Consider the number of people in a congregation who have made a profession of their faith in Christ yet have no conviction of the sins they are tolerating in their lives. These may even be members of the church who are involved in one of the church’s ministries yet have no conviction of the habitual sins they are committing. These are people who take communion regularly, yet they are indifferent toward sin. They have a total disregard about the biblical demand for repentance.
Could this be a major barrier to revival? Does the Bible have anything to say about situations like these?
Old Testament Examples
Consider the example in Joshua 7, with Achan. Note how that man’s sin brought God’s judgment on the entire nation. Achan’s sin not only affected himself; the entire nation was affected. The people were one body. They were a collective, and when one person sinned, the consequences were experienced by all.
Didn’t divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the Lord? He was not the only one who died because of his sin (Joshua 22:20).
Consider the example of David and Bathsheba. Did David’s sin affect only himself (2 Samuel 11:1-27)? No, David’s adulterous act led to God’s judgment which affected many people.
► God said that because of David’s sin his family would rebel against him (2 Samuel 12:11).
► Because of David’s adultery, which was committed in secret, God said his wives will be taken and forced to have sex with others—in public view (2 Samuel 12:11-12)
► What about the child Bathsheba bore through the adulterous act with David? “The Lord sent a deadly illness to the child” and it died (2 Samuel 12:15).
Consider also David’s sin of conducting a census (2 Samuel 24:1-25;.1 Chronicles 21:1-30). God’s judgment didn’t fall only on David; it fell upon the entire nation, and 70,000 people died in the plague the Lord sent. This was all because of one man’s sin (2 Samuel 24:11-17).
Are the Scriptures Still Valid Today?
Those were Old Testament Scriptures, yet God’s Word is very clear that whatever was written in the Old Testament was written for us today. They were natural examples from which we draw spiritual truths (Romans 15:4;.1 Corinthians 10:6).
Consider Other Old Testament Examples
► The sin of Adam and Eve affected the entire human race (Romans 5:15-17;.1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
► The sin of 10 spies led to the death of millions–those twenty years old and above (Numbers 14:29).
New Testament
In the day we are living, do the Old Testament Scriptures referenced have any application? Is it possible church members who are living unrepentant lives bring God’s disfavor upon an entire congregation? Would God take Old Testament types of action and cause a congregation to be disciplined due to the sins of one person?
Jesus’ Directives on Dealing with the Unrepentant
► If we don’t judge ourselves, the Church is to judge us (Matthew 18:15-17).
Peter’s Approach to Willful Sin
► God took the lives of Ananias and Sapphira so their sinful deception would be an example to others (Acts 5:1-11).
Paul Dealt Extensively with Unrepentant Behavior
► Paul made it very clear that sin was a cancer that had the potential to pollute others and turn them away from the truth (2 Timothy 2:16-18).
► Paul rebuked Peter because his sin was infecting others (Galatians 2:11-14).
► God loves his erring children so much that he will discipline them (Hebrews 12:1-11).
► We are admonished to judge ourselves so we won’t be judged by God (2 Corinthians 13:5;.1 Corinthians 11:27-32).
John and Unrepentant Christians
The letters to the churches of Asia show that if sin is left unrepented God will withdraw his presence, as well as administer His judgment (Revelation 2:4-5; 2:14-16; 2:20-23; 3:2-3; 3:15-18).
God’s Word Concerning Excommunication of the Unrepentant Christian
Consider the word “excommunication.” Doesn’t it have a horrifying ring to it? The Word of God is not silent about unrepentant Christians and their defiling presence in a congregation. The Scriptures, no matter how you approach them, are very clear, and a Christian who is living a blatantly sinful life and is unrepentant is to be “thrown out” so their polluting presence won’t be able to corrupt everyone else. (1 Corinthians 5:1-13).
Does God Really Intend for Us to Excommunicate Today? Where Is God’s Love and Grace in That?
► God’s love, grace, and mercy are demonstrated through church discipline (Hebrews 12:6). The purpose behind removing the person from the Corinthian church was God’s love being demonstrated as He protected the people from that unrepentant Christian’s sinfulness.
► Excommunication is remedial–that is, it has the purpose of bringing about restoration, not just the “throwing the person out.” It is a demonstration of God’s love. The Corinthian church followed through, the unrepentant man was excommunicated but was eventually restored back into full fellowship after he repented (2 Corinthians 2:5-11).
► Another reason for church discipline is to prevent slander from the unbelieving world (2 Peter 2:2).
May God grant church leaders courage and wisdom as they obey the Scriptures to remove this barrier to revival.
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