WHEN TOLERANCE IS A BAD THING

1 Corinthian 5-6

We live in times when tolerance is considered to be a virtue.

Tolerance has its value. But it also has its weakness.

    God never encourages us to tolerate sin.

    God’s concerned when His people tolerate sin, ignoring it as if there’s nothing wrong.

        That's the problem in Corinth.

What were things like at Corinth?

    The church that had everything --EXCEPT LOVE

What happens when a church has everything except love?

The most significant, problem of the church without love:

    Divisions and personality cults 1-4

Then Paul looks at some other problems in the church.

    All are symptoms of the lack of love that characterized the church.

            5      Indifference to sin in their midst

                     Lack of concern for the brother involved

            6      Legal feuds

                     Cheating one another

            7      False attitudes about marriage

                     Self-centered relationships

                     Legalism

         8-10     Fights over rights

They accept a number of attitudes the world still proclaims:

    "To each his own!"         "I have my rights!"

    "Live and let live!"      "You have to look out for #1!"

    "Don't make waves!"

Paul's response in these situations isn’t what the world likes to hear.

To the person who views life from a human perspective –not from God's perspective–they seem a bit "off the wall."

After dealing directly with the main problem, which concerns divisions in the church,

    Paul deals with three cases where the church has failed to exercise its proper role in discipline.

CONCERNING DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH 5:1-6:20

CONCERNING FORNICATION 5:1-13

1^st problem concerns tolerating fornication in the church.

    CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED 5:1-2

Fornication committed 5:1

(apparently his stepmother)

Even pagans don't do that!

                 It was a scandal in the whole neighborhood.            

In the midst of a sex-saturated society, God’s people should stand out as different.

Our society focuses on sex and pleasure:

                     homosexuality, pornography, incest, child abuse, abortion, etc.

                 God's people ought to be different.

We are not called to make the world act like Christians.

                         But WE certainly ought to act like children of a holy God.

                              “Like Father, like son!”

                 This guy was heading the other way!

[Their response: 5:2] They did nothing!

Paul wasn't nearly as concerned about the sin itself as he was about their response to it.

They didn't care enough about the offender to correct him (cp. Heb. 12)

            In fact, they’re proud of it

Pride-probably due to their "open-mindedness."

                     They’re proud of their “tolerance.” 

When there’s sin in our midst we ought to grieve over it!

                         That’s the appropriate response.

Paul says they should be ashamed of their lack of love and concern.

                     Because of their pride they don't see the reality

                     Their pride has blinded them to the truth.

            They should have mourned because of the sad situation

                 Notice this is not a call for vindictiveness.

                     We're not "out to get him."

                 (Wiersbe) "Church discipline is not a group of 'pious policemen' out to catch a criminal. Rather, it is a group of brokenhearted brothers and sisters seeking to restore an erring member of the family."

            They should have taken corrective disciplinary action (cp. Heb. 12)

                 –to bring the disobedient to repentance.

    COMMAND STATED 5:3-5

Because they failed to act, Paul pronounces judgment on the person.

            He urges them to do the same.

        Contrasts himself with them-with their lack of action

            He has already judged 5:3

            He urges them to get together and do something 5:4

            Discipline which should be imposed 5:5

                 Deliver him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.

                     Views:  -Pray that Satan would afflict him

                              -Pray for his death

-Excommunication from church->turning him back to Satan's realm.

The command to deliver him to Satan involves separation from the church, handing him over to the realm of Satan, the world.

The church gathered together provides a shelter, a protection from the attacks of Satan.

The separation should cause him to hurt, to feel the loss so desperately that it brings him to his senses and he wants to come back so badly that he’ll do whatever it takes to get things straightened out.

However, due to the conditions in chapter 1-4, this person might have said, "Who cares?"

“No one cares about anyone else around here anyhow!”

“They’re just a bunch of proud, cliquish, bigots running around doing whatever they feel like doing. Who needs them?"

        In one sense that isn't their problem.

            Paul tells them to act anyway.

        In another sense, they will have to clean up their own act before it will really work.

        Finally, Paul knows that the two solutions go together.

    COMMAND ILLUSTRATED 5:6-8

        Just leave a little bit of leaven and it will soon permeate the whole lump.

            "A rotten apple spoils the whole bunch."

    The leaven is to be purged out-completely removed (Ex. 13:3-7)

                 Passover-Departure from Egypt-Redemption by blood

Feast of Unleavened Bread-separation from dependence on old life->separation and purification.

As in Feast of Unleavened Bread, there should be a complete break from the old way of life.

        We should separate ourselves from any vestige of “leaven.”

The Passover, Christ, has already been offered->Our redemption is paid by blood.

It's time to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread-separate from the old lifestyle.

        3 elements of the contrast (NOT just 2!)

            1) Without the old leaven-the old life of sin–That which the natural man produces

            2) Without the leaven of malice           and      wickedness

                                      ^                                ^

                                  Pure motives                      pure actions (a consistent lifestyle)

                                      ^                                ^

            3) But rather with  sincerity            and           with truth

        This is not to be done maliciously-it's not to judge cruelly or to get back at him.

