1 Corinthians 5:3-5 (NASBStr)
For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Perhaps the most mis-understood "practice" of Church polity (Church government) is that of discipline in the church. It might be the sole lost principle of the church. We are good with our doctrine on salvation; we might struggle over our doctrine of sanctification; we might fight over our doctrine of election. But, we don't even mention, much less discuss church discipline. In the above passage we have a section of Paul's confrontation with a situation in the church of Corinth. In the fist verse of this chapter we read that a man in the church, a believer, was having sexual relationships with his step-mother. And, the church not only knew about it, but did nothing at all to address it. They simply were silent. Perhaps they thought if they just didn't talk about it the issue would go away. Apparently Paul had already wrote one letter to them about it (see verse nine) and they ignored his admonishment. We often like to think that sin in our midst will go away. Yet, Paul reminds them that the sin didn't go away and he EXPECTS them to deal with it. We often ignore sin in our midst with the statement/question, "Who are we to judge? We have all sinned and are sinners, right?" Yet, Paul, in the above statement tells them he HAS already judged this man, even in his absence. Notice what Paul will latter say on the same subject about judging others. He states he is not supposed to judge those outside the church (God will do that) but he IS supposed to make judgement on those inside the church:
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (NASBStr)
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
If we wish to keep the church pure we will have to begin, by faith, to practice what God tells us here and in other passages of the New Testament. Today's minister is so anxious to build Sunday attendance they have failed to keep the body pure. We have a fluid church and membership in today's church. Those who sit in the seats tend to rush from church to church for the next exciting thing. Yet, church discipline calls for stationary believers. Believers who are committed to a body and committed to keeping it clean and pure. You can learn about a church if you ask them about church discipline. Those committed to keeping the body pure preach it and practice it. Those who are interested in the experience of the church ignore it, like the church at Corinth.
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