The Immoral Liberal Church - Study 7/14/11
The Immoral Liberal Church
Here is this BBC Headline news of June 20, 2011. “The Church of England is expected to confirm that openly gay clergy can be made bishops, if they are celibate.” There are plenty of other churches around the world that are home for the so called “homosexual Christians” (an oxymoron). The website, gaychurchdotcom boast about the following entry: “Gay Church is a web site dedicated to ministering to the gay and lesbian Christian community (GLBT) and friends of our community. We feature one of the largest gay and lesbian affirming Christian church directories and bulletin boards in the world. Find a church home near you! Contains the largest gay affirming Christian Church directory in the world with over 6,680 entries! Find a welcoming church near you!” Please note that this is not a promotion or endorsement on my part. However, we are too quick to highlight the GLBTs but what about the straight adulterers and fornicators in our churches? What about the person consumed by pornography in the Church?
Do you think this is all new? Think again and let’s read our Bibles and visit the Corinthian Church. Apostle Paul apparently had written a letter to the Corinthian church addressing the issue of sexual immorality and now he writes again. 9 “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people”. 1 Cor.5:9.We do not have possession of that first Letter and so what we now have as 1 Corinthians would have been the 2nd Letter. Paul has moved on to the second problem (first was divisions and strife) that plagued the new Corinthian Church. As we come to study and address each problem, let’s keep in mind that Paul has not stopped seeing the Corinthian Church as “Saints” called by God (1 Corinthians 1:2). Our relationship with Christ determines our position and who we are as “new creations”. We must still deal with the old sinful nature but not make the sinful nature a lifestyle. How do we deal with sexual sin in the body of Christ? Should we tolerate the lifestyle of adultery and fornication or any other sexual sin in the body of Christ?
The city of Corinth during Paul’s writing had a background and culture that was steeped in the sexual liberality such as we have today. Anything and everything was okay especially since they had over 1000 temple prostitutes that served the people as part of their worship of their god. The new Corinthian Church has received the gospel and are struggling and trying to live a new life in Christ. The Holy Spirit through Paul is firm on this issue of sexual immorality and likens it to leaven that leavens the whole dough. May God help us as we study and live up to God’s expectation through the power of the Holy Spirit. Is there a place for the sexual immoral in our Church of today? Yes, not for continuing the sinful lifestyle but only for restoration to a relationship with Christ. The immoral liberal church is not a Church of God but a congregation of sinners who need to be delivered from the life of sin and saved by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 5
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named[a] among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.[b]
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.[c] 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”[d]
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Let’s begin by defining what Paul is addressing here- sexual immorality. It is a loaded word but the Greek word used here is “porneia” - “illicit sexual intercourse a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Leviticus 18 c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mark. 10:11,12.” From the Greek word we have the English word pornography so it is more than what is listed above. Listen to Jesus, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Please read Leviticus 18. Illicit means it is not authorized or ordained by God. There is only one sexual act that is ordained by God and that is between a husband and a wife.
2. The word translated “actually reported” “reported commonly” implies more than what has been reported to Paul (see 1Cor. 11). Many believe the “common” signifies that it is well known and observed in the community that this man is living with his father’s wife. Paul goes on to say that even those who have not trusted in Christ or the heathen are not engaging in such lifestyle. Definitely this lifestyle of a so called “brother in Christ” is bringing shame to the name of Christ in Corinth. I believe that this is the real issue here. When the Corinthians or we live in a way that diminishes the grace of God to the point that it is no more effective, we are living in sin and living dangerously. We must deal with such lifestyles and repent.
3. The other real problem with the Corinthian Church was not just the immoral brother but the rest of the Church tolerating and boasting about how liberal they are. “And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you” vs.2. See also vs.6. Apostle Paul could not believe his ears. He is saying, “Is this the same Church the Lord helped me start?” He was ticked by the Corinthian Church’s boasting and he would be ticked today by the “Church of England” ordaining homosexuals and making them bishops.
4. What is the solution? Kick the brother out Paul says of course after repeated warnings (implied). “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord”. Is Paul being too harsh? I do not think so especially when you see why he is saying so. Paul is most interested in saving the soul of the man before he goes to hell. The fleshly behavior needs to be destroyed and not the man’s spirit. The flesh is the natural craving for selfish satisfaction which is the root of all sexual immorality. Stay tuned, Paul will say more when he addresses husbands and wives in their relating to one another sexually. He will also give advice for singles to get married if necessary.
