Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 12-13; 18:9-22

5. Avoiding Contamination – Continued

Please read Deuteronomy 12:29-13:18; 18:9-22 for the background to this section.

Temptation from friends and relatives (verses 6–11). It would not be difficult to expose and execute a false prophet, but what about a relative or close friend who tempts you to worship a false god? And what if the temptation is secret and the worship of the idol is also secret? As long as you maintained your public image as a worshiper of Jehovah, you might get away with being a secret Baal worshiper. But to this suggestion, Moses gave a resounding, “No!” Even if man’s own wife enticed him to worship idols—King Solomon comes to mind (1 Kings 11:1–13)—the husband was not to shield her but was to take her to the authorities and even participate in her execution. The Jews were to love the Lord their God even more than they loved their own mates or family. Jesus laid down a similar condition for discipleship (Luke 14:25–27). Moses taught that this kind of capital sentence would put the fear of the Lord into the rest of the nation and they would think twice before turning to idols (Deuteronomy 13:11; see 17:13; and 21:21). The lesson for the church is, “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear” (1 Timothy 5:20).

During my years of ministry, I was often aware of other ministers who were unable to deal with flagrant sinners in the church because the offenders had relatives on the board or in the congregation. We attended a church very briefly where the pastor’s son was leading in the praise and worship portion of the service, while all the while, the son was openly living in adultery. When we talked to the pastor about this grievous situation, we were told we were judging and unloving. Because of their refusal to take action against blatant sin in the congregation, the Holy Spirit moved us on, but oh how sad that common situation is today.

How sad it is when the testimony of a church is totally destroyed because of people who put their family ahead of God and His Word. “Peace at any price” isn’t the biblical way to deal with problems, for “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable” (James 3:17). Unity that is based on hypocrisy will never last. On the other hand, I have seen godly people stand with the congregation in disciplining their own relatives who had brought disgrace to the name of Christ and the church.

To Be Continued

Adapted and modified excerpts from Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Equipped, “Be” Commentary Series.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.