8.9.11 "A Passion for Purity"

"A Passion for Purity"

Ezra 8:21-9:15
I Corinthians 5:1-13
Psalm 31:1-8
Proverbs 21:1-2

How do you feel about sin? I'm not talking about the "It's bad." Sunday School answer. What happens in your heart when you discover a brother or sister in sin? How does it make you feel? Why?

In I Cor. today, Paul is instructing the Corinthian church in a matter of dealing with a man in the church who is living in sin. He instructs them to "call a meeting of the church... and cast out this man from the fellowship of the church and into Satan's hands..." (I Cor 5:4-5)

I think sometimes there is a tendency for some to quickly jump to this response to sin. We can take these few verses without looking at the full context and jump on the desire to see someone thrown out. There is a disgust for the sin which translates to the sinner. The problem with all of this is that the motivation can be judgmental, and not motivated with a heart of brokenness.

In the book of Ezra, Ezra is leading people in the rebuilding of the temple, and restoring the captive Jews to worshiping God. In Chapter 9, It comes to his attention that "many of the Jewish people and even some of the priests and Levites had taken up the horrible customs of the heathen people who lived in the land." Ezra 9:1

Verse 3: "When I heard this, I tore my clothing and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down utterly baffled..." Verse 5: "Finally I stood before the Lord in great embarrassment; then I fell to my knees and lifted my hands to the Lord, and cried out, 'O my God, I am ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you..."

I'm moved by Ezra's brokenness for the sins of God's people. This is how we should be in regards to one another. We need to approach God with such a humility over our sin, that we cry out to him for mercy.

There are 2 elements necessary for this to happen. The first is that we understand the holiness and purity of God. We must guard against treating sin casually. Unfortunately, sin is so prevalent, we get "used to" it. We get comfortable with it. But we must focus on the fact that we need to KNOW God. As his presence is revealed to us, we become full of awe of his greatness and purity. In this setting, sin cannot go unchallenged.

The second element necessary for us to respond to God in brokenness is an intense love for one another. Ezra's passion for repentance came from the understanding that he was one of them. Paul says in I Cor. 5:6 "What a terrible thing it is that you are boasting about your purity, and yet you let this sort of thing go on. Don't you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected?"

If we are Devoted to Unity, we understand that we have obligations to one another to watch out for one another. To keep on the right track to restore one another. To approach God with brokenness.

The following is excerpted from "Just Because You're Right", by Rubel Shelly

Leonard Sweet tells a story from Abraham Lincoln's days as a lawyer in private practice. The story goes that Lincoln was hired to sue a fellow over a debt that totaled $2.50. He didn't want to do it. But the client insisted "principle" was at stake more than money. The two men had been friends, but the delinquent debt had changed things. Now they would be adversaries over a paltry sum of money.

Lincoln's resolution of his own problem of conscience in the matter was to charge his client a $10 fee for handling the case -- to be paid in advance. Then the lawyer with big ears, a craggy face, and insight into human nature gave half his fee to the defendant, who promptly paid the $2.50 he owed.

As with so many Lincoln stories passed around in popular lore, I can't vouch for the factual authenticity of the narrative. What I can affirm for a certainty is that we would all be better served by valuing relationships over vindication.

The point Paul is making to the Corinthian church is not that we go after the sinners. His point is that we love God so much we will protect our relationship with him by guarding against sin.

I find it interesting how the Jewish people and leaders fell into sin. Ezra says in verse 8 "But now we have been given a moment of peace... You have given us a moment of joy and new life in our slavery...." It was in that moment of peace that they fell into sin. In verse 10 he says, "And now, O God, what can we say after all of this? For once again we have abandoned you and broken your laws!"

It's so easy in times of peace to fall into the trappings of sin. We need to continually guard our hearts from sin, and look out for one another. And above all to have such a love for God that we are committed to purity.


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

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