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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Are We Becoming The Corinthian Church?

I read 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 and I've been pondering something all day long. Are we, the body of Christ, becoming like the Corinthian Church.

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named[a] among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.[b]
Ok, so let me explain what I mean. In this specific situation in the church there was a case of incest. Incest was strictly prohibited both by Roman and Old Testament law. It's speculated that it was with the man's step mother since the text specifically says his father's wife, not his mother. Paul's letter was written to believer's of the Corinthian church, so it is assumed that this man is a believer. Paul is reprimanding the church for not disciplining the believer. The church had gotten too tolerant of sin in the church was the main point.

Have we, the church, gotten too tolerant of sin? In a world slam full of teachings of tolerance, are we letting that belief infiltrate the church too much? Are we trying to appeal to a worldy school of thought in order to keep from stepping on toes? Maybe it's time to reevaluate our ways of disciplining and be sure we aren't letting a little sour bit spoil the whole lump.

1 comment:

  1. I cannot recall when a church in our part of the world engaged in what we call church discipline. I do recall when we refused an unwed young lady's request to have a baby shower at church, we were accused of being pharisaical. We were attacked and challenged over the whole event. I was heart-broken by that. People did not care that she got pregnant on purpose and had not repented of her sin. They were only interested in celebrating with her.Things continue in the same way today.

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