5. The goal of any Church discipline is restoration. This is consistent with all of Paul’s teaching. We must be gentle to restore not to tolerate. “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” Galatians 6:1. We are all subject to temptations including sexual temptations. We must deal with any sin that results from it and return back to God. There is no room for camping in any lifestyle that dishonors God including lifestyle of telling “small lies”. May God help us all.
6. This is the Biblical standard and not mine. “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person” vs.11. Are you serious Apostle Paul you may ask? Of course he qualifies it. “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” vs.9. The distinction here is those in the “world” and those who call themselves “brothers and sisters in the Church”. There are two things Paul is saying to the Corinthians. If the person is a brother who stumbled into sexual sin, then restore him but if he is parading as a brother and sister then do not associate with them.
7. We must engage the people in the “world” that Paul refers to because we were those people at some point and someone presented us with the freeing word of the gospel. Many are still shackled in sin and the only solution whether in the church or world is salvation through Jesus Christ. Have you been freed from sin? Are you parading as a brother or sister in the Church and you know you are not? We are warned, our sins will find us out if we are not living right for God.
8. Paul offers practical steps in the next chapter 6. “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18. We must run like Joseph who ran away from Portipha’s wife’s seduction. Please do not hesitate to ask for help if you are caught up in any immoral sexual lifestyle as a believer in Christ. Let us help to restore one another to right relationship with God.
God is always offering us the olive branch of confession, repentance and forgiveness and returning to Him. He is doing that right now. Are you secretly shacking up with a brother or sister in the Church or someone from outside? Please stop and repent and turn to God. Do you know someone in the Church who is practicing and living an immoral sexual lifestyle? Please do him/her a favor and point him or her to Christ for confession and repentance from such acts. If they refuse, take another person in the Church and approach the so called brother or sister. If he or she refuses, then run from the person because, Paul says, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” vs.6. If you do not keep away from this person he or she may soon recruit you into his/her sinful lifestyle.
Lord, help me to live a life of sexual purity by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, help me to honor you with my whole body, mind and soul and eyes. Lord, forgive me for any known and unknown sexual sins of the past. Help me Lord to be bold enough to approach a brother or sister for restoration in order to save their soul from hell. Lord, help me not to run away from the people in the world that are still practicing sin but to approach them with the gospel of Christ for deliverance and salvation. Amen.
Here is this BBC Headline news of June 20, 2011. “The Church of England is expected to confirm that openly gay clergy can be made bishops, if they are celibate.” There are plenty of other churches around the world that are home for the so called “homosexual Christians” (an oxymoron). The website, gaychurchdotcom boast about the following entry: “Gay Church is a web site dedicated to ministering to the gay and lesbian Christian community (GLBT) and friends of our community. We feature one of the largest gay and lesbian affirming Christian church directories and bulletin boards in the world. Find a church home near you! Contains the largest gay affirming Christian Church directory in the world with over 6,680 entries! Find a welcoming church near you!” Please note that this is not a promotion or endorsement on my part. However, we are too quick to highlight the GLBTs but what about the straight adulterers and fornicators in our churches? What about the person consumed by pornography in the Church?
Do you think this is all new? Think again and let’s read our Bibles and visit the Corinthian Church. Apostle Paul apparently had written a letter to the Corinthian church addressing the issue of sexual immorality and now he writes again. 9 “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people”. 1 Cor.5:9.We do not have possession of that first Letter and so what we now have as 1 Corinthians would have been the 2nd Letter. Paul has moved on to the second problem (first was divisions and strife) that plagued the new Corinthian Church. As we come to study and address each problem, let’s keep in mind that Paul has not stopped seeing the Corinthian Church as “Saints” called by God (1 Corinthians 1:2). Our relationship with Christ determines our position and who we are as “new creations”. We must still deal with the old sinful nature but not make the sinful nature a lifestyle. How do we deal with sexual sin in the body of Christ? Should we tolerate the lifestyle of adultery and fornication or any other sexual sin in the body of Christ?
