Tansi Igbo Chaplaincy Toronto

Individual Sin has a Communal Cost

During Lent, as the church community spends time reflecting and repenting together, we examine the effect of sin on our community. Are we willing to confront and rid our community of sinful behaviour? Or will we choose to be silent and all pay the price?

Joshua 7:7, 10-12, 25
7 Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side!”
10 But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? 11 Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. 12 That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.”
25 Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. (NLT)

From an Africa Study Bible Proverbs and Stories note:
One man chose to sin. That sin caused the defeat of Israel’s army and brought disaster on his whole people. The reason Israel could not defeat the small city of Ai was not because they lacked the military might or expertise; it was because of sin. Achan took for himself a beautiful robe and some silver and gold from Jericho and buried them in the ground beneath his tent. He did this after God said such things should be kept “for the treasury of the Lord’s house” (Joshua 6:24).
A Bakongo proverb says Nguba bola yitwadikisanga za mbote, meaning “When you have a rotten peanut in your mouth, you spit it out with the good ones.” A little evil destroys many good achievements. Sin is never so small that it will not cause trouble, and the consequences of sin can be terrible. Achan’s sin caused the loss of many good men in Israel’s camp and the destruction of Achan’s whole family.  

Today:
Do you have a friend or family member who is engaged in sin and crime? The consequence of their sinful choices could destroy your community. Today, prayerfully and lovingly confront them.