1 Corinthians 5:2, Amplified Bible

“And you are proud and arrogant! You should have mourned in shame so that the man who has done this [disgraceful] thing would be removed from your fellowship!”

The instruction found in 1 Corinthians 5:2 is not an easy topic, especially in this century: many call evil good and good evil, many put darkness for light and light for darkness, and many put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (Isaiah 5:20) Does that mean this is a more evil time than ever before? I would prefer to say it in this way: We did evil in the eyes of the LORD just as in the time of Noah; the time of the tower of Babel; the time of the Northern and southern kingdoms of His chosen people; (thirty-eight kings and one queen during that time, yet there was only eight counted as right in the eyes of God) and the time we crucified His Son, Jesus. (Genesis 5-7, Genesis 11, 1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings, Mattew, Mark, Luke, John)

There is not a time that the devil stops speaking his native language – lies (John 8:44). There is not a time that he chose to do good, instead of steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). There is not a time that he has not blinded the minds of those who don't believe (2 Corinthians 4:4). Because of that, I want to lay down two foundations as we get into 1 Corinthians 5:2: First, it is not an instruction to unbelievers but for those who know the truth. Second, be aware that the guidelines of truth are no longer seen or heard clearly even within the church. 

“And you are proud and arrogant! You should have mourned in shame so that the man who has done this [disgraceful] thing would be removed from your fellowship!”

These are the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church of Corinth. “You are proud and arrogant,” which means: you are sinning against the truth openly and are unrepentant. What made Paul say that? The leaders of the church publicly accepted the wrongdoing by redefining the definition of sin that God had defined. They embraced the sinful lifestyle and called it the way of love. In this situation, what Paul is saying is that as Christ followers, when we see others walking in sin and heading towards the wide gate which leads to death (Matthew 7:13-14, Romans 6:23), should we not mourn? Especially for those who believe and who we call brothers and sisters. Should we not be in sorrow and feel responsible for the loss? Should we confront them and encourage them to repent? Look at the father of the prodigal son. He did not deny him as his son, and he did not stop missing him and waiting for his return. However, there was a time when he had to let his son go, so the death (spiritually) could result in coming alive again. (Luke 15:11-32)

“Removed from your fellowship” does not mean in a harsh and unloving way. Standing firm in the truth doesn’t mean we stop loving. When we are with an unrepentant believer by denying the truth and persuading the sin, we may need to take the necessary action – let go. Remember, letting go doesn’t mean we stop caring for them. God hears the prayers of a righteous prayer (a person who follows Jesus and obeys His word). Let them go on their way, continue praying for them with love, seek wisdom and strength and to partnership with God for the individual, and let God work on His way. The truth is: God loves them more than anyone of us, and He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:9)

My dear brothers and sisters, it is not an easy path to take, I am in it with you, yet I choose to see by faith (what is unseen) and not by sight (what is seen). How about you?