The city of Corinth during Paul’s writing had a background and culture that was steeped in the sexual liberality such as we have today. Anything and everything was okay especially since they had over 1000 temple prostitutes that served the people as part of their worship of their god. The new Corinthian Church has received the gospel and are struggling and trying to live a new life in Christ. The Holy Spirit through Paul is firm on this issue of sexual immorality and likens it to leaven that leavens the whole dough. May God help us as we study and live up to God’s expectation through the power of the Holy Spirit. Is there a place for the sexual immoral in our Church of today? Yes, not for continuing the sinful lifestyle but only for restoration to a relationship with Christ. The immoral liberal church is not a Church of God but a congregation of sinners who need to be delivered from the life of sin and saved by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 5
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named[a] among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.[b]
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.[c] 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”[d]
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Let’s begin by defining what Paul is addressing here- sexual immorality. It is a loaded word but the Greek word used here is “porneia” - “illicit sexual intercourse a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Leviticus 18 c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mark. 10:11,12.” From the Greek word we have the English word pornography so it is more than what is listed above. Listen to Jesus, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Please read Leviticus 18. Illicit means it is not authorized or ordained by God. There is only one sexual act that is ordained by God and that is between a husband and a wife.
2. The word translated “actually reported” “reported commonly” implies more than what has been reported to Paul (see 1Cor. 11). Many believe the “common” signifies that it is well known and observed in the community that this man is living with his father’s wife. Paul goes on to say that even those who have not trusted in Christ or the heathen are not engaging in such lifestyle. Definitely this lifestyle of a so called “brother in Christ” is bringing shame to the name of Christ in Corinth. I believe that this is the real issue here. When the Corinthians or we live in a way that diminishes the grace of God to the point that it is no more effective, we are living in sin and living dangerously. We must deal with such lifestyles and repent.
3. The other real problem with the Corinthian Church was not just the immoral brother but the rest of the Church tolerating and boasting about how liberal they are. “And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you” vs.2. See also vs.6. Apostle Paul could not believe his ears. He is saying, “Is this the same Church the Lord helped me start?” He was ticked by the Corinthian Church’s boasting and he would be ticked today by the “Church of England” ordaining homosexuals and making them bishops.
4. What is the solution? Kick the brother out Paul says of course after repeated warnings (implied). “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord”. Is Paul being too harsh? I do not think so especially when you see why he is saying so. Paul is most interested in saving the soul of the man before he goes to hell. The fleshly behavior needs to be destroyed and not the man’s spirit. The flesh is the natural craving for selfish satisfaction which is the root of all sexual immorality. Stay tuned, Paul will say more when he addresses husbands and wives in their relating to one another sexually. He will also give advice for singles to get married if necessary.
5. The goal of any Church discipline is restoration. This is consistent with all of Paul’s teaching. We must be gentle to restore not to tolerate. “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” Galatians 6:1. We are all subject to temptations including sexual temptations. We must deal with any sin that results from it and return back to God. There is no room for camping in any lifestyle that dishonors God including lifestyle of telling “small lies”. May God help us all.
6. This is the Biblical standard and not mine. “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person” vs.11. Are you serious Apostle Paul you may ask? Of course he qualifies it. “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” vs.9. The distinction here is those in the “world” and those who call themselves “brothers and sisters in the Church”. There are two things Paul is saying to the Corinthians. If the person is a brother who stumbled into sexual sin, then restore him but if he is parading as a brother and sister then do not associate with them.
7. We must engage the people in the “world” that Paul refers to because we were those people at some point and someone presented us with the freeing word of the gospel. Many are still shackled in sin and the only solution whether in the church or world is salvation through Jesus Christ. Have you been freed from sin? Are you parading as a brother or sister in the Church and you know you are not? We are warned, our sins will find us out if we are not living right for God.
8. Paul offers practical steps in the next chapter 6. “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18. We must run like Joseph who ran away from Portipha’s wife’s seduction. Please do not hesitate to ask for help if you are caught up in any immoral sexual lifestyle as a believer in Christ. Let us help to restore one another to right relationship with God.
God is always offering us the olive branch of confession, repentance and forgiveness and returning to Him. He is doing that right now. Are you secretly shacking up with a brother or sister in the Church or someone from outside? Please stop and repent and turn to God. Do you know someone in the Church who is practicing and living an immoral sexual lifestyle? Please do him/her a favor and point him or her to Christ for confession and repentance from such acts. If they refuse, take another person in the Church and approach the so called brother or sister. If he or she refuses, then run from the person because, Paul says, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” vs.6. If you do not keep away from this person he or she may soon recruit you into his/her sinful lifestyle.
Lord, help me to live a life of sexual purity by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, help me to honor you with my whole body, mind and soul and eyes. Lord, forgive me for any known and unknown sexual sins of the past. Help me Lord to be bold enough to approach a brother or sister for restoration in order to save their soul from hell. Lord, help me not to run away from the people in the world that are still practicing sin but to approach them with the gospel of Christ for deliverance and salvation. Amen.
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