My gym has rules. My wife doesn’t obey the rules of the gym. But the gym cannot discipline her because she hasn’t joined the gym. Gyms are not for everyone.
The Church isn’t for everyone. That sounds heretical but it isn’t. Not according to the Apostle Paul. For him the Church had rules. Not everyone obeyed those rules. But the church should not judge those who are not part of the church. They should only judge those who do.
Before we read and before I write anymore, I came across a letter the other day which came from an attender of my church 20 years ago. I saved it purposely even though it was a horrible letter from a man who threatened his resignation if I didn’t deal with the sinful woman who approached the Lord’s table with a t-shirt carrying the abbreviated slogan of the fashion designer, French connection, now known as unison. I’m thinking of this because there are times when those passing judgment on a fellow believer cannot see their own sin which far outweighs that of those they are accusing. I eventually helped him with his resignation! The point I am making is this, being a judge inside the church needs careful handling. We need to tread carefully. Some have experienced deep hurt from pharisaical judges. We are all sinners.
““But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 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 5:11-13
The church is not being unloving or extremely judgmental or bordering on abusive if it disciplines its own members who live unrepentant heinous lifestyles (like having an affair with your step-mother).
Some may want to begin immediately to look at the rules and Paul does provide a list. However the main point is that harsh judgment for those outside the church and leniency for those within runs counter to how the church should be.
It is nonsensical to expect those who have not decided to follow Christ to follow the standards of Christ.
The integrity and the witness of the church demands that the standards within the Christian community are higher than those outside. It is also the responsibility of the Church community to maintain those standards. There is no place for individualism. The Church is not a gathered group of people who live out their faith in whatever way they decide. Rather the Church has a responsibility to protect the holiness of the community.
So we don’t exit the world, far from it, we are present in the world as light in the darkness.
But we sadly might have to show the exit door to a member of the church community who blatantly spits in the face of that community by being ‘wicked’. We do that for restoration not simply punishment.
We have no authority to police those outside the church but every church needs a structure of accountability in order to correct and keep us in alignment to the Word and the Spirit.
The Church with no rules or who turn a blind eye to the rules are strictly not the church. Let judgment begin within the house of God but let God help us!
Missions Paul 