Christians are to judge in the church!

I figure this post will create quit a stir but let me say don't argue with me, it is God's Word you will be arguing with! I read this the other day and wow as usual God spoke to me about some things and I want to share them with you. Now clear your mind of all preconceived ideas and just let the Word speak. Are you ready? Ok here we go:



Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”



Wow! pretty harsh huh? Let point out several thins here:



1. Sexual immorality was taking place here. In the case pointed out it was a type of incest. Man having sex with a step-mom. Other sexual immorality that would be included in this would be homosexuality, and adultery.



2. Paul was telling them not to celebrate this sinner but to remove them from the church! Huh? Well what if the man says he loved his step-mom as we here today as an excuse to continue in sin??? No remove them from the church.



3. V.5 is important. Remove the man from the church, let Satan have him. What? The reason for this is so the man will come to senses and repent! So his Spirit may be saved!



4. V.6-8 tell us to get him out so his sin, which apparently they were boasting about, would not sub off on others and defile a big part of the church. God wanted them in sincerity and truth not evil and sin!



5. V. 9-10 tell us Paul is talking to the church not the world! Judge inside church not the lost world.



6. V. 11 expands the sins wider than just sexual immorality....greed, idolatry, reviler, drunkard, and swindler. Ouch that covers much there! Not only are they to be removed from the church but God says not to even eat with them! This again is to help them see the error of their ways. Tough love huh?



7. Then in verses 12-13 God says He is judge of lost world we are to judge those in the church. The lost world does not know better, the church knows what sin is and should live obedient lives!



Now let me say this, God's Word has more to say on this issue so do some studying for example:



Galatians 6:1

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.We must love our brothers and sisters in Christ and help them when they stray but at some point is sin removal from the church may be needed and the church must judge other brothers and sisters!



Chew on that today....I have been for several days!



Tom