Today’s reading: 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
Paul writes about the man living in immorality and tolerated by the community, and tells the Corinthians that “the one who did this deed should be expelled from your midst.” (v. 2). Paul says that he has “pronounced judgment on the one who has committed this deed.” (v.3). Finally, Paul tells them “to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.” (v.5). This is about excommunication and expelling the wicked man from the community of believers.
This is so different from the modernist stance of some pastors in our Church today. Today there are those in the Church who would say such a man must be accepted and accompanied, and that we cannot judge the actions of others. Yes, the sinner should be accepted, but the sin should be judged and called out. Unfortunately, today even the most blatantly pro-abortion persons who claim to be devout Catholics are not confronted with their grave sin, and in fact, even given Holy Communion, thus confirming them in their sin.
The approach and value of these modernists are totally wrong, and destructive to the sinner. Paul favors excommunication. The intent is the destruction of the flesh, but with the hope that the spirit may be saved. The modernists coddle the flesh, do not speak about the sin, and do not look to the discipline of the Church. The result is that the sinner remains in his sin, and in the end, will lose his soul.
The presence and tolerance of openly and publicly grave unrepentant sinners is also destructive for the body. Paul says that “a little yeast leavens all the dough” (v.6). If the grave sinner is not disciplined, this confuses the faithful, who can begin to think that the grave sin is acceptable. Further, as the body, which is the body of Christ, is supposed to be holy, then the presence of sin and evil tarnishes and degrades the whole body.
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