The Bleeding Church: The Need for Accountability

I write this as a man who is completely humbled by my absolute failure to adhere to this extremely vital portion of God’s word.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

⁹I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;

¹⁰I 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.

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

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

¹³But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

(Italics mine, Capital letters written that way by Paul)

This is a very powerful and often overlooked passage of scripture. Paul clearly states here that Christians are to hold each other accountable, even disassociating themselves from people in the church that call themselves Christians, but fail to act like it. This is not a suggestion, if you believe II Timothy 3:16 (all scripture is God breathed) than it is a commandment, an important but rarely used tool that God gave us to preserve the integrity of His church, and to keep individuals from straying.

Let’s assume that the reader has a friend “mike” who goes to church, or professes to be a Christian, but decided to move in with his girlfriend. What are the implications?

Action speaks louder than words. You can tell Mike however you want what you think of his decision, but going to his house negates your words to a degree because your action condones his decision. If your Christian friend is sexually active, they should not feel comfortable in the company of other believers. God tells us not to associate with them because He wants us to confront them. We need to not only tell, but show Mike, through our actions, that His lifestyle is not ok. Also, it provides the person confronting Mike an opportunity to stand up for what they believe in.

This is a very difficult concept of scripture to apply. 1 John 4:7-8 states “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. H who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” We must understand that this principle is not about condemnation, but about love. Mark 9:47-48 says, “If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.” God is worried about His people. He does not want to see people that He created burn themselves alive by falling into sin and hardening their hearts against Him. Mark 9:47 is not a parable or metaphor, God is literally saying “hey, save your soul at all costs.” It is written (in relation to sexual immorality) “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared?” Proverbs 6:27-28. In love, confront your brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus gives us the perfect blueprints on the best way to approach a Christian in sin.

Mathew 18:15-20

¹⁵"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.

¹⁶"But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.

¹⁷"If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

¹⁸"Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

¹⁹"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.

²⁰"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

(I find it interesting how Jesus closes this monologue by telling about the immense power that is spawned by a few believers humbly approaching their God together.)

My brothers and sisters, the American church is so diluted. The young Christians in our congregation are sitting next to people in pews who have a blatant disregard for the things of Christ, and are in open rebellion against Him. If we cannot stand up for the things of our Lord in our own churches, then where shall we stand? At some point we must put our faith into action, and represent our Christ as the ambassadors that He asks us to be. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Galatians 6

¹Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

²Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

³For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

⁴But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

⁵For each one will bear his own load.

⁶The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

⁷Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

⁸For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

⁹Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

¹⁰So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

¹¹See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

¹²Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

¹³For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.

¹⁴But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

¹⁵For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

¹⁶And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.

¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Please- approach, confront, and pray for the members of our churches struggling with sexual immorality; in and through love.