“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 5:11-13
This is why leaders of the church MUST confront the unrepentant sin inside the church. Unless we do this as leaders of the church, we are not following what God called the leaders to do.
This is for the believers not the unbelievers. This isn’t saying you should run people off but when you have say adultery that is happening in your church and it is 100% open, you have to confront even if it’s hard for the health of the church.
You have to step up if you want the church to stay healthy. The worst thing you can do is nothing. Sin will spread like cancer then eventually you will have people justifying their sins to each other. Don’t let this cancer spread.
I hear people saying don’t judge me and here is the problem with that; if you are saying that you are a Christian then you have a responsibility to live how God called you to live. If you aren’t then it’s the leaders responsibility to confront you on it. If they don’t then they are going to be judged harder.
As James 3:1 says:
“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
If you are a leader, you will be judged more by God. As a leader, you have to stand up for what’s right even when it’s hard. God called the leaders to do this. If not you then who?
So when a leader has to call you out, next time don’t get upset and feel judged, they have to or they are going to be judged by God. It is their job to keep the church healthy.
And as a leader, when you have to confront someone, remember you are only doing it for the health of the church and God called you to do this. You are obeying God on this. God put a few people in charge of the church and he expects you to do your part.
What if you have to confront a leader? You still have to do this. A leader should be confronted first because they are called to live to a higher standard and also a leader has influence over the church. If people know the leader is doing certain things and they know the church isn’t doing anything about it, you just gave them a way to justify their own sin.
The goal is to have people want to repent not justify why they are living the way they are. So next time you see or know something, it’s time to step up and confront the issue head on.
But always remember to confront with LOVE though because you you confront with any other motive then you are not doing what God called you to do. Some issues are delicate so treat them that way and stand up for whats right!
Be Inspired or Be Left Behind!
Chris Benton