Unrepentant Sin and Church Discipline for Porn Addiction
The concept of unrepentant sin and church discipline is rooted in biblical teachings on the importance of holiness within the community of believers. In the New Testament, Jesus instructs his followers on how to handle sin within the church, advising that if a brother sins, they should rebuke them, and if they refuse to listen, they should be treated as a pagan or tax collector, effectively being excluded from the community [2].
This principle is further developed in the writings of the apostle Paul, who emphasizes that unrepentant sin corrupts fellowship both among people and between the people and God. In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses a case of incest within the Corinthian church, instructing the believers to remove the unrepentant individual from their midst to prevent the sin from corrupting the entire community [1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 9]. The goal of such discipline is not punitive but restorative, aiming to bring the individual to repentance.
one commentary tradition on 1 John 3:8 highlights that committing sin is characteristic of being "of the devil," contrasting with doing righteousness, which is characteristic of being "of God" [1]. This underscores the seriousness with which the early Christian community viewed unrepentant sin. The commentary also notes that sinning "from the beginning" refers to the ongoing nature of sin in a person's life, suggesting that unrepentant sin is a sign of not being born of God.
In the context of porn addiction, which can be classified under sexual sin, the biblical teaching is clear that such behavior is not acceptable for believers. The Protestant academic commentary on 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 warns that continuing in unrepentant sexual sin indicates a heart that has not been renewed by the Holy Spirit [3]. Church discipline in such cases would involve confronting the individual with their sin, with the hope of bringing them to repentance.
The Baptist/Reformed commentary on 2 Corinthians 2:11 highlights the importance of church discipline in preventing Satan from gaining an advantage over the church. Neglecting discipline or turning it into tyranny can lead to Satan's gain. Thus, church discipline is not only about correcting the individual but also about maintaining the purity and integrity of the church community.
Sources
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 18:17: 18:17 The church is the local Christian community. • The unrepentant person is to be considered a pagan or a corrupt tax collector, a wicked transgressor of the law. Church discipline by exclusion (excommunication; see Acts 5:1-6; Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 5:1-13; 2 Cor 6:14-18; Gal 5:7-12; 2 Thes 3:14-15) is rooted in the conviction that God’s people are to be holy and that sin corrupts fellowship, both between people and between the people and God. The goal is neither vindictive retribution nor a public display of power, but restoration of the wayward to holiness and f”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:9: 6:9-11 Those who willingly sin have no share in the Kingdom of God. The lives of Christians must reflect the faith they confess. 6:9 Don’t fool yourselves: Sin is deceptive; believers should not take it lightly, as if it were somehow acceptable (Jer 17:9). • Continuing to indulge unrepentantly in sexual sin indicates a heart that has not been renewed by the Holy Spirit. Sexual sins include adultery (see Exod 20:14; Matt 5:27-28) and practicing homosexuality (cp. Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Tim 1:10).”