SEXUAL IMMORALITY IN THE CHURCH

I Corinthians 5 shows us the Apostle Paul at his toughest.  

He has received credible information about a man in the Corinthian church who is in an immoral relationship with his father's wife.  Paul is - to say the least - shocked!  His immediate response to the church is:  And you are proud!  Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?  [v.2]

Paul then gives clear instructions:

• Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.  [v.3]
• His response is what we might expect from a bishop:  I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.  [v.3]
• When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of the Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.  [vs.4-5]
• Then Paul scolds the church for boasting about tolerating this evil action.  He reminds them that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough  [v.6].  

Paul then ends this painful chapter with an exposition about the church's responsibility for judging within the body of believers.  His counsel is quite clear:

I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people - not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters.  In that case you would have to leave this world.  But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.  With such a man do not even eat.

Clearly, we are only responsible for judging those who claim to live for Christ!  Paul would not have us separate ourselves from unbelievers!  How can we win unbelievers if we have separated ourselves from them?  

Paul's counsel:

1. ...judge those inside  [v.12]
2. God will judge those outside.  [v.13]

Paul's last words in this chapter:  Expel the wicked man from among you.  [v.13]

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As a church leader, I've repeatedly had to confront (care-front) parishioners who were living outside the bounds of Christian behavior.  It has never been easy to do so and I have always prepared myself through prayer (and often fasting).   Many times - almost always - the person becomes angry.  Often I have received a lashback from the church body as well.  But God's grace is a powerful thing.  Given time for the Holy Spirit to work, there has often been reconciliation and healing.  

Paul is trying to teach us that we bear reponsibility for one another!  In some sense, we are our brother's keeper!  I need you to help me stay clean and pure!  We need each other's accountability to remain holy!  

One final comment:  this really can't (won't) happen in a large group context;  in that setting, such activity is brutal and belittling.  It happens naturally, however, in smaller group settings or in friendship circles.  We must remember that speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  [Ephesians 4:15]

Our intervention with those we love, care for and call brother or sister may preserve them for an eternity of joy and everlasting peace!  It's worth the risk!  

If I fall into immorality, greed, lying, drunkenness or swindling others - I hope you care enough to come after me!   God has given us to one another for this high and holy purpose!