Good Morning Friends,
There is a difference between church growth and church health…community growth and community health. And the distinction comes to roost in the church and community when we make allowances for sin and the gossip about it that often exasperates the problem when it is weaponized with hate. Today’s text focuses on the sins related to sex, but the reality is that we were created as creatures with a sexuality and science tells us that there are more varieties than we might at first think. This is messy territory, but the issue is not related to only one type of sin. It is more complex. We are instructed not to weed out people but to wait for the harvest in one scripture and here today we are told to clean out the yeast. So, on this day as the Day of Atonement…the Jewish new year approaches we ask, How Do We Deal With Sin So As To Complete What Is Lacking For Us To Produce Good Fruit?
Scripture: It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you? For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:1-8 (NRSV)
On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 6:6-11 (NRSV)
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NRSV)
Message: There are ethical implication of the Christian faith related to the support its very existence. The first being that the religion probably could not have survived without the integrity of character that did not tolerate the pagan modes of life. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul severely admonishes the church for its failure to discipline an erring brother. Paul is determined that those who call themselves by the name of Christ mean something distinctive by it. For him it is clearer than ever that the problem should not be suppressed. The thing is that sometimes the individual is guilty, but repentant. Sometime the person is innocent and sometimes the person is guilty and not repentant. Correction and discipline are certainly not topics anyone delights in discussing much less having to carry them out. More often than not the issue is poorly understood and poorly addressed. The problem in Corinth was however a bit clearer cut. Paul had undoubtedly known of the incest of the Pharaohs and the results. So, there is a very practical concern. People thought that they could be immoral, and it would not influence their soul and their relationships with others. History and good logic knew better. So as Christians we must be ready and willing to practice discipline when necessary, but we do not have to go on witch hunts. You see Church discipline is practiced every day in the Lord’s Church without most of us knowing that it is happening and that is the way Christ meant for it to take place. The goal however must be focused on restoration whenever possible and that is not easy to stomach given the typical arrogance of abusers of what some consider a privilege and so to violent responses. The goal though is for people to realize that the body and the spirit cannot be separated. That is why Paul in his letter to the Corinthians condemns open immorality especially when church leaders are bragging about it. The problem is not properly expressed sexuality. The evil of sexual sins, in fact any sin is their negative effect on others. Therefor we are to reject the dualistic partitioning of humans into body and soul. What the Corinthians needed to realize is that one is what one does. The body and the spirit are inseparable and moreover the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Leaders who abuse this are not fit to lead. So too the blatant rejection of God’s guidelines is always suspect. What is often lacking in these situations is not the truth and sincerity but often the love to produce good fruit.
And So, spiritual progress is not likely if there is no discipline. Yet love and the power of vicarious suffering that goes with its deepest expression are needed to do their work before extreme measures are taken when someone strays. Deep love and sound doctrine must not be separated. Generally speaking, there was no obvious relationship between religious beliefs and practice and conduct during the course of daily activities for the Corinthians. Religion was divorced from ethics and by most accounts Corinth did not stand very high where moral reputations was considered. It was a port City that played the part to satisfy sailors perceived needs. Paul’s indignation at their immorality was heightened because he saw it as risking their very existence. The point is that when we sin, we hurt ourselves, we hurt others, and we break the heart of God. The problem is that we do not truly believe that our heavenly Father knows best. We have our doubts and struggle to trust God completely. Doubt can be insidious, but it also can be the sign of intelligence. So, pompous legalism misses the mark as well. Friends, we are slaves to our desires whether it be lust or pride, but we have a choice to make. Paul recommends we run from sin. But from a practical sense in today’s world it is hard to know in what direction when the tension of expressions is ready to snap emotions. The problem for Paul was a recognition that when moral lapses bring the whole church into disrepute, something needs to be done. Paul argues that a purging is called for. Now some may think that this is going too far. For we do not know that temptations the people in question have resisted. We do not know about the penitence of the sinner and the restoration to the fold. Discipline is needed and when persuasions fail, and people are moved perilously near to becoming lost souls perhaps. But what happens is that they typically excommunicate themselves instead of being restored into a right relationship with God. When religion loses this relationship, it fails to produce good fruit. Paul knew that and that is maybe why he claims it is all a noisy gong unless an expression of love. How we deal with sin and discipline may well show if we have bottled up love. We need to examine our hearts for signs of pride or self-interest. We need to realize that instead of loving people we see as sinners, we often use them, and prove we love ourselves most of all. Friends, love compels us to persevere through conflict and to take the harder course. This means confronting sin but with love of the person in mind. We need to share not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves in this regard.
Pray we atone for our sins of thinking we have all the answers. Pray we do not treat people like parts of a machine to serve our desires. Pray we acknowledge the truth but also not allow our pride to push aside love. Pray we repent of using people for personal gain. Pray we forgive. Pray we pray hard for our leaders. Pray we realize that every Christian is susceptible to sin. Pray we are accountable for each other. Pray we realize that sometimes love must be tough. Pray we avoid sin without ruining relationships. Pray we realize that Christ’s plan for discipline is for restoration but not necessarily restoration to positions of power. Pray we break down barriers that separate people’s poor behavior from accountability. Pray we realize that there are natural consequences to arrogant immorality in the church…in the community…in the country. Pray we do not forsake Christ’s plan.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 