The Bible never avoids a controversy, and the Apostle Paul especially goes for the jugular. I wonder if the scarcity of papyrus and ink, or the complexities of sending a letter drove him to get right to the point? I have a feeling he wouldn’t waste time over email, either.

Paul delved into a variety of issues in the Corinthian church, and one of the most serious involved a man sleeping with this father’s wife—his stepmother. He actually married his stepmother, an offense that even the sexually licentious city of Corinth found disgusting.

Paul pushed the church to deal with the situation firmly, to hand the man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit might be saved on the day of the Lord.

I find it fascinating that while Paul dealt with this creepy relationship, he rebuked the church and its leaders for another reason—pride. In this case, what were they proud of? Their open-mindedness? Their willingness to accept anyone regardless of relational status? Were they proud that they loved this man no matter what?

Paul gave pointed instructions about interacting with those outside the church who are sexually immoral, or greedy, or cheats, or worshipers of other gods. As followers of Jesus, as church members, we engage with them. We cannot avoid it. Paul made it clear that God will judge those folks, not him.

However, when a person joins the church and takes on the mantle of Christ-follower, then that brother or sister has chosen a more severe path. Church members are to help each other walk a higher way, which sometimes means hard conversations and disciplinary actions.

Harsh to my modern, sensitive ears perhaps, but all done under the leading of Scripture and with love prompted by the Holy Spirit. When done well, the world cocks its ear, and the message of the gospel spreads.

I Corinthians 5 in week thirty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Glen Carrie