Daily Lesson for Sunday 19th of July 2026
Throughout Christian history, theologians, pastors, and laypeople have studied the New Testament in order to determine what the church should look like. We marvel, for instance, at the church of Acts. But we quickly lose sight of one significant element: people have problems. It seems that we can also read the New Testament to see what the Bible says about what a church should not look like. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians are a good starting point.
Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. What scandalous situation does Paul describe in this passage, and why is it so disturbing?
The expression “his father’s wife” (1 Corinthians 5:1) suggests that Paul refers to the incestuous relationship between a man and his stepmother. This situation was probably reported “by those of Chloe’s household” (1 Corinthians 1:11, NKJV). Incest was reputed as such a terrible sin that it was “not tolerated even among pagans” (1 Corinthians 5:1, ESV). And yet, it is now happening in an early Christian church? Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 show that he is in shock at the report that a church member was doing this.
Image © Providence Collection at Goodsalt.com
However, this bad situation gets worse. Paul is more stunned when realizing that, rather than feeling sorry about the situation, the Corinthians were even proud of themselves for tolerating such a sin (1 Corinthians 5:1-2, NIV). Thus, he intends to correct not only the immoral man but also the church for its apparent dissonance between faith and practice. In fact, Paul makes it clear constantly that the church’s indulgent attitude toward the incestuous man demanded a correction. But being proud of such a sexual scandal, and even boasting of it (1 Corinthians 5:2,6)! This was too much for Paul to bear. What was wrong with these people?
We don’t have an explanation for why the church in Corinth was so tolerant of the incestuous man. Perhaps he was a wealthy member from whom the church benefited? Or, maybe, because “all things are lawful” (1 Corinthians 6:12), they didn’t deem it the way that they should have. We just don’t know.
Whatever the true reasons, they became blind to a flagrant violation of the Scriptures (Leviticus 18:7-8). And they were even proud of it.
|
What things are clearly condemned in Scripture that we, as a church, are in danger of tolerating, all in the name of “love” and “acceptance”? |
