Chronos - 1 Corinthians 5 Series

This week we continue our series called Chronos. A term which means time. We have decided to study the scriptures this year in the order they were published. It gives us a very unique insight into the early church and the struggles of a growing movement. This review of history is important because The Center’s leadership believes we are on the cuspid of a great awakening in America. An awakening that will challenge the status quo of the current Christian industrial complex. An institution more concerned with Attendance, Buildings and Cash than the Gospel, Grace and Growth of the kingdom.

This week we also continue in the book of the first Corinthians. It’s another book written by Paul around 25 years after Jesus' earthly ministry. Corinth is the original sin city. It was a transitional city and as such there was a lot of anonymity. As a Coastal town people were always coming and going. Some for vacation, most for business. The community was know for their worship of the goddess of sex. They had one of the largest temples devoted to her and the idea of fertility. You can see why when you called somebody a corinthian back then, you were saying they were living without morality. After his 1 ½ years planting the church, Paul left behind Apollos who was an amazing preacher/teacher and yet, we can see from this book the people still had questions. The immorality of the culture was so rampant that Paul had to address everything from why church potlucks should not turn into drunken frat parties and worship to the one true God like kids first birthday party at chuck e cheese restaurant.

Last Sunday, we dove head first into the book. Last week Paul encouraged us to remember A growing Christian life has no place for pride. A humble life is one of the best way to witness and acknowledge Jesus to the world we live in.

Paul continues this letter by emphasizing his love for and his hope for the early church in Corinth by addressing their unwillingness to address the tough issues.

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?

I can remember a number of years ago, I asked another pastor about a church on the edge of town. He replied, “Oh, The fighting church.” I said, “What?” He replied, “ The fighting church is the nickname the rest of the clergy in town have for that church. You see, they are known for their church infighting as well as their unhappiness. They have never had a pastor they liked for very long. A music director or even childrens director. The truth is there is one old time member who is sour and longs to be the center of attention so she starts the conflict with a rumor and innuendo on a regular basis so she can be the center of the church.” Flabbergasted, I asked, “If everyone outside the church knows the issue, why don’t the leaders inside do something?” He looked at me like a father to a naive son. “The leadership is not willing to address the obvious sin for fear of hurting the matriarch.”

The issue the small church at the edge of town was addressing as well as the church Paul founded is the same. People, who gather together in Christ’s name, can value harmony among the tribe more than the core principle they were founded upon. In these cases, it is no longer just the individual who is sinning but the entire group. The group sins by choosing to ignore the problem and therefore passively condoning it. They are complicit. It’s why Paul denies his approval in the next verses. Let’s take a listen.

3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

Recently, I had spoken with a friend who used to be a pastor of a congregation but life circumstances dictated he leave the full time ministry for a better paying secular job. He shared he liked his new role better as an iterate preacher. He liked meeting new people every week and he loved asking the current pastor what message needed to be delivered but due to church politics couldn’t. He felt dropping these truth bombs was his calling. He laughed. I smiled and wondered about the state of these churches.