The Line was Crossed...What Now?

In our house, Sharpies are considered contraband.

Slightly more tolerable than your common street drug. 

And we’ve seen it all. 

From pants and table runners, to tabletops and hair coloring – nothing good ever happens mixing four pre-adolescent boys with permanent markers. 

Once that line is established, it is indeed permanent. 

Sure, remedies exist but these rely primarily on timely intervention.

Key word: 'timely'.  Timeliness requires candidness from the culprits. 

Let’s just say the ink dries ten-times over. 

Permanency

Far from being a mere social construct, morality is grounded in the very essence of God’s character.  In both general and specific ways God has graciously revealed his righteous expectation for humanity.  And while some might bristle at such simplicity, ‘right is right and wrong is wrong’.  Be sure of it.  The ink has dried on the divine mandates. 

Crossing the Line

As God identified the line of morality in Eden, we know man blew it.  We crossed the line.  In Adam, we all grabbed the fruit.  Famished in our self-interest, we feast on rebellion.  And herein is the beauty of the Bible’s story arch, at our lowest God reaches for us. 

From Genesis 3 onward, God works to free humanity from the tyranny of sin.  In Christ, we are set free from captivity.  He alone is our Victor, his blood liberates us from bondage to sin and his resurrection grants us power for daily growth in righteousness.

Christian Community

Even a brief moment of introspection shows that daily growth in Christ’s righteousness is incredibly difficult.  Elsewhere Paul actually describes this pursuit as war.  But as excruciating as the daily battle can be, victory is miraculously made possible.

That said, at times we get stuck. 

As all sin masquerades as an alluring alternative to the righteousness granted in Christ, there can be prolonged seasons of deep duplicity in our faith journey.  And, if candid, we may admit that the immediate gratification of our sin appears vastly superior to the acquired taste of obedience.  From subtle whispers to bold inquistions our flesh daily ponders: why grow in righteousness when the pleasures of forbidden fruit seem most rewarding? 

If this at all seems familiar, then you might understand the beauty of Christian community: it becomes a place where we are known.

Far to often the church is managed like Cheers.  Please understand our sacred communities must be much more than a place where everyone knows your name – they’ve got to know you.  And equally important, you need to know them. 

We need to know of these inner dialogues, these inner battles of the flesh.  Peter tells us that as the lions seek the isolated and lame, so the enemy of our souls seeks those spiritually maimed and alone.

In God’s economy the people of faith provide an incredible means of grace in our pursuit of Christ.  The church is designed as a place of intense grace and truth, a place where we not only find camaraderie and inspiration but a place that graciously and soberly offers biblical judgment and correction.  Put simply.  There are times when the church, for our own eternal good, must kick us in the pants.

Such is the nature and intent of church discipline.  Churches that embrace discipline understand the twisted nature of sin, the eternal implications of rebellion, and the divine charge to strengthen the weak and safeguard the wayward.  These communities of faith are to be embraced.  These brothers and sisters are to be cherished and their leadership praised.  Refusing to either ignore the wayward or excuse the rebellious, these churches actually champion the true fruits of grace and acceptance.

I Corinthians 5-6: Church discipline in review

Paul didn’t pull punches.

Entrenched, blatant rebellion pervaded the Corinthian church.  From open incest and internal squabbles, to greed and masked idolatry, professing-believers arrogantly redefined righteousness and lived as pagans.

Action was demanded.

Paul charged the congregation to exercise church discipline.  I’d encourage you to read I Corinthians 5-6.  Read and consider the following:

• What does Paul say about judging others?  
• What is the intent of church discipline? 
• When is the church to administer discipline? 
• What is the long-term effect of a church that doesn’t practice church discipline? 
• If you’ve seen discipline done in a God-honoring fashion, what aspects did you find noteworthy? 
• Conversely, if you’ve seen discipline handled contrary to the spirit of the Word, what aspects caught your attention? 

At some point in the next week or so, we’ll be looking more closely at I Corinthians 5-6.  Until then, blessings and may God allow us to grow in righteousness.  Careful to humbly guard one another from the enemy, prayerfully upholding one another in the pursuit of Christ.   

Grace and Peace.