Pastor Ralph Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 Q3. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? We might use the analogy of a “bad apple.” What in Paul’s background might explain his use of “getting rid of yeast”? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickledilly Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 In Scripture, yeast almost always represents sin and disobedience to God. It’s another word-picture God used a number of times to help us understand the creeping influence of sin when it is left to its natural tendency to spread and grow. In baking bread or fermenting wine for instance, it only takes a tiny amount of yeast to permeate and affect complete change of the whole as the little fungus begins to eat away at sugars to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. The unchecked presence of arrogant sin is a corrupting influence that infiltrates and spoils the sweetness of the entire Body’s spiritual life as it begins to incite and provoke everyone affected by it. I read that the word yeast originates from a Sanskrit word that means “to boil or seethe”. So often, pride agitates and puffs up both those who are intoxicated by their own sins and those who become soured in opposition. Either way, the Spirit’s control and guidance are compromised, and the mission/purpose of the Church is hindered. We’re to represent the pure character of Christ to the world, not damage His reputation by the hypocrisy of harboring sins that always have consequences. With Paul’s extensive background as a Jew who obeyed Jewish law and observed Jewish ordinances, he was very well acquainted with the lessons the LORD taught Israel about yeast through the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This feast began with Passover, after the day of preparation that included removal of all yeast from the people’s homes. That act was to call the people to examine their hearts for even the smallest sin, confess it, and then sweep it out of their lives. The next 7 days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread were a reminder that deliverance came through affliction in Egypt (which represents the condition of being in bondage to sin), and a picture of the call to leave behind the corruption of sin without hesitation in order to follow the LORD and enter into freedom. In vs.8, Paul used this picture to contrast the malice/evil of what is leavened with the sincerity (purity)/truth of what is unleavened. Our Christian lives should reflect the process of being cleansed from the corrupting influence of sin and being transformed as a new pure creation in Christ. That process requires a separation from close associations with any believer who chooses to remain in sin. This separation also protects our own reputations and godly influence from “guilt by association”. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Openly sinning members can affect others in the congregation by giving others the idea that it is alright if they aren't punished through the church board for their sin. If you let "one bad apple" stay long enough among the good ones, sooner or bad others go bad. That is the same thing with people. One person sinning can cause others to sin. Paul stated to "get rid of the bad yeast", so a new batch can be made that is without the sinning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charisbarak Posted March 24, 2014 Report Share Posted March 24, 2014 It is a detriment, especially for those who previously committed those sins. Leave that bad apple in a batch and soon you'll have all rotten apples! Yeast represented sin. If left to itself, it grows!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parkerslope Posted March 24, 2014 Report Share Posted March 24, 2014 How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? It gives the impression that what the Christian is doing while sinning is alright to do. It gives them permission. No discipline is done. What in Paul's background might explain his use of "getting rid of yeast"? Paul was a Pharisee, a well educated Jew in the Mosaic Law. He would understand the procedure of taking all the yeast our of his house before the Passover. As yeast represented sin. And as yeast in put into a lump of dough, it will spread throughout. Paul was telling the Corinthian church to remove the sinner so that others will not do as he did in practicing sin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion of Grace Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 The presence of anyone who openly sins in a church is a message to everyone that sin is tolerable! Even entire bodies of leadership can be corrupted when sin is tolerated. It doesn't have to be only immorality. Faithlessness, worldliness, selfishness and other sin among leadership that is tolerated begins the slippery slope of compromise for the whole church! Paul's background was in being a Jew, a Pharisee and in knowing and practicing Mosaic law. He spoke in reference to the Passover where all the yeast was removed from the house. As Passover celebrated the Jews deliverance from death and bondage, yeast represented sin and the need to be set apart from sin, having none of it in the house. He referenced those in the church that were the "yeast" were contaminating the entire "loaf" or congregation. He was reminding them that they were set apart and should retain the purity of the church. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanMary Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 Q3. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? We might use the analogy of a “bad apple.” What in Paul’s background might explain his use of “getting rid of yeast”? Paul's strict Jewish background as a Pharisee involved the diligent removal of any and all yeast (representing sin) from the home before the Passover celebration. Paul saying "Do you not know that a little leaven will ferment the whole lump?" was his way of saying they needed "to clean house" in the church. Winking at the sin of a few would eventually corrupt the entire church. The fallen nature could lead some to follow the sinners path if sin is not frowned upon and being dealt with by those in authority, eventually infecting the whole body. Some would follow, some would leave the church, some would stay and try to remain "neutral"....none of which are good choices! