This is my response to the hypothetical question posed HERE.
Most responses to this question fall somewhere around the lines of “Love the sinner, hate the sin” which is very true, but, there are other factors to consider. These are not non-believers, they are not new Christians, this was not a onetime failing and they are not repentant. They are professing believers, living in open/semi-open sin and, as parents, have influence over children and, as members, influence in church matters.
As Christians we are held to a higher standard. We are supposed to be in the World, not of it. Meaning you can be a biker, emo, a jock, or a nerd but if you’re giving into the sins of those realms then you are misrepresenting what it means to be a Christian.
A Christian is a direct representation of Christ and what He stands for. People are always looking at us in a different light. I compare it to being in the military. I, as a Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Air Force, am a direct representation of the US Military when at home and a representation of the United States as a whole while abroad. Every action I do is monitored by those on the “outside”. Typically there is a great deal of admiration but if I did anything to bring shame, it’s not just on me, it’s on everything I represent. We saw this somewhat while in Portugal. The opinions of Americans had soured for some of the locals because of the actions of a few unruly, rude, or inconsiderate Airmen.
So, how do we handle this couple? My first action would be to suspend their church membership. It’s not necessarily biblical, but neither is membership in the first place. Suspending them from the membership prevents them from voting and teaching (in most churches) and from acting as representatives of that church. From a biblical perspective, Gary hit the nail on the head. Matthew 18:15-20 gives us the play by play for the procedure to confront a person, bring to light their sin, and have them removed from the body if necessary, for their good and the good of the church. In 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Paul goes off on the church because they not only had sexual immorality amongst them, they were proud of it! In the chapter he goes on to explain that allowing sin to fester in the body is like bad yeast, it works its way through the whole loaf of bread and spoils it. He also states that we should, “hand this man over to Satan” meaning expel him from the church, “so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord”. Removing this unrepentant couple from the body would have the effect (hopefully) of convicting them to change their ways.
Now we have a problem. The scenario I gave was pretty cut and dry, one we could all agree on. But what about another sin? What if it was a person guilty of habitual lying? Of excessive drinking? Taking the Lords name? What if it was greed? Lust? Hate? Jealousy? Gossiping? The Bible doesn’t give us a “line” of what’s acceptable and what’s not and we’ve all heard that a sin is the same to God no matter how big or small we see it. When we look at it in that light then we’re left with either a church full of sinners or a totally empty one. I think we have to look at it as we are all sinners in some area but what sins are causing, or has the potential to cause, others to sin as well?
Most responses to this question fall somewhere around the lines of “Love the sinner, hate the sin” which is very true, but, there are other factors to consider. These are not non-believers, they are not new Christians, this was not a onetime failing and they are not repentant. They are professing believers, living in open/semi-open sin and, as parents, have influence over children and, as members, influence in church matters.
As Christians we are held to a higher standard. We are supposed to be in the World, not of it. Meaning you can be a biker, emo, a jock, or a nerd but if you’re giving into the sins of those realms then you are misrepresenting what it means to be a Christian.
A Christian is a direct representation of Christ and what He stands for. People are always looking at us in a different light. I compare it to being in the military. I, as a Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Air Force, am a direct representation of the US Military when at home and a representation of the United States as a whole while abroad. Every action I do is monitored by those on the “outside”. Typically there is a great deal of admiration but if I did anything to bring shame, it’s not just on me, it’s on everything I represent. We saw this somewhat while in Portugal. The opinions of Americans had soured for some of the locals because of the actions of a few unruly, rude, or inconsiderate Airmen.
So, how do we handle this couple? My first action would be to suspend their church membership. It’s not necessarily biblical, but neither is membership in the first place. Suspending them from the membership prevents them from voting and teaching (in most churches) and from acting as representatives of that church. From a biblical perspective, Gary hit the nail on the head. Matthew 18:15-20 gives us the play by play for the procedure to confront a person, bring to light their sin, and have them removed from the body if necessary, for their good and the good of the church. In 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Paul goes off on the church because they not only had sexual immorality amongst them, they were proud of it! In the chapter he goes on to explain that allowing sin to fester in the body is like bad yeast, it works its way through the whole loaf of bread and spoils it. He also states that we should, “hand this man over to Satan” meaning expel him from the church, “so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord”. Removing this unrepentant couple from the body would have the effect (hopefully) of convicting them to change their ways.
Now we have a problem. The scenario I gave was pretty cut and dry, one we could all agree on. But what about another sin? What if it was a person guilty of habitual lying? Of excessive drinking? Taking the Lords name? What if it was greed? Lust? Hate? Jealousy? Gossiping? The Bible doesn’t give us a “line” of what’s acceptable and what’s not and we’ve all heard that a sin is the same to God no matter how big or small we see it. When we look at it in that light then we’re left with either a church full of sinners or a totally empty one. I think we have to look at it as we are all sinners in some area but what sins are causing, or has the potential to cause, others to sin as well?
In fact, our church leadership had to expel a couple of people not too long ago. And we just finished a sermon series that dealt with what it means to be in a covenant relationship with God. The last sermon in the series was centered around 1 Corinthians 5. I noticed that many of the responses spoke of, "I think", or "I believe". Actually, the Bible is very clear about how to deal with unrepentant sinners, so we don't have to form our own opinions.
ReplyDeleteChris, I really enjoyed your comments about this, and you are right on the money.
Regarding your last paragraph, Paul addresses most of these issues in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11.
ReplyDelete9.I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people--
10.not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
11.But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
The Bible is clear about sin. All of us are guilty of it. It's when we rationalize our sin and try to excuse it because we don't want to repent of it that we are subject to correction from the church.
I agree that the 1 cor. is about what you were talking about but the Matthew one has been argued but many many christians and non believers that it says "if someone has sinned against YOU" not if they are sinning against themselves and their children. Just throwing that out there because you are very correct in the fact they shouldn't be in a member anymore the church is also to reach the sinners and EVERYONE continues to sin. I mean honestly thinking one knows all the right answers is a sin because it is being arrogant in oneself. Even eating too much is a sin. I don't pretend to know everything or understand everything that they bible teaches because it is pretty clear that God opens ones heart and mind to different things each time that is why you can read it 400 times and get something new each time. It really is like speaking to Him. one very important thing to remember is all sin is the same in the Lords eyes yet they all have different consequences.
ReplyDeleteokay I realized that might have come off like I didn't agree at all with this guy or you but I actually 100% do it was just pointing out that matthew verse that was all. sorry if it came across wrong : )
ReplyDelete