Jump Start # 3315

1 Corinthians 5:13 “But those who are outside God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”

I’ve been looking at 1 Corinthians 5. It is layered with many lessons. There is a moral argument that even the Gentiles understood that some things were out of bounds. It seems every person has a point that once that line is crossed, it is wrong. Even the pagans, the Gentiles, knew that one does not have sexual relations with the wife of your father. That’s wrong and just about everyone knew that. The Corinthians rather than having meetings to form a plan as to what action ought to be taken, they had boasted and even became arrogant about this. Was it because who this person was? Were they afraid to cross him? Was he one of their favorites and no matter what he did, he could never do wrong?

As the chapter ends, Paul refers to this man as “so called brother” (11), ”immoral” (10), and “wicked” (13). Paul is shaken by such bad news. He hits this hard. The man was to be removed, cleaned out and they were not to associate with him. Tough talk for troublesome times.

And, all of this leads to some thoughts about discipline.

First, no one likes to have to practice discipline. Whether we talk about what happens in the home, the church or in society, discipline involves someone who has done something wrong. Looking the other way is always the easiest thing to do. Just kicking the can down the road and hoping that things will get better is not God’s way of things.

The steps leading to discipline involve having those tough conversations. The guilty often denies. The guilty may lie. The guilty points fingers at others. The talk dad must have with one of his teenagers. The talk that must take place between the shepherds and a wayward sheep. Before those conversations ever take place one needs to think out what needs to be said. One needs to pray hard about all the hearts involved. One needs to enter the conversation calm. Shouting and screaming only shuts down the conversation.

The words of our verse are not directed towards the sinful man. They are directed towards the Corinthian church that had become sinful because they were not doing anything.

Second, the goal of discipline is to change behavior. Discipline is a teaching moment. Accountability has taken place. The guilty can promise to stop with the hopes that nothing further will be done. But has he learned anything? Has he learned why the behavior was wrong? Has he learned that there cannot be another time with this sin?

One disciplines not to cush the guilty, but rather to save the guilty. Many see discipline as “unloving.” The unloving thing to do would be nothing. Let the person remain in sin. Let the person continue the course of wrong. That shows no concern for their soul.

So, discipline without instruction often only makes the guilty person more mad and steadfast in their ways. Within this chapter Paul reminds the church of the unleavened sacrifice of Christ. That’s the goal. That’s where they need to be. To get there, something must be done with the leaven of sin among them.

Third, through the disciplinary process prayers for open hearts are essential. The major issue in Corinth was not about the relationship between the church and this sinful brother, but it was about Christ. How are we to walk in Jesus Christ? Being a disciple means that we have learned to be holy as He is holy. When discipline becomes a issue of “Us” and “Them,” things will not go well. The lines will be drawn. People will leave. But when the focus is placed upon what Christ would have us to do, it’s a matter between the guilty and God.

Fourth, one needs to reinforce love, even though discipline is taking place. This is very important in the home. It is easy for a child to conclude that mom and dad do not like me because they disciplined me. Reaffirming your love is important. Your feelings for the person has not changed. You do not tolerate wrong behavior, but you always will love the person.

It’s hard for one who has been disciplined by the church to believe that they are welcomed back. They may interpret what happened as a form of getting kicked out. Keeping the welcoming mat out and the light on the front porch allows prodigals to come back home. I wonder how many would love to come back but they are afraid of what people will whisper or think about them. The more bridges that can be built the more likely the guilty will cross one of them someday.

Remove the wicked man—tough words. Hard to stick with those words and do them. However, they are necessary if a church wants to continue walking with the Lord.

Roger

Jump Start # 2443

1 Corinthians 5:13 “But those who are outside God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”

Our verse today is a tough one. You won’t find this one cross-stitched on a pillow. You won’t see this as a stencil on a wall. It’s serious words about a serious problem. An immoral Christian was polluting the church. His disregard for the commands of God was insulting to all righteous people. He was living sexually with his father’s wife, which either meant his own mom or his step-mom. Either way, it was wrong. This woman belonged to his father and not him. So outlandish was this, that even the Gentiles knew this was inappropriate. And, to make matters worse, nothing was being done. Nothing.

