Daily Bread 2011 - 1 Corinthians 5
Daily Bread 2011 – 1 Corinthians 5
9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 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. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
What Does This Mean?
One of the fruit of a non-discipleship culture is that people are still prone to immorality, since there is no true transformation going on. In this case a man is sleeping with his father’s wife (meaning she is most likely his stepmom). And Paul urges the church to deal with this issue swiftly before this type of behavior becomes rampant in the community. He likens it to a little bit of yeast, which gets worked through the whole dough.
Then, he distinguishes between judging those “inside the church”, versus those “outside the church”. Part of his argument is though we are not to judge those outside the church, we have a responsibility to confront gross immorality in the church for the sake of the body. This is not judgment in terms of someone’s salvation, but in terms of character and a life worthy of our calling in Christ. The idea of expelling a Christian may seem harsh, but as the verse 5 says, the purpose is that this behavior would be corrected and the wayward brother or sister to return to the fellowship.
What Does This Mean For Us?
We have all heard the saying, “who are you to judge?” Although none of us are supposed judge a person’s relationship with God, the leaders of any church are called to call confront behaviors that compromise the body of Christ and can do damage of the Church. The tension here and what makes this a difficult passage to interpret and apply is that he also lumps in greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness, and swindling. Since greed is rampant in the Church today as well, what type of greed warrants expelling the brother or sister? If a person has a drinking problem are they expelled from the church? And when it comes to idolatry that could cover a broad range of things!
Clearly wisdom is needed to apply this passage in wise, loving and graceful ways. I think the main intent of the passage is meant for the person who is clearly, consistently and grossly behaving in a manner contrary to the type of life we are called to live in Christ. With blatant disregard for correction or repentance from these behaviors, these are people who think freedom in Christ is a license to exploit the grace of God. This is what Paul is saying we must expel for the sake of the integrity of our Church.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the grace that we all need all the time. Teach us to offer lives back to you because of Your amazing grace and not to use it as an excuse to sin. Amen.
9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 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. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
What Does This Mean?
One of the fruit of a non-discipleship culture is that people are still prone to immorality, since there is no true transformation going on. In this case a man is sleeping with his father’s wife (meaning she is most likely his stepmom). And Paul urges the church to deal with this issue swiftly before this type of behavior becomes rampant in the community. He likens it to a little bit of yeast, which gets worked through the whole dough.
Then, he distinguishes between judging those “inside the church”, versus those “outside the church”. Part of his argument is though we are not to judge those outside the church, we have a responsibility to confront gross immorality in the church for the sake of the body. This is not judgment in terms of someone’s salvation, but in terms of character and a life worthy of our calling in Christ. The idea of expelling a Christian may seem harsh, but as the verse 5 says, the purpose is that this behavior would be corrected and the wayward brother or sister to return to the fellowship.
What Does This Mean For Us?
We have all heard the saying, “who are you to judge?” Although none of us are supposed judge a person’s relationship with God, the leaders of any church are called to call confront behaviors that compromise the body of Christ and can do damage of the Church. The tension here and what makes this a difficult passage to interpret and apply is that he also lumps in greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness, and swindling. Since greed is rampant in the Church today as well, what type of greed warrants expelling the brother or sister? If a person has a drinking problem are they expelled from the church? And when it comes to idolatry that could cover a broad range of things!
Clearly wisdom is needed to apply this passage in wise, loving and graceful ways. I think the main intent of the passage is meant for the person who is clearly, consistently and grossly behaving in a manner contrary to the type of life we are called to live in Christ. With blatant disregard for correction or repentance from these behaviors, these are people who think freedom in Christ is a license to exploit the grace of God. This is what Paul is saying we must expel for the sake of the integrity of our Church.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the grace that we all need all the time. Teach us to offer lives back to you because of Your amazing grace and not to use it as an excuse to sin. Amen.
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