Church discipline has long since been a neglected responsibility of many local churches.  Never was this more evident than with the church at Corinth.  1 Corinthians 5 is Paul’s address to this issue.  While, according to 2 Corinthians, the saints at Corinth listened to Paul, many churches today need to revisit the teachings of Paul and take heed.

One of the problems with the saints at Corinth was their pride.  I am not completely sure what part it played in them tolerating a man living in sin, but Paul rebuked them for it.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 (ESV)
¹  It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. ²  And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

Perhaps their pride led them to believe that they had a right to ignore this man’s sin if they wanted to, as if they were the authority in the church rather than Christ.  Or, maybe pride was manifested by their lack of concern about the danger the church faced because of the presence of sin, thinking that nothing could harm such spiritually enlightened people as them.  Whatever the nature of their pride, this sin would destroy them if they continued to tolerate it.

Churches that tolerate sin become strongholds of the devil.  Paul, recognizing the danger, tells the church to act by removing the sinner from among them (ver. 2).  In doing this they would be delivering this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh (ver. 5).  The “flesh” is not referring to the physical body, but to the selfish desires of the man corrupted by sin (Romans 8:5-8; Galatians 5:16-24).  Until this man crucified the flesh, he would continue to selfishly live a life of sin and be lost.  This is the first purpose of church discipline, that is, that the spirit (soul) might be saved (ver.5).  But there is another reason as well.

1 Corinthians 5:6-7 (ESV)
⁶  Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? ⁷  Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Sin has a leavening effect on a local church; thus, we must do all we can to keep the church pure.  This is why church discipline, when employed correctly, that is, administered by the whole church (ver. 4), never fails.  Some have erroneously concluded that because some who are disciplined by the church never repent, the discipline failed, but this is to ignore the purifying effect it has on the church.  When a local church takes this measure, it is always successful.

What is the action involved in church disciple?  How do we deliver one to Satan?  Paul tells us.

1 Corinthians 5:11 (ESV)
¹¹  But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

This is meant to provoke repentance by the sinner and safeguard individual members from the influence of sin (1 Corinthians 15:33).  One of the saddest results of churches neglecting to practice proper church discipline is that it eliminates the best tool we have for restoring the wayward child of God.  It is even sadder when brethren refuse to disciple members of their immediate family.  This shows that they possess a love that lacks proper knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1:9).  Remember, Paul said not to “associate with ANYONE who bears the name of brother” (ver. 11).  This is the best way to get a loved one to return to the Lord when they go astray.  How do I know?  I know Because it is God’s way.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things