An entire chapter is dedicated to this problem. The words are plain throughout this chapter:

• Removed from your midst (2)
• Deliver such a one to Satan (5)
• Clean out the old leaven (7)
• Remove the wicked man from among yourselves (13)

Do you think Paul made his point? Is the picture clear? This guy was not in fellowship with God, so why was the church fellowshipping him? Why were they acting like nothing was wrong? Were they afraid of him? Did his daddy start the church? Was he a big giver? Was there a threat of a lawsuit? Might the church split? Whatever the reason, the church accepted him like everyone else. Paul was livid. He was through with this. Remove him. Those words first come to us from Deuteronomy where ungodly people in Israel were cast out of the nation.

And, all of this leads us to this powerful point. God gave shepherds the responsibility to guard the flock. They need to protect us from immoral influences, false teaching, divisive attitudes and slanderous tongues. If a person is causing trouble, they need to be told to stop. If they won’t, they need to be shown the door.

It’s that last statement that causes most of us to raise our eyebrows. You mean a church can prohibit some of it’s own members from attending? Yes. You mean a church has the right to say to one of their own members, you have to leave? Yes. You mean I can’t say anything I feel like? That’s right. You can’t. If it hurts others, tears apart the unity, undermines the leadership, sows discord, then if one won’t stop and repent, it’s time to hit the road.

I don’t know how many stories I have heard, just this year, of brethren causing remarkable trouble in congregations and acting as if they are untouchable. It’s time for God’s leaders to once again start “guarding the flock” as Paul said in Acts to the Ephesian elders. Guard it. Protect it. Don’t allow trouble in. Don’t allow trouble to stay.

A lot of church problems would be eliminated if we removed troublemakers who do not want to follow the N.T. pattern. Maybe some congregations would have been spared a split had troublesome mouths been shown the door. The work of trouble much too often takes place behind the scenes. It’s emails and texts that are sent to certain people. It’s finding those of kindred spirits who are not content to follow Christ, and a rebel who has an agenda to change things. He spreads his poison, one by one. Word gets around and nothing is said. More and more are fed lies, distortions and half truths. Words are taken out of context. Passages abused. Brethren are stirred up. Confusion fills the air. Everyone knows about it, but nothing is done. This continues until the leaders resign, the preacher quits and the rebels take over. It’s nothing more than a mutiny and who is cast into the little row boat? It is Jesus. His way is cast overboard as radicals introduce new ways to worship and new ways to do things, none of which come from the Bible. Tragically, the church splinters. The faithful few try to hold on, but the rebels have the majority and the power. All the good that was done has been lost. Young people see the fighting and are so discouraged that they want nothing to do with Christianity.

And, to think, it didn’t have to happen that way. Had folks stuck with the Bible and “removed the wicked man from among them,” much of this would have died down. Truth would have prevailed. The Scriptures would have been followed.

We understand this at home. You come home and the kids have a movie on and there is a lot of bad language. Do you just ignore it and let them watch it? Never. You turn to something else, or you turn it off. You come home and there is a friend of one of your kids smoking, in your house, in front of your kids. Would you find him an ashtray and let him continue? Never. You’d tell him to put it out and you’d likely put him out. Suppose at Thanksgiving, an uncle wants to give one of your kids a taste of beer. You allow that? Never. You take the beer way, scold the uncle and if necessary, don’t invite him again. We do these things to protect our children.

Why is it that we don’t protect the church? Why is it we allow any goofball thing to be said, or any divisive attitude to exist and we walk away and ignore it?

I’ve been in all kinds of church buildings…big ones, little ones, old ones, and new ones. Some in the city and some way out in the country. One thing every church building has, a door. Maybe it’s time we started using it and showing those who are not interested in following Christ the way out. Protect our church. Keep them safe. If one won’t abide by the N.T., even though he be one of us, it’s time to show him the door.

Remove the wicked man from among you! Stop pretending he’s one of us, when his true colors show that he is not.

Roger