True New Testament Christianity is More than the Fundamentals

The United Methodist Church is headed for a break-up over LGBTQ clergy. Before that the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (and many other denominational groups) in one way or another affirmed same sex unions and some even gay clergy. So, this question arises. Can a church or denomination affirm the gospel and deny basic New Testament teaching on morality and still be characterized as a true church?

For the last 100 years, Bible believers have identified themselves with the fundamental of the faith. The fundamentals are about the gospel. Protecting the gospel was at the heart of the fundamentalist-modernist controversy. In fighting the “battle royal” for the gospel, we cannot forget that there is more to New Testament Christianity than the gospel. This should in no way sound demeaning to the gospel. It is essential. We must fight for it and protect it. However, there are sins–habits of life–that should put individuals and congregations that affirm them outside the bounds of true New Testament Christianity. Paul specifically identifies six of these sins in 1 Corinthians 5.

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat (1 Corinthians 5:11-12).

Paul instructs the believers that people who commit these sins should be rejected from fellowship. Believers should not company with them or accept them as members in good standing in the church. Of course, there is always provision for restoration for those who confess, repent and turn from sin. But if there is no repentance, they should be disowned by the church. Any congregation or group of congregations who accept such sins as behavior becoming a believer must be also disowned as not representing New Testament Christianity. These sins are as much a standard for separation as the corruption of the gospel itself.

So what are they?

Sexual immorality

God created man and woman. God created the sexual relationship. God created marriage. If a brother or sister claims to be a believer and persists in sexual immorality, they must be put out of the church. The church at Corinth not only allowed it within the body, they accepted it and were proud about how inclusive they were. This was obnoxious to God. Same sex relationships, and same sex marriages are sexual immorality, but so is heterosexual sin. Any church that condemns homosexuality while accepting heterosexual immorality is hypocritical. A church that tolerates sexual sin as normal Christian behavior does not reflect true New Testament Christianity.

Covetousness

Now this is a difficult one. Certainly Paul is not intending to classify a passing desire for the things of this world as a church discipline offense. In all cases here, Paul is dealing with public sins. He is talking about people who claim Christianity and who live a public lifestyles given to self-indulgence, desire, and want. He would would include in his thinking the false teachers of his day who used Christianity as a means of building personal wealth (Philippians 3:19). There are other manifestations, but the Prosperity Gospel fits this category.  The gospel of greed pedaled from our shores to distant parts of the globe would certainly reflect the sin Paul speaks of here.

Idolatry

Theological schizophrenics, syncretism, those that mix the simple gospel of Jesus Christ with paganism or any other false systems of faith must also be rejected. You cannot claim Christ and idols. You cannot claim Christ and dead works. You cannot claim Christ and Buddha or Mohammed. Loyalty to Christ must be exclusive.

Abuse

Churches must not harbor bullies. The abuse here is most often reflected in words (certainly spoken, but also written or even posted online) but also in abusive behavior. It is inevitable that churches will at one time or another have abusers for members, but an obedient church cannot know it and accept the abuser and his sin.

Drunkenness

There are other descriptions for this condition—given to wine, incontinent. This is as opposed to sober, self-controlled, of sound mind. Paul places drunkenness in the same category as sexual immorality. This is why people in Bible times commonly took such care to avoid intoxicating drink. They did not define drinks as alcoholic or non-alcoholic as we do today, but as intoxicating or not. They took great care to avoid wine in an intoxicating form by drinking it fresh or more often diluting it with water to remove the potential of intoxication. Paul commands the church at Corinth to remove those given to intoxicating drink from fellowship. Yet, professing Christianity has a reputation of drunkenness in the non-Christian world.

Extortion

This is a person who uses a position of power or privilege to steal from or force money from others. The extortioners of Jesus’ day were the tax collectors. That is why Zacchaeus, upon repentance paid back what he had unfairly taken from people (Luke 19:8). His extortion was legal, but not moral. The business practices of church members matter to God.

The gospel is essential to New Testament Christianity. In the same way, these sins are markers of what is NOT New Testament Christianity. It is the responsibility of every church to root out these sins from its membership. If God is going to send revival to American Christianity, we need to start here.