When Tolerance Becomes Compromise | 1 Corinthians 4:14-5:8

November 1st, 2026

Pastor Chad McDonald

As Christians, we hold to the Bible as the standard for truth. There is right and wrong. There is moral and immoral, and within the body of Christ, we hold each other to that standard. Wherever you find a church moving away from the truth of God’s Word, you will also find a growing prevalence of sin and immorality where anything goes. Sin is tolerated and even celebrated as a picture of tolerance and acceptance of everyone.

Paul has rebuked the Corinthian church for their lack of Biblical authority. They have mixed the Word with philosophy and rationalism. With their loss of biblical authority, they have also experienced a loss of biblical morality. Gross immorality and sin have occurred in the church. Paul is not writing an open letter to the city of Corinth. He is writing to believers in the church. They have lost their foundation in the truth of God’s Word, and they now find themselves boasting about latitude and tolerance in clear areas of morality. Lives are being destroyed and their gospel witness is diminishing.

Paul calls upon the church to address the issue and remove the brother who is engaging in this lifestyle of sin. I believe that one of the reasons that God inspired Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was so that we might have a clear picture of how to address sin in the church. What should be our motivation and attitude when dealing with sin in the body? Remember, God is not just concerned with what we do, but the manner and the motivation of our actions.

This passage is mission critical to the body of Christ, and I pray you will join us as we gather to recalibrate our lives to the plumb line of God’s Word and worship our Savior and King, Jesus Christ. See you this weekend!