Christians must deal with sin in the church seriously — confronting gross sin, restoring the repentant, and purging unrepentant sin.
Les Feldick, drawing from the Apostle Paul's instructions, says the church must never make light of a believer's fall. Instead, church leadership should lovingly restore the fallen, and when sin is open and gross, the whole body must confront it and, if necessary, purge the leaven so the congregation's testimony is not lost.
1 Corinthians 5:7 — This verse commands the church to purge out the old leaven, directly prescribing the response to sin in the assembly.
Galatians 6:1 — It instructs spiritual believers to restore a man overtaken in a fault, showing that discipline aims at restoration.
Galatians 6:1 instructs those who are spiritual to restore a man overtaken in a fault. First Corinthians 5:7 tells the church to purge out the old leaven, and 1 John 5:16 says a believer who sees a brother sin a sin not unto death should ask and receive life for that brother. Hebrews 3:13 warns believers to exhort one another daily so none is hardened through sin's deceitfulness. Paul also presents the corporate nature of discipline. First Corinthians 5:4 shows action taken 'in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together.' Romans 3:23 declares that all have sinned, and 2 Corinthians 7:10 distinguishes godly sorrow from the sorrow of the world.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the average church today tends to make light of gross sin, joking about falls and turning a blind eye. But he insists that believers must take sin seriously — it should break our hearts, not amuse us. Church leadership has the responsibility to go to the fallen person and do all they can to restore them into fellowship (Clip 1). Les also teaches that when a born-again church member is bringing reproach to Christ's name, the church must deal with it — confronting the individual or couple as a body, and, if they do not repent, letting the Lord take them home. He uses the analogy of leaven: a little leaven will permeate the whole lump, so the church must purge out the old leaven to protect its testimony (Clips 2, 5). He further explains that discipline is not optional. God has mandated disciplinary action for believers in open, gross sin (Clip 3), and we are not to say 'I can't judge' and turn away. Rather, we take the bull by the horns and point out that they are living in sin (Clip 6). The goal is restoration, but the church must not ignore the situation.
Les Feldick teaches that the proper attitude is broken-heartedness and prayer, not joking or making light. If we hear of a Christian who has fallen into sin, it should break our heart, and we should be burdened and pray for that person. Those in church authority are responsible to go to that person and do all they can to restore them into fellowship (Clip 1). He also points to the Corinthian church, which looked at the whole situation as God would look at it, and dealt with it with godly sorrow, producing carefulness and clearing of themselves (Clip 0).
Les says the church must not turn a blind eye to open, gross sin. The remedy is to take the individuals and confront them as a body of believers, in the name of the Lord Jesus when gathered together (Clip 4). He further says when it comes to discipline within the believing community and we are totally aware of gross, immoral sin, we are not to turn the other way and say 'I can't judge.' Instead, we take the bull by the horns and point out to that person that they are living in sin (Clip 6).
Les warns that if we allow open gross sin, it will not be long until the congregation loses its testimony. The world will look at them and say, 'I don't live any worse than they do; I don't need Christianity.' He uses the analogy of leaven: a little yeast affects the whole lump, so the church must purge out the old leaven that is causing the whole lump to be leavened (Clips 2, 5).
Les asks how we recognize sin and how we deal with it, and answers with one word: faith. Unless we believe what God says about certain activities, we don't know that it is sin. When God says it and we believe it, then we know what it is. Our whole daily walk is prompted by faith in God (Clip 7).
Godly Sorrow in Corinth
Les explains that the Corinthian church corrected the sinful individual with godly sorrow, producing carefulness and clearing of themselves.
Restoring an Overtaken Brother
Les teaches that a believer's fall should break our hearts, not be joked about, and church leadership must work to restore the fallen person.
The Leaven of Sin
Les says the church must deal with born-again members who bring reproach to Christ, because a little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Sin Unto Death
Les explains that 1 John 5:16 mandates disciplinary action by the church to restore a believer in deep open sin.
Corporate Confrontation
Les says open immorality must be confronted by the gathered body of believers in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Purging the Old Leaven
Les teaches that open sin must be purged out like leaven, or the church loses its testimony to the world.
Taking the Bull by the Horns
Les says Christians must not turn the other way when gross sin is known; they must lovingly point out that the person is living in sin.
Faith-Filled Walk
Les teaches that we recognize and deal with sin by faith, believing what God says about certain activities.
Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
This verse is central to Les's teaching that the goal of discipline is restoration, not condemnation.
1 Corinthians 5:7: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
This is the direct command to purge sin from the assembly.
1 John 5:16: If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
Les uses this to explain that discipline is mandated for believers in open sin.
2 Corinthians 7:10: For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
It shows the difference between godly and worldly sorrow in dealing with sin.
Hebrews 3:13: But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
It shows the daily responsibility to keep sin from hardening hearts.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
It reminds us that all have sinned, so discipline must be done with humility.
1 Corinthians 5:4: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
It shows that church discipline is corporate, in the name of Jesus.
Les says the church today often thinks nothing of gross sin and even jokes about it, but that is wrong. A believer's fall should break our hearts, and the church must deal with sin rather than ignore it.
Les teaches that when gross sin is known in the believing community, we are not to say 'I can't judge.' We are to take the bull by the horns and point out to that person that they are living in sin, always seeking restoration.
Les compares sin in the church to leaven, which cannot be contained. The church must thoroughly cleanse itself of open, gross sin so that the whole congregation does not become corrupted and lose its testimony.
Watch the Teaching: Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow — 2 Corinthians 7:10 Explained