And You Are So Proud?

1 Corinthians 5:1-2
(1) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. (2) AND YOU ARE PROUD! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?

How you react to issues that may not directly concern you tells a lot about what you will do if you were in that position. If you read and hear about domestic violence and you react to the news by saying these things are normal – it may suggest that you condone such acts. If you learn from the news that someone lost money to thieves and your response to the news is that the victim was careless – you have sided with the thieves!

How do we react to the news that a person has been raped late evening? Do we ask what they were doing late evening in a dark alley? Do we get angry that our society is not safe for people to walk late evening? What does your reaction tell us about your perception of rape and society? Should society be safe enough for women and anyone else to walk around in alleys late at night? Isn’t that a better society? Or do you prefer a society where out of fear, women and others lock themselves at home early in the evening out of fear? Do you prefer a society caged in fear? Your reaction tells a lot about you!

When poor people are suffering – do you blame them for laziness? When someone speaks out and they are punished, do you blame them for speaking freely? Does it mean you prefer a society without freedom of expression? When a leader who didn’t corrupt their way is suffering after leadership for lack of money, do we blame him for not stealing money like others so that he lives comfortably? Doesn’t that suggest that we are corrupt only that we lack the opportunity?

Our text today tells us that there was sexual immorality in the church in Corinth. It was actually incest. This was supposed to be disgusting news for a church of God that has high moral standards. However, what shocked Apostle Paul was that the Corinthians were arrogantly proud of such acts taking place among them. Apostle Paul is shocked at their reaction! And you are so proud? What a reaction!

Apostle Paul tells the church that this type of immorality is unacceptable even among heathens and it would not be tolerated, yet church members are so proud of it. Apostle Paul tells them that the appropriate response would be to mourn and cut off relations with that sinner. Yet the church is so proud. Paul is shocked. And you are so proud? What a reaction!

Their reaction meant that they supported the immoral person. Their reaction meant that given the same chance they would also engage in incest. Their reaction meant that they saw no problem in incest within the church. Paul writes in shock. And you are so proud? What a reaction!

Church elders disagree with a pastor and chase him away. You are a distant observer but you proudly report to others that our church doesn’t tolerate a pastor who is not serious. A choir beats up the teacher and you report by saying that the teacher was too much and deserved it. You seem excited and elated by such events. You speak with pride of achievement. This is what shocked Apostle Paul. And you are so proud? What a reaction!

You report to us that people in your estate are so immoral, but how you say it is like they have achieved something great that deserves applause. You report to us how a short-tempered person beat up another one, you tell us with a sense of pride and admiration that the short-tempered person should not be played with. Is that how to react? As if you are so proud of it? And you are so proud? What a reaction!

When someone you dislike suffers and you declare that it serves him or her right, aren’t you supporting the perpetrators of suffering? Is that what Christ meant when He said, love your neighbors? Matthew 5:44. How do you react to issues that are far or near? It tells a lot about you.

Ezekiel 9:4
and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it. ”

Those to be saved in the purge in Jerusalem are those who react appropriately to what is going on in Jerusalem. Detestable things were going on in Jerusalem. Those who reacted by grieving and lamenting were saved. The rest were treated as collaborators in the ongoing evil. You are part of the evil that doesn’t hurt and disappoint you. You are as evil as those who are committing sins for which you aren’t hurt or disgusted about. If you witness wrongdoing and it doesn’t hurt you or cause you to want to see an end to it, you are part of that evil and will perish with it.

What is your reaction to the events in your neighborhood? What is your reaction to the events at the workplace? What is your reaction to the fact that someone lost a job or was demoted? What is your reaction to someone being mistreated and harassed? What is your reaction to news about human suffering across the country and across the world?

What is your reaction to a broken relationship? What is your reaction to the information that some couples are having serious struggles? What is your reaction to a friend’s failed business? What is your reaction to a neighbor’s child who failed exams?

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

The message is simple – react appropriately. Always remember your reaction or lack of it says a lot about you and even your eternal destiny. May God help us to react appropriately, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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