Bring the Heat
Righteous anger is not a sin. We see Jesus in Matthew 21:12 walk in the Temple and flip out, turning over tables and running out the money changers and the salesmen who had turned the church into a flea market or community swap meet. I am always intrigued by this account, that a single man (Jesus) would be able to run out so many vendors...was it his stature and size that was intimidating, was it the rumors about him and his healing powers and the respect people had for him? Just interesting that there was no account of pushback. Think about it, if someone came into your market and tried to drive everyone out, what would happen?
Anyway, back to 1 Cor 5, our chapter today. Paul loses his mind in righteous anger like Jesus, and for a good reason. Paul is addressing a horrific act that the church is accepting and proud of this behavior. There is a leader in the church who is sleeping with his father’s wife, incest. Paul brings the heat, passes judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus, and calls for his removal and ex-communication from the church.
“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. And you are proud!” - 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 NIV
As I read through many commentaries on this chapter today, the common thread is how we can often take Jesus' words out of context in Matthew 7:1-5. After all, “judge not, lest you be judged!”
“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.” - 1 Corinthians 5:3 NIV
“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. Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.” - 1 Corinthians 5:5-7 NIV
This commentary spelled it out well:
i. Paul is not being disobedient in the slightest way. Jesus’ command in Matthew 7:1-5 forbids hypocriticaljudgment, and judging others by a standard that we ourselves do not want to be judged by. Paul is perfectly willing to apply the same standards to himself that he is applying to the Corinthian Christians.
ii. Some judgment is permitted, and some is not. “While Christians are not to judge one another’s motives or ministries, we are certainly expected to be honest about each other’s conduct.” (Wiersbe)
Tolerance sounds like a good idea when we hear this on the surface from “movements” or the media. However, we falsely connect loving others, and loving God with tolerance. We can love others deeply and not tolerate horrific behavior and acts. Often true love and genuine compassion are bringing clarity and discipline at the moment. But here is a critical part of this judgment and condemnation.
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” - 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 NIV
Paul closes this chapter making sure we understand the difference of judgment and accountability. As Christ-followers, we have no authority or business judging or holding non-believers to a Christ standard. Only God will judge those outside! Our responsibility is bringing accountability to those inside the church and those with a relationship with Christ. Tolerating sin and bad behavior from other Christ-followers is not love its weakness. This does not give us a blanket authority to be authoritarians and judges with anything we see. Paul had an essential relationship with this church and authority over this church, and we should remember that.
Loving God and loving others isn’t tolerance. Sometimes the best way to love others is speaking the truth and bringing the heat in the name of Jesus.