hope, and a gentle invitation to return. James ends his letter not with rejection but with restoration, reminding us that God brings wanderers home and often uses ordinary believers to do it.
