We Live in a Broken World - 1 Corinthians 5-6

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 (ESV Strong's)
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

We Live in a Broken World

Paul is writing this letter to the church in Corinth.  Corinth was a metropolitan city.  It was mixed with a variety of cultures.   Although its history was that of vice and immorality, the first century city would have been like most other cities in Ancient Greece at that time.   Like most cities in that Greek world, sexual morality had a foothold.  Apparently this sexual culture had infiltrated the church.  In this letter Paul is addressing that subject.   The specific example in this chapter is that a young man had taken his father’s wife.   Apparently the “step-son” had thought that was acceptable.  The crisis for Paul is that the church did, as well.   Paul is setting out to correct their casual approach to this “type” of sin in their midst.  To Paul it WAS sin.  To Paul, sin was sin.   In this chapter he is admonishing them to come to a better understanding of sin in the world and, specifically, in the church.   In the above passage, Paul draws a distinction between how the church responds to sexual sins within the church as compared to those without the church.   Note the difference.   He has just admonished them to have NO COMPANY with this young man who was in the church vs those who live in sexual immorality in the world.   This is a remarkable passage.  For those in the church, today, it has amazing implications.   We are to keep the church pure.  There is no doubt in Paul’s instruction.   But, our relationship with those without the church, we are to interact and reach for Christ.  We live in a broken world with broken people.  Our relationship with those broken people, no matter their sexual orientation, is to be one of compassion and interaction and support.   However, the church is NOT made up of such acts.   The church is to be pure for Christ.  It might be tough to practice, but it is truth to follow.