Far too often in the Christian church today we hear of epidemic divorce, rampant immorality, sexual perversion, and a host of other dynamics the Scripture calls sin including social/psychological problems, disorders of one variety or another, and unchecked emotional responses to one's circumstances. Paul's affirmation of 1 Cor. 6:9-11 seems to be something relegated to a bygone era: "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the Kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." Leaders seem to be content with unchecked sin in the church. Moreover, castigated is the Neanderthal who even thinks of confronting someone with his/her sin. Woe to those who even hint of invoking the barbaric practice of church discipline. "Who are we to judge another any way?"

However, in the Scriptures, as noted, we do find a different sentiment. In1 Cor. 5:1-5, Paul was concerned with blatant immorality going on in the church and commanded the church to put the offender out that he might ultimately be saved. He wrote, "(1) It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. (2) And you have become arrogant, and have not mourned instead, in order that the one who had done this deed might be removed from your midst. (3) For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.(4) In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, (5) I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." We too should practice church discipline for a variety of biblical reasons. Seven of those reasons are given in this article.

First, church discipline must be practiced in order to preserve the name of the Lord. In the context immediately prior to v. 1, Paul has just expressed his desire to come to the church at Corinth as a gentle and loving father. He does not want to come with the rod of correction, though he will do so if the "arrogant ones" do not repent. He has given the Corinthians a deferential choice (4:21). Here he continues his thoughts to a certain degree. Previously, he was concerned primarily with arrogant leaders who were leading the people astray through factionalism, slander, and abuse of power. Here, while it may appear he is only concerned with an individual who has fallen into immorality, he is still concerned with the spiritual leadership in the church. He is concerned, in this instance, with their tolerance of sin in the camp. Moreover, Paul is concerned in this regard with the church as a whole and indeed the affect the sin will have upon the church. He is astounded at what he has heard. Note his astonishment with this statement: “it is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife."