Daily Devotion for Lent 2021 - Day 16

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 5 (NRSV)

As Paul addresses specific concerns with members of the Corinthian church, we come to sexual immorality.  A man living with his step-mother was in clear violation of Jewish law according to Deuteronomy 27:20:

“Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has violated his father’s rights.” All the people shall say, “Amen!”

Roman law at the time also had prohibitions against this.

It was more about the violation of the man's rights than the woman's at the time but it was also about establishing moral boundaries that are important to observe that help all genders.  

Attraction begins at a young age.  These
young women find this humorous because they
are in charge.  Would they feel as comfortable
if this young man were 40 years older
and their boss?

Sexuality emotions are very simple and at the same time very complex.

Sometimes if it is culturally acceptable, comments may be made without consideration and seen as normal.  Recently, American culture has been reexamining what is okay and what isn't with regard to how men interact with women.  Specifically, if there are power differentials in play such as a boss and an intern where one's employment might be threatened, this speaks to coercion that may make the younger person uncomfortable.

New York's governor,  Andrew Cuomo, has made the news recently about his own inappropriate interactions with much younger women including two that worked for him.  It just came out that Kansas Jayhawks football coach Les Miles has also had investigations for his interactions with young women while he was working at LSU.  

Both of these are examples of unwanted advances that society is trying not to continue to overlook.  

Paul seems to be instructing the church in the first century that we are to watch out for how our interactions with one another should respect boundaries.  Paul instructs the new church not to associate with anyone who is "sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber."

He is pretty adamant in what our response should be: "Drive out the wicked person from among you."

This letter was written prior to Matthew's gospel.  Was Paul aware of the (then) oral tradition of Peter's conversation with Jesus when he asks if he should forgive someone from the church as many as seven times?  Of course, Jesus' response was "as many as seventy-seven times" which implies that we shouldn't try to keep track of the grace we offer.

Does sexuality rise to a new class of sin?  Is it worse than other types?  We should note that Paul lists it along with others that we might not be as quick to condemn such as greed and reviling.  

Sexuality is complex because attraction changes.  It is complex because jealousies can arise.  It is complex because misunderstandings can destroy relationships.  Yes, you can be friends with an ex but this is often the exception rather than the rule.

Paul is trying to preserve a new expression of faith.  He may see the erosion of boundaries as particularly destructive to a young congregation.  Until it can be established, a burgeoning faith community may need to restrict its membership to those who are willing to follow its guidelines.  After a church has matured in its identity, then it can begin to extend the grace that we all receive.

It should be noted that during times of stress or anxiety, people tend to let boundaries erode.  As we all continue through this pandemic, we may need to be extra-vigilant in our own observance of our boundaries.  If we are not, we could end up being a "reviler" which in Paul's list equates us with sexual immorality.  So rather than take this as excessively judgmental, we should see this as a reminder that Christians are to be respecters of others.

Prayer for the day:

Blessed God, we seek to show respect to ourselves and to others.  Help us to maintain important boundaries - especially in our relationships.  Where there may be attraction that could tempt us to cross lines we shouldn't, let us examine it for what it is.  Give us the strength to respect the relationships we have established so that we can avoid harm to ourselves and those around us.  May we find joy in one another simply as fellow children of God.  Amen.

Photo by Eugene Kim via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

All scripture quoted is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.