2.17.10 -- 1 Corinthains 5

1 Corinthians 5

This is a great chapter on the concept of judgment within the church. There seem to be two ways to go today.

Some churches steep themselves in judgment so deeply that they don't seem to do anything else. You've heard of them. They're the ones who make the news carrying signs that read things like "God hates fags." They rail on and on about the wickedness of society while not doing a thing about their own anger (and last I heard wrath is still a sin).

The other option we see often is a total lack of judgment of any sort. "Don't judge" has become a mantra of sorts for a lot of people and for a lot of churches. They're so politically correct they're afraid to even discuss the concept of sin lest they should offend someone. This too is not a good approach.

What then is a Christian to do? Well, in this chapter Paul pretty well lays it out.

1 Cor 5:5 ~ Wow, this sounds really harsh. Lots of people read this verse and think Paul is talking about someone losing their salvation. Since elsewhere in the Bible the concept of "once saved always saved" is quite clearly taught, and the Bible (being inerrant) can't contradict itself, that can't really be the meaning here. What then does the verse mean when it speaks of delivering someone over to Satan? The next few words give us a clue. It's not the soul that will be destroyed, but rather the flesh. Basically what is being said here is if someone is so determined to follow the path to (temporal) destruction, let them! Don't keep trying to get them to repent if they refuse. They will experience God's wrath here on earth (rather than in eternity) in that Satan (whom they chose to follow) will be permitted to torment and even destroy their physical bodies.

1 Cor 5:6 ~ I have a tendency to just jump right over this one some times. However, it's well worth looking at. When a church allows its members to sin unrestrained, the praise of the entire group is spoiled in God's eyes. Similarly, when a Christian allows a little bit of sin to reign in just one part of their life, their entire being is tainted by it. Does this mean that we have to be perfect in order to praise God? Not at all! None of us are that. What it does mean is that we need to deal with our sins, and those of our fellow believers, in a manner befitting our station. Rather than letting sin reign, becoming a slave to it, we should exert control over it. We should struggle against sin, not just sit back and let it have its way with us.

1 Cor 5:9-13 ~ Here is the formula Paul gives for judging others. Don't judge non-believers! How silly to try to get people to follow a set of rules when they don't know the God who made those rules! It's like going to another country and trying to get the people there to follow the laws and regulations of your home town. They follow the world because they are of the world. Likewise, when someone becomes a Christian, they should put aside the traditions they are accustomed to and learn the ways of the faith. A Christian who continues in sin is like someone who becomes a naturalized citizen of this country but still attempts to live by the rules of their former home. It just doesn't work! So, Christians should not expect non-Christians to follow God's laws. And Christians should expect other Christians to follow God's laws. Pretty simple, huh? If a Christian doesn't want to follow the rules, the church should cast them out. Sounds drastic and harsh, but sometimes it's that type of "tough love" that wakes someone up enough to repent!