1Corinthians 5:1-5, 2. Corinthians 2:5-11
Ever since churches began, there have been churches that have been rocked by scandal and there probably is no greater hurt that a Christian can experience than when a church leader or a segment of the congregation experiences a moral failing so great that the church in many cases ends up closing its doors. Several years ago, I left my position in a church that was deeply divided by the sins of one man in leadership. For those of us who left that situation, there are scars. It’s a different kind of pain.
In situations like that, it’s important that we never lose sight of the fact that the church is Jesus. It’s not a building, it’s not a denomination, if for sure isn’t any pastor. Any church that fails to recognize Jesus and His Gospel as its foundation is destined to fail. If you look at the Book Revelation, Jesus writes letters of warning to seven different churches. He clearly calls each of them to correct course or fall out of existence. If you take the time to look, not a one of those churches is still around today. If Jesus isn’t the cornerstone, the church cannot stand.
In chapter 5 of 1 Corinthians Paul is writing forcefully to a church that is having a tough time getting its act together. Corinth is a pagan city, home to a temple built to the goddess Aphrodite. It’s a temple that houses thousands of prostitutes. Within the city of Corinth Paul planted a church with a small but solid core of believers but a majority of the congregation seems to spend as much time in the world as in the Word. In this chapter, Paul rebukes the church for their tolerance of a blatant sexual sin taking place among them. A young man is having relations with his stepmother and the church seems to be congratulating itself for tolerating it. They mistake tolerance for grace – something many, many churches are doing today, but Paul sets them straight.
First, he calls for a meeting of the whole church. He tells them he will be present with them in Spirit but that they need to understand that God has already passed judgment. This man needs to be removed from the church and handed over to Satan “…so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.”
Scripture tells us that when we live surrendered to sin, God will give us over to that sin not to condemn us, but so that in time, prayerfully, we’ll come to see that sin only brings misery and that as miserable as we may get, that’s how joyful Jesus will be if we ask for His grace to lead us back to Him. Paul isn’t about putting this man in exile; he just wants him to live alone in his sin and recall how much better things were in the light of Jesus’ righteousness.
If we skip ahead to Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 2, he shares with us how the church was directed to love the man and encourage him. Comfort and forgive him. Paul has. Jesus has. And with that, despite the ugliness of the sin, the forgiven man is welcomed back into fellowship. This is a perfect depiction of a church being led by Jesus.
I’m going to close with this beautiful, encouraging insight from Paul. This is also from his second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 1, verses 4-5.
He – Jesus – comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
Amen!