Failing to Judge Sin

Judges 20:12-14

I.                   Sin needed to be judged 20:6, 13

a.      The evil needed to be put out of Israel

b.      The sin should have been judged when the sons of Belial were still children

c.      Sodomy and bestiality were sins punishable by death Leviticus 18:22-30; 20:13, Deuteronomy 23:17

d.      Sodomy is considered a vile affection in the New Testament Romans 1:26-27

e.      Murder should have been judged as well

f.       If sin isn’t judged quickly sin is actually encouraged Ecclesiastes 8:11

g.      We are not to fellowship as Christians with Christians that have these sins                      I Corinthians 5:11

h.      We are not to fellowship with those that cause division and commit offenses contrary to Bible doctrine Romans 16:17

i.        Do not fellowship with those that walk disorderly II Thessalonians 3:6, 14

j.        Perverse disputings of corrupt minds              I Timothy 6:5

II.                 Benjamin refuses to judge the sin

a.      Men were sent throughout the entire tribe asking for them to give the guilty up to be judged 20:12-13

b.      Possibly the pride that no one should call my hand when I have a problem

c.      Maybe they were all so wicked and depraved that they didn’t want to judge the sin Ephesians 5:11

d.      Maybe the sons of Belial were friends of the right people

e.      Instead of delivering the men Benjamin comes together to do battle 20:14

f.       The Corinthians felt grief but did nothing to hinder the sin I Corinthians 5:2

g.      There is a Biblically right way to deal with sin Matthew 18:15-17

                                                              i.      The goal is to maintain the purity and testimony of the church and the message we preach

                                                             ii.      Our goal is to always restore our brother in Christ

                                                           iii.      Our goal is to exhort and encourage one another

III.              Dealing with sin is painful

a.      It appears severe and an invasion of privacy to take a stand against sin

b.      The sons of Belial have parents, family, friends, and neighbors

c.      If you deal with one sin it may open the discussion of yours

d.      Sin causes people to get hurt but can bring healing—II Corinthians 2:4-11

e.      Not dealing with sin causes far more people to get hurt –100,000 die and a tribe is nearly destroyed

f.       God commands us to deal with sin

g.      Let’s deal with sin personally so that it never comes to this

h.      We should understand that being a part of a church brings a measure of accountability

i.        Failing to deal with sin is far more painful than dealing with it