1 Corinthians 5 NIV
So much for the commonly accepted notion that we are not to judge one another.
Today we find Paul exhorting the Christians in Corinth to expel the immoral from among them. He is not saying that they are to be judging the world; those who do not know Christ. He is saying that we are to confront those whose are sexually immoral; and the greedy and swindlers; the idolaters; slanderers; and drunkards and yet claim to be a brother or sister in Christ. We are to remind them, as Paul has, that this is unacceptable for one who claims to be a Christian. Paul tells us that we are to expel that person from among us.
No, the Christian should definitely not be judging the world's morality; not when our own house is such a mess. Sadly, the morality of the world crept into the church from the very beginning and is still there. It appears totally acceptable to live with various lovers and have children by various fathers none of whom were actually married to the woman. It is acceptable to prefer false idols; whether they are money, substances that make you drunk or high, or any of the multitudes of things we seek for self-pleasure over worshipping and serving the one true God. It's just the way it is. But, that is not the way it is suppose to be - not for the one who claims to follow Jesus. It is the beginning of a new year. It is not too late to resolve to change how we live and represent Jesus.
When I worked at the Juvenile Correction Facility I could tell which gangs which youth belonged to; which gang they "represented," just by observing them a little. It didn't take much. The tattoos, the clothes they wore; even how they tied their shoes were dead give-a-ways as to who they were "representing." But, even more telling than what they wore were the actions that betrayed who they were loyal to. Who are we loyal to? Can the world tell or do we look and sound and act just like any other non-believer to them? To young readers and the old who insist on misrepresenting Christ; instead of gang signs try making the sign of the cross.
May God help us all to remember that it is Jesus whom we are to "represent."
God's Peace - Pr. J
So much for the commonly accepted notion that we are not to judge one another.
Today we find Paul exhorting the Christians in Corinth to expel the immoral from among them. He is not saying that they are to be judging the world; those who do not know Christ. He is saying that we are to confront those whose are sexually immoral; and the greedy and swindlers; the idolaters; slanderers; and drunkards and yet claim to be a brother or sister in Christ. We are to remind them, as Paul has, that this is unacceptable for one who claims to be a Christian. Paul tells us that we are to expel that person from among us.
No, the Christian should definitely not be judging the world's morality; not when our own house is such a mess. Sadly, the morality of the world crept into the church from the very beginning and is still there. It appears totally acceptable to live with various lovers and have children by various fathers none of whom were actually married to the woman. It is acceptable to prefer false idols; whether they are money, substances that make you drunk or high, or any of the multitudes of things we seek for self-pleasure over worshipping and serving the one true God. It's just the way it is. But, that is not the way it is suppose to be - not for the one who claims to follow Jesus. It is the beginning of a new year. It is not too late to resolve to change how we live and represent Jesus.
When I worked at the Juvenile Correction Facility I could tell which gangs which youth belonged to; which gang they "represented," just by observing them a little. It didn't take much. The tattoos, the clothes they wore; even how they tied their shoes were dead give-a-ways as to who they were "representing." But, even more telling than what they wore were the actions that betrayed who they were loyal to. Who are we loyal to? Can the world tell or do we look and sound and act just like any other non-believer to them? To young readers and the old who insist on misrepresenting Christ; instead of gang signs try making the sign of the cross.
May God help us all to remember that it is Jesus whom we are to "represent."
God's Peace - Pr. J
