To "Bear" One Another's Burdens

One of the main themes in Descent into Hell is when Stanhope takes Pauline’s burden of her doppelganger. Stanhope believes that we are called to literally “carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).” The belief that someone can carry another person’s burdens or substituted love is accepted by both Charles Williams and C.S. Lewis. I had never heard this verse taken in the context that Williams applies it in his book, Descent into Hell. I have always considered carrying one another’s burdens to be helping a person carry their burden by listening to their words and giving advice, but never to physically take on someone’s burdens. After thinking and discussing this concept, I decided to look at the context of this verse in Galatians.

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. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³ If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. ⁴ Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵ for each one should carry their own load. ⁶Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

-Galatians 6:1-6

If we look at this passage, we see that we are to restore people who are in sin with gentleness, but be careful to be tempted. Paul then says that we are to carry each other’s burdens, and in this way we will fulfill the law of Christ. I see this passage saying that we are to help, guide, and love each other when someone is burdened with sin. The law of Christ is to love each other; therefore, by helping each other, we love each other. In verse 5, it says for each one should carry their own load, not others carrying the load for them. After looking at this passage, I feel as though Williams and Lewis may have taken this verse out of context. I believe that God has placed a burden in our life so that WE can turn to Him and allow Him to overcome our burden within us. If we are to always give each other our burdens, we aren’t going to look to God to bear our burdens, but to others. I agree that we are supposed to love each other and help each other carry the burdens of our lives, but I fully believe the only way we can overcome a burden is through the bearer of all things, Jesus Christ.