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sank T Monius Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 Q). How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? A). The openly sinning members disregard for righteousness can spread to others in the church. In a similar way the rot in one bad apple can spread to all the surrounding apples if it isn't quickly spotted and removed. # Q). We might use the analogy of a "bad apple." What in Paul's background might explain his use of "getting rid of yeast"? A). Paul is alluding to the practice of Jews during the Feast of the Unleavened Bread to get rid of yeast in their homes and bake bread without the starter lump of yeast-containing dough that they would have saved from the previous batch of bread (Exodus 12:15-20; 13:7). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 Q3. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? We might use the analogy of a "bad apple." What in Paul's background might explain his use of "getting rid of yeast"? Paul is concerned for the integrity and purity of the church. Even one persistent sinner within the church, who remains accepted without discipline, taints the whole body. Like the analogy of the ‘bad apple’, Paul use the analogy of yeast, where yeast is depicted as moral sin. The apostle is saying that if we tolerate a little moral sin in the church, it will soon grow and expand until the whole fellowship is seriously affected. Disciplinary action has to be taken otherwise the whole worship and community life of the church becomes a mockery, full of hypocrisy and falsehood. We must differentiate between a believer who delights in continually sinning and our normal believers who are struggling and trying their utmost to live the Christian life. We are all sinners and continually sin, but at least we are trying to live a life dedicated to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There is an openness and honesty, and a walking in the light of God’s presence. Previously Paul had written in Galatians 5:9, "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough", with the same meaning: it only takes one wrong person to infect all the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinstonY Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 Q3. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? Our physical cravings are very strong. Consider alcohol, smokers, gamblers and people addicted to to sex, games, etc. When one in the community is doing any one in the community is doing any of these things than the attraction to others is very strong and these are than are than attracted away from the way of Christ. We might use the analogy of a “bad apple.” What in Paul’s background might explain his use of “getting rid of yeast”? The Jewish sect thought the Christian movement was like a bad apple in the barrel. The Jews killed Jesus and Paul himself held the cloaks of the stoners of Stephen. Paul must have advocated the removing of the bad apple syndrome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lighthouse2014 Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Q3. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? We might use the analogy of a “bad apple.” What in Paul’s background might explain his use of “getting rid of yeast”? The presence of openly sinning members in the body could cause the whole congregation to go bad. Allowing sin could suggest that it is alright to do these types of sin. It would be better not to associate with them, especially if they refuse to repent. Paul's background, in his use of getting rid of the bad yeast (sin), could corrupt the body of the Church, get rid of the resistant sinners (bad yeast). Start with fresh dough, the spirit filed body with no yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar Jim Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Q3. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? Firstly, the more we see sin, the less we fear it. If flagrant sin is present in the church and people tolerate that and condone it, before long more and more people in the church will beging to believe it's OK. I know we're talking about sexual sin here, but that principle also holds true for many other sins. See a church member cheating in his business? Then it must be OK, right? See a church member harming his or her body . . which is the temple of the Holy Spirit . . by drinking to excess and smoking and partaking in drug use? Then it must be OK, right? No it's not! We might use the analogy of a “bad apple.” What in Paul’s background might explain his use of “getting rid of yeast”? Paul was a Pharisee and was well acquainted with the practice of removing yeast from the home at cerimonial times. Although a necessary ingredient in the making of bread, yeast was a symbol of sin in the Old Testament. When they removed the yeast from their homes at Passover and the Feast of Unleaven Bread, they were symbolically removing sin from their lives. The baking of bread without yeast for the ceremonies was a symbol of moving forward in their lives without the burden of sin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Beenleigh Posted April 4, 2014 Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in he body? Causes others to lower their standards and sin also, to undermine their faith in Christ and in the church. What in Paul's background might explain his use of " getting rid of the yeast"? Paul had been a Pharisee which required strict compliance with the total removal of yeast from one's household. To remove the sinner before he corrupted the whole cogregation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted April 4, 2014 Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 Openly sinning people within the church cause division within the church. They are particularly harmful to young Christians who are developing Christian life styles, morals, ethics, etc. Openly sinning members can cause confusion among this fragile group of believers. The reference to yeast in this passage of scripture is taken out of Exodus 12 during the Israelite exodus from Egypt. A little bit of yeast goes a long way. A little bit of sin in the church, like yeast in dough, does a long way in affecting the church. