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MERCY IN JUDGMENT
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10
2 Corinthians 2:5-11
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
 
“Sufficient to such a man
is this punishment …”
 
MERCY IN JUDGMENT
 
In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul rebuked the Corinthian Christians for failing to discipline a man who had slept with his stepmother. Even in a sexually promiscuous city like Corinth, this act was so shameful that it was described as “such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles” (1 Cor 5:1). What a shame to the name of Christ!
 
Nevertheless, the Corinthian Christians were so spiritually apathetic that they refused to deal with the situation. When Paul visited the Corinthian church a second time, they opposed his instruction to discipline the man. This moved Paul to write his severe letter to chide them for sweeping sin under the carpet and not being concerned for the purity of the church. Thankfully, after reading the severe letter, the Corinthian Christians realised their error and took the offender to task. The man also genuinely repented of his sin and stopped his opposition to the Apostle Paul.
 
However, the Corinthian Christians now swung to the other extreme. They continued to inflict punishment despite the man’s genuine repentance. They failed to understand the purpose of church discipline: (1) to protect the purity of the church and (2) to seek the restoration of the sinner unto a right fellowship with Christ. An overly harsh punishment would in fact play into the hands of Satan, for this would cause a brother to be divided from the church (v 11). Now that the man had genuinely repented, the right way was to forgive him as how Christ has forgiven, and to receive him back into the fellowship of the church. There must be mercy amid judgment.
 
While God’s discipline of His children is necessarily painful, it is always well-thought out and in moderation (Isa 27:1-9). He does not under-punish nor over-punish. Any form of discipline, whether in the church or at home, must be carried out according to the same principle. Discipline must not be carried out in frustration. Discipline should seek restoration, not destruction.
 
THOUGHT: A good judge is a weeping judge.
PRAYER: Merciful Father, teach me how to be merciful to others.

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