                                      -that would just be more of the same (lack of love)

        It's to be done with pure motives-in sincerity and truth-out of genuine love and concern for him.

    COMMAND CLARIFIED 5:9-13

Paul clarifies the principle of separation explaining that he means we should stay away from those who profess faith in Christ who continue in fornication–not from unsaved people.

We can't lead the unsaved to Christ unless we speak to them.

Don't keep company with people who continue in fornication 5:9

Only refers to brethren (or nominal Christians) ("a man that is called a brother")

                     -NOT to the unsaved.            

                 It includes a covetous person-the materialist who always wants more

                 It includes the "reviler"-the person who speaks with evil intent

-the gossip, the critic, who tears others down all the time, the slanderer (libel)

            Not unbelievers who do it, but believers (Nominal christians)

If we would do this consistently, those who live this way would either leave, or they would repent.

        We are not to "get mixed up with, to associate intimately with them."

            We are not even to eat, i.e., have fellowship with such people!

The church is to purify and correct itself, but not to "Christianize" unbelievers by forcing biblical standards on them.

Our concern is to clean up our own house-not Satan's!

THREE IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVES IN THIS INSTRUCTION

    FOCUS ON THE SINNER

        He 's a professing believer 1, 11-13

        He's living worse than the pagans around him. 1

        He's getting away with it; no one's stopping him.

He's affecting others by his sin; encouraging them to become contaminated 6

    FOCUS ON THE CHURCH'S RESPONSE TO THE SINNER

They don't care enough to do anything to stop him 2 (cp. Heb. 12)

        They have become proud of their tolerance 2

They have separated themselves from the world who needs the gospel,

            and identified with a "Christian" who laughs at it (at least in practice!)

    FOCUS ON THE PROPER RESPONSE TO THE SINNER

        Lack of discipline = lack of love (cp. Heb 12:6-11)

They are to cut him off from fellowship with the body 2, 5, 7-8, 9, 11, 13

Their purpose should be to restore him, NOT to destroy him 5 = 2 Cor. 2:5-11

            Once he has repented of his sinful conduct he is to be forgiven and restored to fellowship.

How are we reacting when faced with such circumstances?

Do we care enough about people who go astray that we’ll take a risk to correct them?

Authentic discipline is never easy.

    Properly applied it always "hurts us worse than it hurts them!"    It's painful.

But it's the only way to demonstrate true Christian love for one another.

6  "SEX SATURATED SOCIETY" GOES TO CHURCH!     Satan's attempt to call "liberty" that which really enslaves!

    "Sexaholics Anonymous"

The world's philosophy says:

    "If it feels good, do it!"

    "Satisfy your desires. Don't let your "hang-ups" keep you from enjoying life."

CONCERNING MISUSE OF THE BODY 6:12-20

The church at Corinth has been influenced by local attitudes concerning the body

        Some are seeking the freedom to use their bodies as they please–like everybody else.

    Corinth was noted for paganism and for prostitution of every type.

        Some want to live like their neighbors

            The restrictions are old-fashioned. We know better!

            We have liberty in Christ.

    The Christians in Corinth were being caught up by the spirit of the age around them.

        They developed the same attitudes toward the opposite sex and toward the body.

        They were lacking in genuine love for one another.

    And today?

Despite AIDS and other worries, the sexual liberation of society continues.

USA Today: out of 999 college students from 104 campuses,

                 60% said they’re unwilling to give up casual sex in spite of the AIDS threat.

Others just look for a safe way around it.

        The church, too, is riddled with immorality.

A poll among evangelical teens from 8 denominations a number of years ago found that by age 18, 43% had experienced sexual intercourse and 65% engaged in petting.

With the advent of the internet and cable television, pornography is available without even stepping outside our house.

1 in 4 men, 1 in 6 women, and 1 in 5 Christians

                         have indicated they visit pornographic web sites.

One survey indicated that 4 of 10 pastors admitted visiting a pornographic website.

        Paul is going to demonstrate the basic issue: what are we living for?

Are we living to satisfy ourselves, or to glorify God?

            Has the fact that God has bought us out of our slavery to sin made a difference?

    TWO POPULAR CONCEPTS

        1) “I'm free!”-I can do whatever I wish

                 Personal liberty 12  "All things are lawful for me!" (2X)

                N.T. view of freedom from law

Today's view-individual liberty to do what we want with our bodies–especially in private! It’s no one’s business what I do in the privacy of my own home!

        2) "Food for the belly" 13 "Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food!"

                 "GOD MADE ME LIKE THIS"-   He understands my needs and desires.

                     This is the world's view. It thinks about personal satisfaction first

        The real issue for us is clarified:

    PRINCIPLE OF LIBERTY APPLIED 6:12

        Because we’ve been purchased, all legalistic restrictions have been removed.

            6:12     ^aAll things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.

