The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 5:9-13, “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;

10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and

swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world.

11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be

an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a

swindler– not even to eat with such a one.

12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within

the church?

13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”

There’s an old “saying” that the reason preachers’ kids are so obstreperous is that they had only the deacons’ kids with whom to play. I used to joke about that until I remembered that my dad was a deacon! All kidding aside, we all –young and old, Christian and non-Christian— tend to blend in with those with whom we associate.

The Corinthian Church members were Christians (at least, for the most part), yet even the Christians had not divested themselves of all the evil that surrounded them daily. Let us be honest: neither have we! That makes Paul’s letters to the Corinthians relevant to us today. What’s worse, is when “Christians” within the church behave more like the lost in the community than like “born-again” believers in Jesus!

Paul’s warning is like a boxer’s right-cross to his opponent’s jaw! “Do not associate with immoral people!” The Corinthians misunderstood and possibly ceased from witnessing to the lost because they were immoral. But that is NOT what Paul meant! He then lists a litany of sins: covetous (those who always want more), swindlers (thieves), and those who worship idols. Note, however, that had the Corinthians taken Paul literally, they would have had to leave the world because everyone in the world sins against God in one way or another!

Further, Paul makes it clear that his current communication is for the benefit of the Corinthian Church; it has nothing to do with the lost (the outsiders). It is not that Paul is not concerned about the lost, but the Church has to get right first. That’s so true of us. It is of little-to-no value that we witness to lost people, if we do the same things they do. How do we demonstrate Christ’s love and change in us –if there isn’t any?

Paul’s final admonition is that they remove the wicked man (???????, poneros means evil-producing) from the Church! How many would be left in our churches today, if we obeyed this Pauline directive? Ouch!! Failure to cleanse the Church of those who live contrary to the Biblical directive for believers, will ultimately result in the Church’s degenerative lifestyle. How are parents honored if their children are allowed to engage in the grossest of evil? How is the LORD honored if His Church allows its members to live degenerate lives?

We cannot be accountable for everyone; but we can and are accountable for ourselves! Check up on your lifestyle? Do you look like Jesus, or more like those He came to save?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”