But We Aren't to Judge, or Are We

I Corinthians 5:1-9

Church discipline has become a real issue at the present time. On one hand is a group who says the Bible says we are not to judge, but to give a second chance. and quote supporting scripture. Qthers are very quick to put people out of the church, and present scripture to support their position.

There are 2 primary passages relating to church discipline, with the passage in I Corinthians 5 being the most commonly quoted. I would like to examine the first part of the chapter, then compare it to the other passage, believing that this will settle many of the problems.


"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (I Corinthians 5:1-9)

Fornication, or sexual sin was being openly practiced by an individual in the church. This was not just an affair, but an affair that even the idolatrous Gentiles around them, whose religion expected women, whether married or not, to periodically serve as prostitutes in their temple as part of their religious duty, considered absolutely taboo. To the Jews around them, it was almost the ultimate in wickedness, and deserving of the death penalty. A man was committing adultery with his own stepmother.

The church was proud of their tolerance, that they were able to overlook his sin. Paul rebukes them for their pride. It is a result, as we see in chapters 3 & 4, of their unspiritual condition. While we are not to be judges of one another, as we have seen earlier in the book, we are expected to follow Gods judgement. When God's word specifically condemns something, it is not us doing the judging, but the word of God. John 12:48 explains this. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." To ignore such judgement is to treat God's judgement as meaningless, to imply that God doesn't matter.

Based on what he knows, Paul says that they must, to please God, come together as a church, and put the man out. They should have been saddened by the neccessity, but the action is essential to prevent the spread of sin in the church, and the loss of their testimony before the world.

Jesus gave a step by step process for dealing with such problems in Matthew 18:15-17. "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican."

The goal is not to get the person out of the church, but to get him to bring his life into a pattern fitting with the churches belief in Christ. Galatians 6:1Instructs us, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." To not follow these steps in trying to restore one who is in sin is just as unspiritual as ignoring the problem. Only after the person has been made aware of their sin, and of the entire churches rejection of it is he to be put out of the church.

A person who has grown up in a culture where certain things are accepted may not reckognize them as a serious problem or sin. this the reason for Pauls statement about the Cretians in Titus 1:12-13. Their culture has approved such behaviour, and they must be taught that it is unacceptable. It is not a racial slur, but a recognition of a problem in their culture. They can learn not to behave in that manner. To simply ignore it perpetuates the practice.

Notice that in I Corinthians, the guilty party is aware of their sin, and that it is unacceptable. not only the church, but also the both Jews and gentiles have condemned it. The man has chosen to deliberately do what he knows is wrong. The intent of the process has been achieved to this point. Sadly, at this point, the church is forced to take the final step. Failure to do so is to rebel against God. Paul gives a list of problems in which church discipline is required later in the chapter.

A person who has progressed this far, and is still unrepentant is to be treated as an unsaved person because their actions indicate that they may be unsaved, and thus qualified as a member of the church. The fact that they can continue as members if they correct the sin, implies that the sin does not cause them to lose their salvation, but that rather they never had it. As James tells us. faith that doesn't produce works is dead, powerless to save. Their faith is just like that of the devils, believing God's power, yet never obeying.

In both passages, it is stressed that the church as a whole is to take action. The pastor is not authorized to do so alone. Many churches have adopted a system whereby the pastor and a group of Deacons or other s designated by the church are authorized to put an individual out. This ignores the purpose of the process, of restoring such a one, or preventing the spread of sin. Paul instructed Timothy, 'Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." (I Timothy 5:20) While it may appear a better choice, it does not meet God's instructions, and is a rejection of God's authority. It is God's church, and should be run according to his direction.