“Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” (1 Corinthians 5:13) We will need to think carefully about this passage. At the end of the week we may still have some unanswered questions. What we will be clear is that public, scandalous, defiant sin cannot be tolerated in God’s family. The Lord will require us to confront it. It was not a new idea. Paul quotes Deuteronomy 13:5 which commands corporate courage in the face of evil. It is similar to Revelation 2:20 where Christ challenges the church at Thyatira “because you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and leads my bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality.” When public and scandalous sin begins to impact others, the Lord will require of us an unfamiliar courage. It may be unpopular to draw a clear line, but quiet tolerance is not always the path of Christ. Read carefully, dear friends. Ask God to guide your thinking. More tomorrow as we walk this week together.
