June 6, 1 Corinthians 5
It’s known by different names: “withdrawing fellowship,” “shunning” or “church discipline.” But have you ever seen it practiced? Even where it is practiced, it is often not done in the right way for the right reasons.
Ancient Corinth was notorious for immorality. Lewdness was commonplace. So when Paul pointed to immorality in the church that the pagan neighbors would not tolerate, it was really perverse—a man was living with his father’s wife. Paul shamed the Christians for being arrogant instead of broken-hearted about it, and told them to remove the immoral man from their fellowship. Had they misunderstood their liberty in Christ? Or were they so wrapped up in division and judging that they ignored the flagrant immorality? For whatever reason, they had not addressed the situation, and Paul insisted that they do so.
The instructions are steeped in allusions to the Law of Moses and Israel’s history. The phrase “purge the evil from your midst” is like a chorus in Deuteronomy, calling Israel to shun (or even execute) false prophets, idolaters, rebels against authority, incorrigible adult children and the sexually immoral. The ostracism from family and society spurred offenders to repentance and restoration. Paul also borrowed imagery from Exodus, calling Christ our Passover lamb, and commanding the redeemed to purge the old leaven of malice and evil to live as the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Evil influence would spread throughout the church unless it was identified and removed. God calls his people to live holy, redeemed lives as a testimony to outsiders. Flagrant sin in the church compromises that testimony.
It is sober business when a church member has to be disciplined by the body, but it is sometimes necessary. Discipline must never be abused as a tool for settling personal grievances, or for a leader to impose some private conviction on others. It is not done by individuals, but by the collective body. It is not excommunication. The goal is not to banish the sinner for life, but to restore him to his place among God’s people.
Paul was not calling Christians to monastic withdrawal. He had already written about not associating with certain people in a letter we don’t have (a hint that Paul was even more prolific than we know). But here he made it clear: the church is not to tolerate immoral conduct among its members.
Perhaps the abuse of the practice has contributed to its decline among churches that claim to follow the Bible, but resist this instruction. Lawsuits against churches who tried to discipline their members have probably discouraged the practice as well. But the guilty brother needs to be restored, the spread of his influence within the church must be stopped and the church’s testimony to the world must be strong. For all the right reasons, churches committed to following the Lord will learn to discipline their members by the right authority (in the name of the Lord Jesus) and in the right way.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—June 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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