Double Standard

Don't ever mistake God's love for passivity. God cares, but his ways often conflict with conventional wisdom. He's not about "common sense." His wisdom is seen as foolishness by those who depend on the world's common sense. This is the case with the double standard God asks us to adopt.

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside." (1 Corinthians 5;12-13)

The issue here is how we respond to unrepentant sin with the community of Christ. The Corinthian church has a couple in flagrant and very public sin. They are unrepentant and Paul is concerned it will quite literally destroy their lives. He is also concerned about the Corinthians first century political correctness that values not rocking the boat more than the couple's welfare.

The confrontation of sin within the Christian community must be done carefully and lovingly so the guidance can be excepted and health can be reestablished. The Corinthians have to be reminded of this when the church refuses to reestablish the couple after they had repented (2 Corinthians). Whenever judgment is destructive or used to elevate ourselves over others it is sin.

But what about those outside the community? Paul reminds us that judgment does not bring life to those who don't yet know Jesus. Here grace, love, service, and truth are key. They are key inside the church as well, but judgment does not make sense to those apart from Christ. I don't expect preChristians to act as though they believe, and I don't expect them to conform their life to a God they do not yet believe in.

Judgment is a separating act, and we are not to separate ourselves from those who are far from God. Paul is clear about that. "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." (1 Cor. 5:9-11)

There is a clear double standard here, and it's inspired by Jesus. He came to heal the sick, so he had to get close to the sick in order to minister to them.

Does this mean that we turn a blind eye to sin? Not at all. We are to give our lives so that God can use us to free people from the death and slavery of sin, but this must be done God's way rather than the world's way.

Do people caught in sin disgust and repel you? Do you go out of your way to keep the godless out of your life? Then you need to repent. Paul tells us that we are to associate with sexually immoral people, with the greedy, swindlers, and idolaters. How else will the power of God come into their lives and bring change? How many preChristians are a part of your life? How many do you invite over to dinner? How many do you invite to join in socially when you and your Christian friends get together?

We need to be careful that we don't become the next generation of Pharisees criticizing Jesus because he's in reaching out to sinners where they live, while we stand outside and watch the world go to hell. Love never stands by. It's never passive. It offers new hope rather than condemnation. In the end, when the time is right, God will bring the necessary judgment.