What are we doing?

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 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. 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. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”  (1 Co 5:9–13, ESV)

I have often found this passage intriguing. Paul is making an interesting transition here and I believe one that we should consider today. Anyone that knows me knows that I often say “we are not to be the morality police” when it comes to dealing with the world. Dealing with injustice is not the same thing. Many times, as this discussion comes up, I get challenged about how bad the world is and how we are to “clean it up”. However, this is not our calling. Previously, Paul was discussing the immorality within the fellowship that was being overlooked, even tolerated (sound familiar) and Paul was instructing the church on how they were to deal with such a person. What we see in the church today is that we will fight with non-believers and bypass those within the fellowship.

Now here is where things get interesting. When we see this passage, and we consider how Jesus was perceived by the religious leadership, things take a left turn. Many church leaders and congregants who have tried to follow Paul’s instructions here get called out as being “liberal” or to use today’s vernacular, “woke”. Paul is reminding the church that God is the one responsible for judging non believers. Again, injustice should be called out but immorality is outside our scope when outside the church. We are to sternly deal with sin within the body. That dealing has a purpose, that the person may come to their senses, repent, receive forgiveness and be restored to fellowship. The operative word is “may”. Out of selfishness and pride some will not and they are the ones in view here. But, to teach this is to go against what tradition says.

Ok so now what? Are we to just ignore what is going on around us? Are we to just not care?

Remember, injustice and immorality may cross paths but are distinctly different. First, Paul is dealing with immorality among those who claim to be believers. The second time the gospels record Jesus using the term “church”, it is regards to discipline within the fellowship. (See Matthew 18:15-20). Paul’s writing here falls inline with this thought. The purpose of church discipline is to provoke restoration via confession and repentance. Believers are called to live holy, God-honoring lives. Second, Paul points to those outside the fellowship. This tends to be our focus but, in an incorrect manner.

Let’s build a foundation for where I am headed. Believers are not part of this world. Peter calls believers “exiles and sojourners, or pilgrims” and from here I draw a simple conclusion. This thought is based on how the church operated in Acts and some parallels from the Israel exile. As we read through Acts, believers were different that everyone else around them. They were very communal “having all things in common” and this would spread out to the community around them. People were drawn to the church, sometimes just curious, other times genuinely desiring this different life. Jeremiah writes:

 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 29:4–9, ESV)

What can we glean from this passage? One, live life. Second, marry and have children. Third, and to me the key to all of this, “seek the welfare”. This meant that these exiles were to be a blessing in a foreign land to the peoples of that foreign land, the very ones who put them in exile. Be distinct but be a blessing. How does this translate to us today? Live life! Life in Christ starts at the point of placing our faith and trust in Him and lasts forever. Our time here and now is that life, so live it. Then, be a blessing to the world around us. Seek their welfare. If you have a job, be the best at it. If you are in the market or park or, dare I say, driving on the road, be a blessing to those around us. Make a difference. Show the love and compassion of Jesus. We are reminded many times in the New Testament to do good to those who are bad to us.

Finally, understand that God is the one who will judge the non-believer. That task is not given to us. Be moral as a believer. Seek justice as the same and as human. Footnote here, we cannot be a blessing when we are bashing those not like us, both literally and figuratively. Go, live and be a difference to those around us so that when provoked we can “give a defense for the hope”. People will be drawn to seek Christ when we show his love and compassion to those around us.

One thing that Jeremiah writes is to watch out for those who might “deceive”. For all that is going on around us both within and outside the church, we need to be watchful. As my mother always reminded me “don’t just take their word for it, verify it yourself”. Sound words. Let’s get back to the idea that God is the one that will bring judgement to the world, just as in the days of Noah. Our job is to do good and point people to Jesus.