Excusing iniquity within the church is nothing new. Here is a case study in how churches should handle immorality within. What was the situation?
1 Cor 5:1-8 Immorality Within
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
Having sexual relations with your father’s wife was forbidden in the law (Leviticus 18:8) and deemed especially depraved even among other nations where sexual sins were frequently tolerated.
When church sins are widely reported the Gospel’s reputation is also damaged. What are some sins that have damaged the church’s reputation? What attitude can accompany condoning sexual sins? What attitude should we have?
1 Corinthians 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
Are mourning and excommunication common remedies for immorality in churches today? Did Paul put this to a congregational vote or make a judgment?
1 Corinthians 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
Many modern churches are also morally weak and cowardly in applying church discipline. Where are the leaders that refuse to promote the values of a corrupt society, and are not afraid to excommunicate grievous sinners? Where are the churches that will defrock leaders that condone sexual immorality? How did Paul want this to be handled?
1 Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
What did Paul judge on this matter? In a litigious modern world, this may require some wisdom, but Paul’s advice is to disfellowship in a public announcement during church services. Such news of an excommunication, must use tactful words such as “for cause” without giving details and in no way be defamatory. We should also pray for repentance and reconciliation. What’s the most important consideration?
1 Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Temporarily removed from the realm of God to the realm of Satan, the church hopes that the disciplined member will soon return. Why was such a tough decision needed?
1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Similarly, some modern churches boast about “inclusiveness” in their tolerance of sexual sin. Do churches still brag about such detrimental worldly wisdom? What should churches do?
1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Are many modern churches weak in this area of church discipline? Do some even harass those who try to apply these biblical principles?
Purging leaven goes back to the Old Testament practice of preparing for Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, by ridding a home of all leavening for a week (Exodus 12:15). This symbolized purging a home of sin, and here Paul applies this to the sexual sin in question. How do Christians keep this particular law in spirit?
1 Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Because Christ is our Passover Lamb, can we now keep this feast all year long in spirit? Paul uses this situation to teach a broader Christian principle. We keep the spirit of this ancient feast, by ridding our lives of malice and wickedness, and holding fast to sincerity and truth. How does Paul apply the spirit of the law to this situation?
1 Cor 5:9-13 Excommunication
1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Though Christians must live and be lights in this world, do we make habitual sinners our best friends? We neither separate ourselves completely from the world, covering our light with a bushel basket (Matthew 5:14-16), nor mix too closely with those steeped in worldly immorality (John 17:14-16). Does that mean that Christians are to live like hermits or monks?
1 Corinthians 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
We cannot avoid all contact with sinners of this world. Some are our family members, work colleagues, customers, and employers. Yet, how should we treat unrepentant, immoral church members?
1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
We are to avoid fellowship with church members who brazenly engage in things like sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness and swindling.
This may be dealt with in an official excommunication (disfellowshipping) until they repent. It may also in principle be an individual Christian’s private conduct, if church leaders have failed to carry out this duty. It may also apply in principle to how we deal with churches with apostate leaders promoting immorality, effectively excommunicating them by leaving. How many Christians totally ignore Paul’s instructions here? Is this judgmental?
1 Corinthians 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
We have no authority to judge those outside the church, but we are responsible to decide between right and wrong inside the church. Who judges those outside the church? What should churches do with those within who are engaged in gross immorality without remorse or repentance?
1 Corinthians 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
In a world where “inclusion” of sinful practices is often boasted about, this is a chapter about exclusion. But, the sinner is excluded in hope that it is only temporary, that they may be led to repentance, and thus be quickly reincluded for all eternity.
