By inclusiveness, I mean “no holds barred,” no exclusion. Today the word pluralism probably fits as well as any. I raise a question by the Holy Bible, Is anyone to be excluded from the church, or are all embraced as welcome? We often see on the church bulletin boards, “Everyone Welcome.” Now, what does that mean?
Are there any scriptural standards for membership in the church? How well are churches following those standards?
Some churches advertise their “open door” policy. They say, “You are welcome. Come as you are.”
The church at Corinth adopted the open door idea that Paul addressed in I Corinthians 5:1-8:
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, [concerning] him that hath so done this deed,
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,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
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:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
To correct the IMPROPER INCLUSIVENESS in the church, the apostle outlines the necessary PROCEDURES every church must follow.
The first procedure is:
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
Paul said it was commonly known, widely broadcast, that in the church at Corinth was an incestuous man who had his father’s wife. Perhaps the Corinthians were lifted up. He said some of you “are puffed up.” Perhaps their motto was ‘We welcome everyone.’
“Fornication” translates the New Testament Greek word for improper sexual conduct. In its noun and verb forms, it is used 31 times in the New Testament, always describing improper sex.
The conduct the Corinthians allowed in their church was not even named among the pagan world, not so much as named among the Gentiles. The world judged the practice wrong. Though pagans were ignorant of the Holy Scriptures, they said such conduct was not right.
The church had this incestuous man among their membership. The conduct was condoned by some. Some even prided themselves with their tolerance, with their inclusiveness, with their pluralism. Instead, they should have been sorry. That man should have been excommunicated. They should have taken him off their membership list.
I am acquainted with some of the churches of West Africa. In one of the churches, the wife of a young pastor died. So he was eager, of course, to find another companion for his ministry. Then indiscreetly he star...
