Mourning over sin
1 Corinthians 5:1–5 (NIV) — 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
The Corinthian church was willing to judge its teachers, but equally willing to tolerate even the most outrageous sins among its members. A believer is sleeping with his step-mother. Apparently the church was proud of their toleration! Paul says rather than responding with pride they should have responded with mourning and taken action. Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?
When should we mourn over sin? When should we tolerate sin? What sins are churches willing to tolerate today? Are some churches proud of their toleration? (Note: apparently “tolerate” is even too harsh a word for some churches. They “accept”, “welcome” and “affirm” alternative lifestyles.)
What about other sins? What about gossip or back-biting? What about division and partisanship? Should those be treated with mourning as well?
Paul says I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus. Paul doesn’t pass judgment in his own name, but in the name of Jesus. Not only that, but Paul adds the title “Lord” least the readers forget the authority that Jesus has.
Do we have the authority to judge in the name of the Lord Jesus, and what gives us that authority? How do we know if we are judging in the name of the Lord Jesus, or just using his name in vain when we judge?
5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. That sounds scary. What does it mean? Does it mean that the church has the power to remove God’s protection from him? Note the last line in that, what is the purpose of doing so? What does this tell us about what should be the purpose of all church discipline?