                     All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

        All things are lawful –that’s true!

Righteousness is based on faith, not works.

I can do anything I want to do and it won’t affect my righteousness.

                     My righteousness comes from CHRIST, NOT from my performance!

Paul's teaching on the importance of not giving in to the desires of the flesh isn't a legalistic "Thou shalt not ..." approach.

Paul enjoys freedom, but recognizes that true freedom is accompanied by responsibility.

We enjoy the refreshment of Christian liberty, while rejecting the abuses of excess.

        But–Some things are inconsistent with godly living and my righteous position.

Some things aren’t profitable for me-they won't work together to uplift me

                 They won't make me a better person.

Some things will take control of my life.

             or form of conduct.

    ILLUSTRATIONS OF ABUSE 6:13-18-the real issue illustrated 

            6:13-14    13a      Food => Gluttony

            6:15-18    13b-18 Sex => Fornication-And no end of other desires.

The spirit of our age (like that of Corinth) is captured by the young person who said: "My sexual needs are just like all my other needs.

If I get hungry I drop by McDonald's for a quarter pounder with cheese,

                         If I feel the need for sex I get a date with a willing girl. What's wrong with that?"

Chafin observes: "In many ways the inability to make moral distinctions between "fast food" and "fast sex" has crept into our churches even as it had in Corinth.

The media has created a me-centered image of contentment.

I'm satisfied when I get what I want-pleasure, sex, drugs, love, money, things, even friends, a loving husband or wife, boy friend or girl friend, etc.

If I can’t have the real thing, I’ll satisfy my desires on the internet!

                         It all revolves around ME, and satisfying my desires.

        The frustration with these desires is:

            1) We never get enough of what we want.

            2) When we get it, it doesn't satisfy. (It ends up empty; it doesn't "fill the hole")

         The theme of the worldly centers on self-indulgence

The body was made for food; therefore, let's eat up-enjoy it!

            The body was made for sex; therefore, let's live it up-enjoy it!

                 If it feels good, do it!

        While indeed, it may well be that the stomach was made for food and food for it.

            Even so, that's a short-range view. Both of those are temporary.

        On the other hand, it’s never true that the body was made for immoral sex.

            God made a sex drive, but not for immorality.

            That goes against all that He is; and against His purpose for making man.

As God's people, our bodies are to be a part of Him; not of a prostitute.

            We are to be one with Him; not one with a prostitute.

            We are to be His temple and glorify Him; not gratify self.

Paul responds: the body was given to be used for God-for His glory.

        The principle of self-indulgence ought not to control us.

It’s inconceivable that what has been united into one with Christ could be united with a harlot also.    

In Corinth it was undoubtedly a warning about prostitution–it was common everywhere.

        But notice the word is the root of pornography.

            What is it that’s rampant in our society? You see it everywhere you look.

            Paul says flee from it! Stay away from pornography! It’s bad for our (spiritual) health.

(Swindoll) "When I was in the Marines, I spent nearly a year and a half in the Orient. . . . Eight thousand miles away from my wife and family. Lots of free time . . . and plenty of opportunities to drift into sexual escapades. . . . Brightly lit bars, with gorgeous females of any nationality you pleased, were open seven nights a week, 365 days a year. . . . The sensual temptation was fierce, to say the least.

I was in my mid-twenties. I was a Christian. I was also one hundred percent human. It didn't take me long to realize that unless I learned how to force my body to behave, I'd be no different from any other Marine on liberty. . . . I developed ways to stay busy. I occupied my time with creative involvements. . . . I walked fast. I refused to linger and allow my body to respond to the glaring come-on signals. My eyes looked straight ahead . . . and sometimes I literally ran to my destination. I consciously forced myself to tune out the sensual music. I disciplined my mind through intensive reading plus a Scripture memory program. I began most days praying for God's strength to get me through. The battle was terribly difficult, but the commitment to sexual purity paid rich dividends."

Under the barrage of contemporary messages, it would be easy to believe that purity, or self-control is an unachievable, outdated standard from the long-forgotten past.

PAUL SAYS FLEE FROM ALL FORMS OF SEXUAL IMPURITY!

    PROPER USE OF THE BODY 6:19-20

Paul urges us to control our bodies so God may be glorified in us.

Paul reveals one of the most important ideas we will ever learn about the Christian life and about our role in living here on the earth:

Our body has been called to fulfill the role of the O.T. Temple.

            It was to glorify God. Therefore, WE should glorify God.

            It was to reveal God. Does our lifestyle reveal Him to those around us? Gal. 5:22-23

OUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR A PURPOSE:

            TO REVEAL GOD'S GLORY!

THREE KEY PRINCIPLES

    1) While all things are permissible, not everything is beneficial.

    2) Happiness comes from realizing that we belong to God and He lives in us.

    3) Live to glorify Him rather than to satisfy self.

THREE KEY QUESTIONS

    1) Is it really profitable? 12

            We’re to be controlled by the Spirit! Not by desires for personal satisfaction.