The Reporter   
 Volume 47 # 42,  --  October 19, 2007

 

Dealing With The Disorderly

 – First Corinthians Five –

 

   First Corinthians chapter five states implicitly that if you as a Christian, are living a wicked, depraved, or degenerate lifestyle then you are living in the wrong kingdom. You are in the devil's kingdom if you are living that kind of life. The church at Corinth faced the very grievous problem of a man living sexually with his father's wife! 

 

   Sadly every Christian in Corinth knew about this wickedness that had infected the church. This matter had become common knowledge. This was an evil so great that even none Christians would avoid it. It had become a great scandal against the church of our Lord. God had given a principle in Deuteronomy 27:20 that this man was violating. He had said, "Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen."

 

   Instead of dealing with the situation the brethren at Corinth were filled with pride.  They ought to have been troubled over it; they should have been mourning, but instead, what were they doing? They were indulging their own pride. They had become vainly self-confident by their own "spiritual purity." Paul wanted to know why they had not mourned enough to take care of  the problem  before now.  In the church, acts of discipline should always take place with a spirit of mourning that there has to be any discipline at all, not with a spirit of pride, anger, or revenge. There should be deep grief on our part that there is the occasion for it, and, of course, only a spirit of tender compassion for the one that has offended God.

 

   The need for church discipline – I Corinthians 5:1-2: There was a terrible sin that was destroying the church at Corinth. Paul said, "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." Paul said this sin was so evil that even the heathens would not allow it to happen or participate in it. The nature of the sin was horrible. A brother in Christ was living in sexual immorality with his own mother or his stepmother.

 

   The man and the woman involved in the sin were to be blamed for their evil. Likewise the entire church was to be blamed for the complacency with which they had looked upon such a horrible sin. The sin of a brother committing fornication with his father wife was shocking to Paul. He was even more shocked by the attitude of the church toward this matter. He said, "Ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you." (I Corinthians 5:2) Due to their own pride and spiritual indifference the church at Corinth had not removed this brother from its fellowship.

 

   The command to practice discipline – I Corinthians 5:3-5: Paul told the church that they should call a special meeting and deal with this matter. "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." (I Corinthians 5:3-5)

 

   Observe these truths about what should take place: First, notice that God had given the local congregation authority to practice discipline. It was to be done "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." They had the authority of Christ Himself to withdraw from this offending brother.

 

   Second, the offending brother was to be delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh. This had happened to Ananias and Sapphira. They died in Jerusalem for the sin of lying to God. (Acts 5) At best "The sinful man was delivered to Satan, to suffer physical affliction, to bring him to repentance and turn out for the good of his soul."

 

   The reason for church discipline – I Corinthians 5:6-8: The first purpose of church discipline is the salvation of the offending brother. God still wants this brother saved. Another reason for discipline is to keep the sin from spreading in the church. Paul said, "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 15:6-8)

 

   The idea was that the spiritual cancer must be cut out in order to keep it from spreading. They must do that in order to continue in Christ, the Christian's passover. They were to purge out the sin just as the Jews were to purge out the leaven from their houses before that Passover. They were to literally engage in the service of God by putting away evil from the church.

 

   The extent of church discipline – I Corinthians 5:9-13: The church had authority to practice discipline only among its members. Paul is not talking about the church dealing with fornicators of the world. He said, "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." (I Corinthians 5:9-13)

 

   The church must practice discipline among its members. It has an obligation to withdraw its fellowship from those that cannot be reached with more moderate approaches. It is imperative that the conduct of the church be such that “the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed.” (I Timothy 6:1) Yet, the we have not done well in the practice of consistent church discipline. Is it any wonder that the church is weaker today than it has been in decades? Withdrawing fellowship from a sinful brother is not an act of revenge against those that have fallen from the faith. It is an act of love designed to restore the fallen brother and it is also an act designed to protect the church from his sinful practice.

 

   Will you appreciate Jesus enough that you will receive Him as your Lord and Savior NOW? To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (I Peter 3:21). After your bap­tism use your life to be an honor to God and to help build up the church.

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List: In Need Of Prayers: Jerry Barr (surgery), Mae Beverly, Johnny Mack Colvin,  Roy Goodwin, Montine Hardin, Jean Harrell, Evan Hartsell, L.J. Herring (father of Willie Herring following by-pass surgery), Wanda Kyser, Jo Ann Moorer, Mitch Moulder, Mary Powell, Denver Reynolds, John Reynolds, Gregory Schroeder, Ottey Simno, Ralph Sims, Steve Smith, Brenda Stallings, David Stallings, Vickie Starkie, Harold Thompson, Earl & Jane Walden, Leroy Waller, Ann Walz, and Mary Williams. Crowne Health Care: Mary Alexander, Gladys Childs, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, Ann Walz, and Iva Lou Wright. Homewood Greenville: Marie Walton. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey, Mary Lou Phelps and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, Jean Hayes, and Doris Taylor.

