In the letter of 1 Corinthians, Paul gave counsel to a church that was strikingly similar to the American church of today.3 In fact, he dealt with the issue of sexual immorality in the church, in a very direct manner. Let’s now take a look at 1 Corinthians 5 and see some of the principles that Paul gives.

The Accusation – It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife (v. 1).

We should first note that the accusation of sexual immorality “was reported” to Paul (v. 1). The fact that it was reported to Paul means that it was well-known in the church of Corinth–and probably outside the church as well. What was reported was shocking–even to sex-obsessed Corinth! Such an accusation would probably not shock most of us today, but back then it was a line that not even pagans crossed. What was the accusation? “[A] man has his father’s wife” (v. 1b). While there are many questions around this verse, at least two things are clear. First, it’s generally agreed that the woman referred to is the offender’s stepmother. Second, whether or not the man actually married her, it’s clear that, in the least, sexual relations were involved.4

To say that this sin was not even tolerated among pagans in sex-obsessed Corinth is saying a lot. Much of their religious worship centered around sex–there were temple prostitutes, for example. As bad, offensive, and degrading as the sin was, though, there was an even larger problem.

The Attitude – And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? . . . Your boasting is not good (vv. 2, 6).

Paul’s reaction to the church’s attitude seems to be one of incredulity. He couldn’t believe that the church would tolerate such sin, let alone be arrogant. What was the nature of the church’s arrogance or boasting? Perhaps they were proud of their “tolerant, non-judgmental” attitude. That seems the most likely explanation from the larger context of the letter. And it may be that such “tolerance” sparked further division in the already-divided congregation. Such toleration always causes division—particularly if there are people who wish to uphold a righteous standard.

What Kind of Church?

What kind of church was the Corinth shaping up to be in the eyes of Paul (and the nonbelievers in Corinth)? A church that tolerated and allowed open and unrepentant sin. Paul calls for the church to reverse course–to mourn over the sin and discipline the offender. What are some principles that we learn from this about dealing with sin (not just sexual sin) in the church today? In other words, what kind of church are we to be?

1) We are to be a church that pursues purity. Those living in sin must be lovingly confronted with the claims of the gospel–including that of turning from sin. Those who live in open and unrepentant sin should be disciplined according to the instructions that Jesus and Paul laid out (e.g., Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5). The church must not, under the guise of unity or any other pretense, condone or overlook ongoing unrepentant sin in its midst (whether it be committed by a leader or a layperson). There must be a process in place to deal with such things.

2) We are to be a church that lives in and embraces grace. While maintaining the purity of the church, we are to live in and by grace. In 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, Paul lays out what should happen when one who has been disciplined by the church repents.5 He writes that the church should forgive the offender (v. 7) and fully restore him with a formal act (v. 8). While the church should never fear to proclaim, “We will not tolerate sin in our midst,” we should also not fear to proclaim, “If you are struggling with sin, there is hope and grace in Jesus Christ, and we as a community offer that to you.”

3) We are to be a church that is transparent in what we do. The whole context of 1 Corinthians 5 and 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 suggest an air of transparency in how the church handles sin–particularly open and unrepentant sin. We must never seek to “protect the ministry” at the expense of the broken or hurting. What is really at stake is the integrity and witness of the church before an unbelieving world. In the process of confronting, confession, repentance, forgiveness, and church discipline (when it’s needed), we are living out the gospel of Jesus to the world.

A church that ignores sin for the sake of appearances or comfort will ultimately crumble under the weight of its own hypocrisy. But a church that confronts sin with both truth and grace reflects the heart of Christ. The world is watching—how we handle sin, repentance, and restoration will either confirm its worst suspicions or testify to the transformative power of the gospel. If we are to be the kind of church God calls us to be, we must pursue holiness, extend grace, and walk in transparency, no matter the cost.

[For a more in-depth look at the American church through the lens of 1 Corinthians, see The Modern Corinth: The American Church Through the Lens of 1 Corinthians, available as a free download here.]