FLAGRANT SIN IS NOT TO BE TOLERATED IN THE CHURCH

"The bad example of a man in rank and reputation is very mischievous, spreads the contagion far and wide."

"...one scabbed sheep infects a whole flock. A little leaven will quickly spread the ferment through a great lump. Note, Concern for their purity and preservation should engage Christian churches to remove gross and scandalous sinners."

"Pride or self-esteem often lies at the bottom of our immoderate esteem of others, and this makes us as blind to their faults as to our own. It is true humility that will bring a man to a sight and acknowledgement of his errors. The proud man either wholly overlooks or artfully disguises his faults, or endeavours to transform his blemishes into beauties. Those of the Corinthians that were admirers of the incestuous person's gifts could overlook or extenuate his horrid practices."

- all of the above quotes are from Matthew Henry

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 and 6 says - "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you...Your glorying is not good..."

Let's take a closer look at this situation which Paul was addressing.

First of all, the Corinthian Church was filled with pride and vain conceit over their wisdom. They triumphed in their superior knowledge - glorying in their outward, flourishing condition - having riches, wealth, gifts, and great teachers.

What aggravated their situation was that they had a public offense going on right in their very midst. It was a situation that was known by everyone...in everybody's mouth...heard by all companies...and universally talked about. There was a member of their church who was involved in an incestuous relationship - a man married to his father's wife - being his stepmother. The truth of the matter was that this kind of immorality would have been regarded throughout the entire Roman empire with utmost abhorrence. Paul described it in this way - "not so much named among the Gentiles."

The Pulpit Commentary made a statement that says it all - "Spiritual pride and gross sin are often found together." Oh! How true that was for this self-inflating church that prided itself on gifts and the wealth of its members. They were "puffed up" - boasting of their spiritual gifts and intellectual distinction.

These Corinthians were lax in that they tolerated such an offense against morality. They allowed such an offender to remain unreproved in their midst - as though nothing was happening. They left this offense unrebuked because they were too busy boasting of their spiritual "knowledge." They should have been mourning or distressing themselves over this situation. Here was a man who was guilty of so foul a crime, yet they still applauded him and cried him up to be a wonderful preacher. They gloried on account of this scandalous person.

Believe it or not! The Bible Commentators agree that this man was one of great eloquence and very highly esteemed and followed. He was a leader or a principle man in the community and, resultantly, in this church. He was an orator (teacher) with a long purse and of a great social influence. The Pulpit Commentary confirms this by saying - "Possibly the prominence or wealth of the offender may have led to a more easy condonation of his crime."

"And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned... Your glorying is not good..."

Look how others reacted in the Bible when sin was in their midst.

Numbers 25:7-8 says that Phinehas "rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand: And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly." This happened after an Israelite brought a Midianitish woman into the camp - while the judgment of God was falling as a result of Israel "committing whoredom with the daughters of Moab" (Numbers 25:1).

Ezra 9:2-6 records Ezra's reaction after the "holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished." Unlike the church at Corinth, Ezra and "a very great congregation of men and women and children" "prayed... confessed, weeping and casting himself down...for the people wept very sore...made a covenant with our God to put away all the wives...Ezra...did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away" (Ezra 10:1-6).

In Psalm 119:136, the Psalmist is recorded as weeping "rivers of waters" because of those who "kept not Thy law."

This is how the Prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 13:17 reacted to the people's sin and terrible consequences thereof - "my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive."

Again, in Ezra 9:4 and 5, the right reaction to sin is recorded - "Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice...And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens."

"And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned... Your glorying is not good..."

As the present-day Church, we must ask ourselves - how are we reacting to sin in the camp - especially when it is found among the prominent leaders, teachers, noted tithers, etc.?

The Corinthians did not mourn on account of this scandalous man being in their midst. Instead, they applauded him and prided themselves in him. He was a great orator...had a long purse... and was a person of great social influence.

Are we guilty of the same offense before a Holy God?

Where is the mourning for all of the Preachers who are being found in fornication - adultery, pornography, or even homosexuality, etc.? Oftentimes, they are either allowed to continue preaching in their pulpits, or else they receive a little "slap on the wrist," take a three month sabbatical, and then are back up and running in the ministry - as if nothing ever happened.

No mourning! No sorrow for sin!

Just a picture of people "puffed up" over their so-called gifts, preaching and teaching skills, or ability to draw and hold a crowd.

SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!

God did not call His church to glory in her riches and wealth... gifts...or great wisdom and knowledge - while all along ignoring the sin in her midst.

Flagrant sin is not to be tolerated in the church - no matter who is the guilty party.

Origen once said - "The early church mourned those who fell into licentious or other grievous sins as dead, and if they repented, received then as risen from the dead."

Bengel said - "We ought to mourn over the transgressions of others, and repent of our own (2Co_12:21)."

Matthew Henry added - "The sins of others should be our sorrow. Nay, churches should mourn for the scandalous behaviour of particular members, and, if they be incorrigible, should remove them. He that had done this wicked deed should have been taken away from among them."

We close with one final quote from the Pulpit Commentary - "The Christian Church is not a club, whose members are at liberty to receive and reject whomsoever they choose. It is a society of which Christ is the Head and Lord, and is bound to receive those who possess his Spirit, and to reject those who openly and unmistakably grieve and outrage that Spirit."

"And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned... Your glorying is not good..."

Is that the case with your church?

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

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