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Jerry Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 The presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body because they see that the church will do nothing to get rid of them. Then that person that is sinning will be talking to others that might not be grounded in Christ and will start to lead them away. The thing that is in Paul’s background that might explain his use of “getting rid of the yeast” is that the feast of unleavened bread was celebrated for a week. That is when the Jews would clean their houses and try to find all the yeast containing products and get rid of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haar Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Q3. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? We might use the analogy of a "bad apple." What in Paul's background might explain his use of "getting rid of yeast"? When sin of an individual is tolerated in the group, others soon do same since they do not expect any one to challenge them. "Getting rid of yeast" refers to the disciplining that could involve excommunicating the sinning member to prevent others from committing same or similar sin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blezed Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? 1. Other members of the body will disregard righteousness want to sin. We might use the analogy of a “bad apple.” What in Paul’s background might explain his use of “getting rid of yeast”? 2. Paul is alluding to the practice of Jews during the Feast of the Unleavened Bread to get rid of yeast in their homes and bake bread without the starter lump of yeast-containing dough that they would have saved from the previous batch of bread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dixonle Posted June 20, 2014 Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 Q3. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? We might use the analogy of a “bad apple.” What in Paul’s background might explain his use of “getting rid of yeast”? Our instructor writes that “…the rot in one bad apple can spread to all the surrounding apples it is not quickly spotted and removed. Paul is warning the Corinthian Church that if they do not remove the unrepentant member, that this disregard for righteousness will spread to others in the church…” Paul alludes to the idea that using left over dough/yeast will infiltrate the new yeast and affect the quality of the new “mixed” batch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissioned Posted December 6, 2014 Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 Q3. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? We might use the analogy of a “bad apple.” What in Paul’s background might explain his use of “getting rid of yeast”? The presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body because they adopt the attitude that the behavior is acceptable. Paul’s background as a Jew, gave him the experience of what happens when yeast is used in bread, it spreads. His analogy shows that sin contaminates when left unaddressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoanG Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Lets start with the fact that people will gossip about the person that is sinning. They will all try to point fingers or take the side of the sinner. This will cause a lot of conflict within the congregation. The people will start to judge the actions of the elders. They will talk about their abilities to be effective or where their hearts really are. They will question their effectiveness to really lead the church in a Christian way. People will compare their sins against the sinner and feel that they are not so bad. Sin will start to be given degrees of seriousness. More and more evil acts will start to be considered okay. People will start to soften their moral judgment. Paul was a stout Jew. He followed all the words of the law. he would have thrown away any dough with yeast in it on Sabbaths and feasts were yeast had to be avoided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irmela Posted May 11, 2022 Report Share Posted May 11, 2022 1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? We might use the analogy of a "bad apple." What in Paul's background might explain his use of "getting rid of yeast"? Others in the body will notice if no appropriate discipline is carried out on the members that are openly sinning. This will stir up gossip, judgmental behaviour and soon others follow in those footsteps of the ones sinning. So many are led astray. In Paul's background, at Passover , the time was taken to get rid of any bit of yeast in the home. This was the spiritual picture of getting rid of any sin in one's life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krissi Posted June 22, 2023 Report Share Posted June 22, 2023 Jews today, when they celebrate Passover, remove all traces of yeast from their homes. I don’t know why they focus on this food, in particular, but it’s an ancient practice and like all behaviors in traditional Jewish ceremonies, is highly symbolic. Whether yeast symbolizes sin, separating from non-Jews, self-control … or whatever, I’m sure Paul knew what it meant to Jews in his time, as did Jesus. Clearly, yeast had negative connotations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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