How Should The Church Deal With Sexual Immorality? 1 Corinthians 5

 

Dealing With a Case of Incest

5 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? 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,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

In chapter 5 Paul deals with the specific issue of sexual immorality in the church.  He is appalled that a man is sleeping with his father's wife.  Most likely it is his step mother, since Paul's refers to her as his father's wife.  Worse yet, the church seems to be tolerating it,  and are even "proud" of their treatment of the man.  Perhaps they are bragging about how accepting they are of the man, or that it somehow reflects goodness of their church.  Guzik writes, 

"The Corinthian Christians were proud (you are puffed up) of their acceptance of this man; they thought it said something good about them! But instead of glorying, they should have grieved, both for the man and for what they must do to him (be taken away from among you)."

Paul's decision is to remove the man from the fellowship?  Why?

1. To keep his ungodly influence out of the body of Christ.

2. To be an example to others who were flirting with sexual immorality (defined in the bible as sex outside a marriage between a man and a woman). 

3. By taking the man out of the fellowship of the church, it might lead the man to repentance. This repentance would move him out of a life governed by the flesh, or his sinful nature.  He would actually be free. The goal of the discipline was to restore the man to the fellowship in the body, not excessively punish or shame him. 

4. Though the man was a Christian, Paul was concerned about his salvation on the day of the Lord.  

6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Paul points out that the way they are treating this man is not good for the spiritual climate of the congregation.  Like a little yeast eventually works its way through a batch of dough, so does sin which is pushed under the carpet.  Paul uses this metaphor to remind them that through Christ's sacrificial death on the cross our sin has been paid for.  As they moved to the annual Festival of Passover it was perfect time to remind them that Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, paid for our sin with his own precious blood.  To keep the Passover meant to be reminded of what Christ had done for them and not to go back to a life governed by the sinful nature which cheapened Jesus' sacrifice. 

9 I wrote to 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 to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

Finally, Paul makes the distinction of those who are sexually immoral within the church as opposed to those in the world (unbelivevers).  While it is not surprising to see those who don't have the Holy Spirit living sexually immoral lives, those who call themselves Christ followers are expected to be different.  The bible says as disciples of Jesus we are called to be "holy" or "set apart".  And God doesn't just call us to be holy, He has given the gift of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us.  Paul is so serious about this man's rebellion, he tells them not to even eat a meal with him.  

When we read this, we might think Paul is being really judgmental.  After all we all struggle with the sinful nature, including lust.  I think the difference here is that this man is given over to a sexually immoral lifestyle, with no desire or evidence of being willing to repent.  And, the church is turning a "blind eye" to his behavior.  Paul realizes that with the church in a place like Corinth, which is known for its sexual immorality, it is vital that this church be distinct from the world around them.  I think the bottom line for us in the church today is that our world is not much different than the world of the Corinthians.  Sexual immorality is rampant in our society and every form of it is just accepable in our world today.  In fact anyone who espouses traditional values regarding sex and marriage is considered as living in the dark ages and narrow minded.  But we know God's plan for sex is good and meant to be enjoyed in the proper context of love and commitment between a man and a woman.  One only needs to think of the untold damage sexual immorality has caused in families and the lives of young people over the past couple of decades.  Paul's teaching is very relevant to the church today, and also how leaders handle sexual immorality in our churces.  One thing is for certain is that sexual immorality is complex and needs to be handled with BOTH grace and truth like Jesus did with the woman caught in adultery. John 8:1-11

Generally speaking how do you see the church responding to sexual immorality in its many forms in the church today?  Do you think the issues in our world today are any different than in Paul's day?  Where are you tempted in your own life with lust and sexual immorality? Do those you associate with contribute to your behavior? (Remember none of us is immune to sexual temptation.  Just look at all the pastors and other Christian leaders who have fallen and the damage it has done to the church) If you know someone who is living a life of sexual immorality and turned away from God do you have the kind of relationship where you could speak the truth in love with them?