What happens to a congregation if it allows open and gross sin?
If a congregation tolerates open and gross sin, the sin spreads like leaven through the whole lump, and the congregation soon loses its testimony. The world then sees no difference between the church and itself, concludes it does not need Christianity, and rejects the church’s witness.
Les explains that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. If a church allows open sin, gross sin, then it will not be long until the congregation loses its testimony. The world driving by says it lives no worse than they do, does not need Christianity, and then the church wonders why its testimony is lost. The remedy is to purge out the old leaven, as Orthodox Jewish people clean house before Passover, searching for any leaven or yeast.