email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

July 27, 2018

1 Corinthians 5:3-5

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. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 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.

New International Version (NIV)

                 What right do we have to judge? Everyone we know sins. Isn’t it just compassionate to ignore sins? We don’t want to make people feel badly about their mistakes. If this sounds familiar to you, you clearly live in 21st century America.

                From time to time, like every day, it is good to go back and listen to a voice from the 1st century church. Paul wrote to a city which saw immorality as a way of life. Corinthian was an adjective for “immoral” in the ancient world. What happened in Corinth stayed in Corinth. Then Paul brought the light of the gospel to bear for all Christians of the future to see.

                A man in the church was sleeping with his father’s wife, presumably his stepmother. The Corinthians said, “Who are we to judge?” Paul answered, “The church.” He argues in chapter 5 that the church should never judge immoral non-Christians but should always judge immoral Christians. Is it just me, or have we flipped this? We are often quick to condemn non-Christians who misbehave. But we remain strangely silent when a follower of Jesus wanders from the way.

                Paul proposed church discipline. If a Christian continues in sin and acts like it is not wrong, Paul says, “Put them out of the church not to punish them but to redeem them.” His theory was: if people feel the weight of being separated from the church, they may change their minds and their behavior. I know this sounds positively reprehensible to our modern ears. Remember the purpose is redemptive. This is not an individual putting another down, but the church asking followers of Jesus to live out his teachings.

                Asked another way, “What right do we as Christians have to ignore the clear teachings of scripture about sin?” None at all. How else will Christians turn from their sin? Paul says the church’s right response to sin is to mourn and to call each other to account. It worked in the first century. It will work in ours. Do we love others enough to live this way?

Pray with me:

Father, thank you for not leaving us in our sin. Forgive us for following the cultural path in defining and responding to sin. Help us never to judge non-Christians. Help us always to hold each other accountable. Give us grace to put your word into practice with kindness and truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane

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