Men often fail to follow God’s will. They live a life based on the wants, desires, and dictates of manmade standards of popularity, morality, and godliness. Scriptures can be read and quoted to them regarding their sin, but they seem not to care or pay attention. Many congregations suffer from a handful of Christians who seem to defiantly continue in sin regardless of any admonition from brothers and sisters or the pulpit. Rather than engage discipline upon the Christians the Church chooses to put the responsibility for the sin upon itself rather than the sinner. They reason that if they love them even more (code for do nothing about the sin, but increase their outward affection for the individual) the sinner will eventually stop their corrupt behaviors.
I Corinthians 5:1-2 – “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.”
The question often arising from the reader when examining the above passage: “Why is the Church puffed up (arrogant) about sin?” Consider the attitude: “love them even more”. The nature of the sin represented such vileness that even those of the world understood its shamefulness. Yet, the Church evidently felt that by putting up with the sin (loving the sinner) that they showed what good Christians they were. “Look at us! We are inclusive and open to all. We won’t condemn you. Even the world may condemn you, but as for sinners, we love them even more. We won’t judge you.” This sounds so nice to those ignorant of God’s will. Many churches today ignore the sins of adulterous marriage. They boast of their inclusion of homosexuality and female leadership. Going to their services may seem at times like going to a ball game or pool party for all the skin that presents itself from immodest attire.
1 Corinthians 5:6-7 – “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.”
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 – “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that they should not be arrogant over their worldly idea of “love them even more”. Using the example of leaven in dough which eventually affects the entire lump, he calls for them to get the leaven out. In other words, get the sin out of the Church because it will cause all to sin. Paul did not accept the whole concept of “love them even more” by doing nothing. Rather to love them even more he calls upon the Church to disfellowship the sinner. What if the Churches after admonishing and teaching Christians to be modest, pure, and walk according to godliness (Ephesians 1:1-21) disciplined them for their lack of repentance? Some might cry out that this would be a lack of love. Yet, Proverbs 13:24 states, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes”. Additionally, Hebrews 12:6 declares, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth”. If a congregation wants to show a sinner they love them even more, then they will discipline them so they might turn from their sin.
Worldly concerns such as a diminished attendance, angry relatives, or hurt feelings should not enter the equation when following the commands of God. God’s family comes before the family of the world (Luke 14:26). Churches need to get themselves in order. Purify the body by removing the sin. In regard to the sinner, love them even more by loving and obeying the Word of God (John 14:15). If Churches do not cast the sin out now, by their own actions they will be condemned (Matthew 7:22-27, Titus 1:15-16). Love means doing the right thing and sometimes that can be a painful process. Yet, it is by discipline that Christians will endure to be with their Heavenly Father. Do not neglect! 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong”. Discipline the sinful and thereby love them even more.