 

2. Please Pray For: The following people are serving in Iraq: Sam Sanders, Michael Howell, Taylor Bodie, Lynn Kervin, Richard Shows, and Todd Till. Pray for them often!

 

3. All Age Devo: There will be a devotional for all young people following the evening services on Sunday, October 21st. Please bring a bag of chips, a drink and a bag of candy for a service project. All young people are encouraged to participate.

 

4. Birthdays: October 21st Melissa Bagents and Shirley Boutwell, October 26th Stuart Taylor, and October 27th Kyle Arnold.

 

5. Trunk Of Treats: Stacey and Patricia Harrell are hosting a “Trunk of Treats” for our children at their house on Tuesday, October 30th beginning at 7:00 p.m. Costumes will be judged. Families that are helping should get set up around 6:30 p.m.

 

6. Fall Party: Our fall parties have been a great success. This year the party will be November 10th at 5:00 p.m. at the home of Stacey and Patricia Harrell. Please plan to attend.

 

7. Thank You: Dear Church Family, Thank you for your cards and prayers during our time of sorrow. We are very blessed to have you all in our lives. Thank you so very much. God Bless, Bill & Ann Walz and Family

 

8. Ladies Bible Class: The Wednesday morning ladies Bible class meets at 10:00 a.m. each week. All ladies are encouraged to participate.

 

9. Pray For Our Work In Guyana: The Walnut Street Church of Christ has had a major part in establishing four congregations in Guyana, South America. The Plaisance Church of Christ just celebrated its 17th anniversary. The other congregations are the Industry Church of Christ, Wowetta Church of Christ, and the Bini Hill Church of Christ. Please continue to pray for these brethren and support the works there. God bless all of you for what you have done to help with these good works.

 

10. Carl Sessions Camp Fund: Thank you for your very generous donations to the “Carl Sessions Camp Fund.” You are touching many young lives. God bless.

 

11. The Reporter: “The Reporter” can be seen on our web-site or you can receive it by e-mail. Send e-mail request to: wschurchofchrist@camelliacom.com. If you receive the Reporter by mail and would be willing to receive the e-mail version we would be grateful as postage is so expensive.  The website  address is: http:\\www.walnutstreetchurchofchrist.org.

 

12.  Radio Programs: Remember to hear our programs and tell others to listen. Sunday: 95.9 at 8:00 a.m., 94.3 at 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday: at 12:30 on 94.3.

 

13. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a) October 21st – Dalraida Church of Christ – Theme “The Quran & New Testament Christianity” – Speaker Dave Miller – Time Bible Study 9:00 and Worship 10:00 a.m. and Worship 6:00 p.m. (b) November 4-6 – Gospel Meeting – Wald Church of Christ – Speaker Donnie Hilliard – Time Sunday Bible Study 10:00, morning Worship 11:00 and evening Worship 2:00 and weeknights 7:30. (c) November 4-7 – Gospel Meeting – Century Church of Christ, Century, Florida – Speaker Jerry Davidson – Time Sunday 6:00 p.m. and week nights 7:00.

 

Two Roads

 

   He came to a fork in the road. On one hand there was the road that led up a hill where three crosses stood. On two of the crosses, criminals were to be crucified, but the third cross was reserved for the very Son of God. He knew that it was his betrayal that placed Jesus into the hands of the angry mob. He gazed long and hard down that road, but his remorse and shame caused him to notice the road on his other hand.  It was a lonely road, which no one seemed to have traveled that day. Judas chose the lonely road, and as he walked, weeping bitterly, it came to him. He saw the tree, and he knew what he would do. He draped the rope over a large limb, tied it around his neck, and hanged himself. 

 

   Meanwhile, up the other road, our suffering Savior bled. He was bound to the cross only by His love for us as the multitude continued deriding Him. Then, He opened His mouth and said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Oh, if only Judas had walked up that road instead! Perhaps he could have fought through the guilt and shame. Maybe, in addition to 1st and 2nd Peter, our New Testament would contain 1st and 2nd Judas as well. 

 

   The truth is, Judas was no more wrong than Peter, any one of the hateful men and women who consented to Jesus’ death, or you, or me. We’ve all sinned and we’ve all gone astray (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6). But, God is willing to save all of us.

 

   God has done His part. Our responsibility is to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. (II Thessalonians 1:8) Paul said that saving message is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (I Corinthians 15:1-4). Then, in Romans 6:3-4, Paul explains how every person can OBEY that gospel message. “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” You too are guilty…which road will you choose.

-         - - - Darrell Powell

-          

The closer you stay to the Shepherd, the further you are from the wolves.

 

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)