1 Corinthians 5:1-3, 6a
When I was in youth ministry many years ago now, I went to a Youth Specialties conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In one of the big-group sessions, the speaker spoke about something he called “the clustering effect.” He proceeded to describe to us the hypocritical tendencies of most youth. For example, a student is one minute having sex with his girlfriend in the backseat of his car, but the next moment, he is serving the Lord on a mission trip. It’s crazy to think about how one is the complete opposite of the other. How is this even possible?
I’d say that the Corinthians were a lot like teenagers. They had good intentions in many ways, but they were still immature struggling with their own temptations. Enter the issue in Corinth. A man was “sleeping” with his father’s wife. Talk about a brutal situation. It’s interesting to see in this situation that Paul didn’t address the man at first, instead, he came down hard on the congregation. Why? It’s because they were not holding this man accountable. In fact, many of them were “celebrating” the sin instead of judging the sin. I have a story that comes to mind.
Years ago, when I was in college, I got into a verbal altercation with one of my roommates and another friend. A kid named Chris came down to my room to tell my roommate, who ironically was also named Chris, about his family cruises in high school. As I began to listen to Chris’ stories, what I soon realized was that it went beyond water slides, shows, excursions, etc. Chris was telling the other Chris about his “hookups” with girls. It soon turned into his sexual exploits and escapades with both of them laughing as they sensually indulged in the details. I became infuriated. This is a Christian college. You claim to be a Christian. This is NOT ok. I marched right over to both of them and “chewed them out!” I kicked the one Chris out of our dorm room, and I told the other Chris that his behavior was awful and dishonoring to the Lord. I could not believe what I had been hearing.
Here’s the thing: I am NOT perfect. I know that. I also know that sexual sin is NOT something to play around with, indulge in, or celebrate in any way. Paul was infuriated with the Corinthians. Remember, he was no longer with them, so this was his letter of chastisement from a distance. How could they gather to read the Torah or study the Apostle’s teachings, and allow this to happen? How could they gather to sing songs of praise to the Messiah and allow this to happen? How could they remember Jesus’ great sacrifice in the “Lord’s Supper,” and allow this to happen? How could they “pretend” to honor God, when behind the scenes they were celebrating such gross sexual sin? Sadly, many Christians do the same thing today.
We need to especially remember that the sins that we enjoy also “nailed Jesus to The Cross!” It’s easy for us to despise the sins that we don’t struggle with - people do it all the time. We snarl at child molesters. We roll our eyes at the glutinous or the drunk person. We get angry over sins that we don’t have problems with while excusing or even celebrating sins that capture us. We need to get back to hating sin, especially our own sins. Do you hate your own sins?
Here are a few questions and encouragements to close our devotion:
(1) Question: What sin of yours are you ignoring or celebrating?
Encouragement: Seek out accountability with someone you trust.
(2) Question: Do you have a friend whose sin you are currently ignoring?
Encouragement: Go to that person in humility offering to help.
(3) Question: Have you been celebrating or enabling someone’s sin?
Encouragement: Repent and ask your friend for forgiveness.
We are NOT a “good ole boy” club at Emmanuel! The glory of God comes first! Do NOT ever ignore or celebrate sin. It’s NEVER ok.
I’d say that the Corinthians were a lot like teenagers. They had good intentions in many ways, but they were still immature struggling with their own temptations. Enter the issue in Corinth. A man was “sleeping” with his father’s wife. Talk about a brutal situation. It’s interesting to see in this situation that Paul didn’t address the man at first, instead, he came down hard on the congregation. Why? It’s because they were not holding this man accountable. In fact, many of them were “celebrating” the sin instead of judging the sin. I have a story that comes to mind.
Years ago, when I was in college, I got into a verbal altercation with one of my roommates and another friend. A kid named Chris came down to my room to tell my roommate, who ironically was also named Chris, about his family cruises in high school. As I began to listen to Chris’ stories, what I soon realized was that it went beyond water slides, shows, excursions, etc. Chris was telling the other Chris about his “hookups” with girls. It soon turned into his sexual exploits and escapades with both of them laughing as they sensually indulged in the details. I became infuriated. This is a Christian college. You claim to be a Christian. This is NOT ok. I marched right over to both of them and “chewed them out!” I kicked the one Chris out of our dorm room, and I told the other Chris that his behavior was awful and dishonoring to the Lord. I could not believe what I had been hearing.
Here’s the thing: I am NOT perfect. I know that. I also know that sexual sin is NOT something to play around with, indulge in, or celebrate in any way. Paul was infuriated with the Corinthians. Remember, he was no longer with them, so this was his letter of chastisement from a distance. How could they gather to read the Torah or study the Apostle’s teachings, and allow this to happen? How could they gather to sing songs of praise to the Messiah and allow this to happen? How could they remember Jesus’ great sacrifice in the “Lord’s Supper,” and allow this to happen? How could they “pretend” to honor God, when behind the scenes they were celebrating such gross sexual sin? Sadly, many Christians do the same thing today.
We need to especially remember that the sins that we enjoy also “nailed Jesus to The Cross!” It’s easy for us to despise the sins that we don’t struggle with - people do it all the time. We snarl at child molesters. We roll our eyes at the glutinous or the drunk person. We get angry over sins that we don’t have problems with while excusing or even celebrating sins that capture us. We need to get back to hating sin, especially our own sins. Do you hate your own sins?
Here are a few questions and encouragements to close our devotion:
(1) Question: What sin of yours are you ignoring or celebrating?
Encouragement: Seek out accountability with someone you trust.
(2) Question: Do you have a friend whose sin you are currently ignoring?
Encouragement: Go to that person in humility offering to help.
(3) Question: Have you been celebrating or enabling someone’s sin?
Encouragement: Repent and ask your friend for forgiveness.
We are NOT a “good ole boy” club at Emmanuel! The glory of God comes first! Do NOT ever ignore or celebrate sin. It’s NEVER ok.
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