1 Corinthians 5:6 –
Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?
Wow, this chapter is very difficult to read and understand fully. It is basically saying don’t judge those outside your group of believers, but do within. My question is who has that authority and who should have it? I have great problems with this on both ends of the spectrum. Paul is correct in judging others to make sure your faith does not get compromised. If someone is sinning their justifications can erode everyone’s obedience to God.
Think about this on a personal level when you start to justify sinning, it starts to snowball. In college it was drinking that started the ball rolling downhill. I figured it was ok since the disciples drank and I could confess getting drunk. Well drinking lead to a relaxed attitude about drugs, since pot was “natural” I tried that. The “relaxed” moral standards eventually led to encounters with the opposite sex. All because I relaxed my “moral standards” and took a drink.
The second problem I have with this chapter is who should be in authority to judge? And once that is determined by whose standard? And when does forgiveness enter the equation? I mean think about it, I still drink alcohol, so some churches would ostracize me while others would say its ok. God’s standard is don’t become a drunkard, but does that mean getting drunk on occasion is ok? Or is getting “loose” ok, and past that is wrong?
See where my struggle is here? One the one hand we should not relax God’s standards to the point of eroding the church. On the other who actually sets those standards? I understand that drinking is ok in moderation, but one drink to an alcoholic is dangerous. So do you set the standard for the majority, or ensure the weak do not stumble? And when do we forgive and allow that person to return? I think it’s more dangerous not to allow redemption in the church that to allow sin to fester. My reasoning is that IS the message of Jesus, so if we ignore that, how can our message be taken serious by those who are “looking in?” Paul is correct in ensuring the standard is set; just make sure the standard is with God.