13 June 2005

Let me jump to chapter five in 1 Corinthians.

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?
For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (1 Cor. 5:1-5)

What a mess. This is the kind of story around the community that spreads like a wildfire and will never have any end. In fact, it usually keeps surfacing again and again as though the flame is meant to be some kind of eternal light - but this is not a light that serves the community. It is bad enough that there is a situation in which the community of a family has been betrayed in this action between a man and his father's wife. Add to this what such an action does to the trust and security of the whole community. It sounds as though people have this action as a concern and yet no one has the willingness to face it and deal with it by pointing out what it is doing to the whole community. Even though Paul's words sound harsh, notice that he is simple trying to bring about a new life for this man...and the community.

Connection: Silence doesn't help us. There are too many times in our life together when the choices of people must be faced and the consequences of such choices must be pressed. Otherwise, the life of the whole community is threatened in various ways.

Compassionate Lord, teach us the ways of peace and truthfulness so that as we live together, we can help to shape one another and honestly deal with the times when our actions go against the welfare of the community. Amen.