Jesus told us not to judge one another. But here Paul says: “Are you not to judge those inside [the church]?” Jesus is encouraging us to always regard other people with grace and humility not considering ourselves better than them. What Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to do here is to discern what is going to be harmful for the church community as well as what is best for those who reject the values of the community. We should not judge people for what they believe or how they live, this is God’s responsibility (5:12-13). But we should discern what effect an individual might have on the harmony within the Christian community. If I join a cricket club and then consistently refuse to play by the rules of the game no one would blame the leaders of the club for taking issue with my involvement. Obviously, with spiritual things, it is much more serious. A culture of commitment and faithfulness is vital to the health and effectiveness of the Christian community. What we do as Christians is never just about us. We must always consider our choices in the light of their community effect. We can undermine a healthy community culture or we can strengthen it. Let us live in such a way that strengthens not only our own character but the corporate culture of our church.
How can you strengthen your Christian community?
Read 1 Corinthians 5
