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Saturday, February 04, 2012
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living stones
spiritual house
holy priesthood
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Jul
15
Written by:
Joshua Hill
7/15/2010 11:53 AM
Can Modern Church and Judging Sin Mix?
If there’s one thing your generation has been trained not to like, it’s the judging of sin in the church. Part of your distaste for judging comes as a legitimate reaction to “judging gone wild” in your church experience, and part of it comes from the secular culture, whose focus on the “virtue” of tolerance has seeped into and colored most of what the church does.
However, if the primary Person you want to welcome into the church service is God, sin among the believers has to be going, going, gone. As many times as it slips in, it has to be dealt with. If you don’t like the sound of that, I understand, but stay with me for a while as we look at a few scriptures on this subject.
We’ve already talked about some examples of “God’s presence + people’s sin = people die OR God leaves,” but let’s examine a few more. Perhaps you remember from some Sunday school—long, long ago and far away—the story of Achan, who took some of the booty from Jericho (a garment from Babylonia & Fitch, some silver, and a chunk of gold). Because of the trespass of this one man, the otherwise invincible Israelite army was defeated by the underdog town of Ai, and God said, “Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you” (Joshua 7:12). When Achan was found out, he, his family, his tent, his shoes, his clothes, and his rock collection were all stoned to death. After that, God could come back into the camp, and the army was able to make progress again.
Coming soon...Chapter 2.15: Israel has a Revival, and Loses
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2 comment(s) so far...
Re: Chapter 2.14: Judging Sin in the Church? OMG!
Thus far, I feel like I have come to a better understanding of the differences between forbearance and forgiveness and their practical applications (which situations merit which). I find it easier to discern between these amongst the body than my family (parents and siblings), some of whom are unbelievers. My brother, in particular, demands tolerance as the only type of love he will receive or recognize. We are, therefore, usually completely at odds because of the nature of his lifestyle. Is that a similar scenario to the one speaking of leaving parents and spouses and such? What course of action does one take when the sin is in your family (but not necessarily the church)? Do they become as anyone else in the world? Does being a family member warrant something extra? I'm often conflicted between loving my brother (more than any other unbeliever) because of our relationship or treating him as one who has purposely rejected God? I find it exhausting and grueling living between never giving up on his hope for salvation and a belief that God turns away from those who commit certain sins. I suppose an important factor is that I don't know for certain where my brother lies in eternity, and likely won't until that Day. I think somewhere along here I have gotten confusing. Perhaps what I mean is that there appears to be a specific difficulty with the word judge. You could mean pass judgment, or take action. Or you could mean make a discernment, no action necessary. I think that confusion is my struggle, and probably so for most people, whether in the church or not. When is an acting judgement needed or not?
By Melissa Orr on
7/16/2010 11:12 PM
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Re: Chapter 2.14: Judging Sin in the Church? OMG!
Melissa,
Your brother is still made in the "similitude of God" and he is still one of the neighbors whom we are called to love, maybe even one of the enemies we are called to love. However, his lifestyle and unrepentant attitude make it clear that our love for him is not the same kind of love as that between believers. Love for unbelievers should be characterized by giving--of our care, our prayers, our truth, our resources to meet urgent needs, our blessings for their curses, our kindness for their hatred. Love for believers is characterized not just by giving, however, but by receiving. Other believers have something of Christ to give us, something that we need.
It is "exhausting and grueling" hoping for a repentance, but not having any assurance that it will come, but this is the kind of emotional agonizing that Jesus our Lord endured many times in his earthly ministry. He was upset at the Pharisees' hardness of heart, but he continued to love them as enemies (and die for them). He wept over unrepentant Jerusalem. Paul, in those footsteps, had great sorrow and grief over the Israelites who refused to come to the Messiah (Rom. 9:1-3). Part of our cross, on earth, is to fully embrace the sorrows of our Lord over those who are unrepentant, to not cut them off in our hearts so that we can avoid the unpleasantness of those emotions.
God puts people in certain circles, it seems, and expects them to exert influence over those spheres. Sometimes those spheres change (with a move from one city to another), but the sphere of the family seems to stay put. Though earthly "brotherhood" may not give him a higher claim than other people God has put in your sphere, he is still there, put in your heart by God, needing prayer, provoking godly heartbreak.
If God had turned away from him for his sins--forever--I'm pretty sure he would be dead. God brings His seasons of conviction and awakening around on a regular basis, and your brother should be due another such season soon. It's something to pray for.
Some late night thoughts in response. Let me know if I'm clarifying or muddying the waters.
By Joshua Hill on
7/19/2010 11:42 PM
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