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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD
Encountering an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue # 189 July 05, 2001
RIOT
Here in Edmonton, Alberta, we had a small riot over the weekend. Drunken revelers celebrated Canada Day, by going on a spree of smashing windows, looting stores and battling the police riot squads.
There has been lots of finger pointing about the cause of the riot.
Some say it is the fault of the bar owners for serving too much. Others blame it on not enough policing.
Still others blame it on the fact that the bars closed too early, chasing the drunks out onto the street.
Any or all of those things may have been a factor, but here is my theory. A few trouble making drunks began to get out of hand. The rest of the crowd, who probably know better, got caught up in the excitement. Instead of making waves by saying no or leaving, they became participants themselves.
I suspect that they may have been a lot of ashamed people when sobriety came on them.
How many things in life have gotten out of control, because although we knew it was wrong, we didn’t want to make waves and went along with the flow? How much rampant sin is there in the church because of our fear of dealing with it?
Paul has some strong words for the immoral in the church:
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NIV
In other places in Scripture, there are processes laid out which talk of processes to follow in this sort of situation. We must also be vigilant about judging the sin and not the sinner.
The fact remains however, that when we allow our churches to run rampant with unrepentant sin, we become no different than the world around us. If we are the same as the world, what attractiveness is there for people of the world in the church?
If you are indulging in unrepentant sin, get your own house in order. Take it to God, make amends where possible and find an accountability partner to help keep you in check.
If the church is engaged in sin, perhaps it is time to take an appropriate stand.
Until next time, may God give you the discernment to see the areas of your own life that need correction. May He give you the wisdom to deal with the sin of the church and it’s leaders in a Spirit filled, loving way.
God bless.
Kevin
© 2001 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin
All Rights Reserved