Thoughts on I Cor.5

What is the greatest enemy of the life of the church? Though we may believe it is the decadence of the outside world, our most destructive enemy is inside the fellowship of believers. And it doesn't take very much of "the yeast of malice and wickedness" to corrupt the whole body. As a result, Paul instructed us to "expel the wicked man" who spreads the corruption.

But who is this wicked man? We are never commanded to expel those who are struggling with their sin. In Galatians Paul advised "those who are spiritual to restore ... gently" a brother who is "caught" in a sin. Those who are walking with God should come along side the alcoholic who abhors his addiction or the adulterer who is straining to restore his marriage. The brother who should be excommunicated is the drunkard who loves his partying or the adulterer who is unrepentantly carrying on an affair.

So how does an individual treat, for instance, a fellow Christian who obstinately clings to his affair? Paul commanded: "you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slandered, a drunkard or a swindler." What did Paul mean by "not associate?" We are to avoid even the most casual contact: "With such a man do not even eat." Paul would have certainly condemned even more serious contact such as a prayer group or Bible study or service project.

But why is this type of church discipline not practiced? One of the groups Sunday morning listed several reasons. One weighty reason is that we don't possess the love and courage required. Confronting fellow Christians with their sin can be a messy job -- hardened sinners may resent your efforts and "turn and tear you to pieces" (Matt.7:6). Many of us have been taught to not rock the boat. Our culture continually encourages us to be tolerant of anything and everything. But the gospel calls us to a different standard -- we are to be intolerant of our own sin and the sin of those we love. At times, this means a gentle rebuke. At its most extreme, it can mean to ask the sinner to leave the fellowship.

Questions for Nov.13 (I Cor.6:1-11)
1.Why did Paul not want Christians suing Christians?
2.What was the source of these lawsuits?
3.How should we handle these situations in today's church?
4.What does Paul mean by the phrase: "inherit the kingdom of God"?

Prayer-Fellowship, Nov.20. 6-8 P.M.