What is the correct Christian moral teaching?

[McCulloch]

The situation:
Someone claiming to be a Christian does a wrong. It is not an error or a slip. It is a deliberate, premeditated and continuing act that he or she knows is wrong. A non-believer publicly accuses the Christian of doing the wrong act, but has insufficient evidence to prove the case.

Questions:
What is the correct response of a Christian who has done wrong to such an accusation according to Christians moral teachings and ethics? How should such a Christian respond to the non-believing accusers? How should such a Christian respond to the community of believers? How does the concept of being a light unto the world fit in? Is it your experience that the Christian community has effectively embraced their own moral principles on this? Is it that such activity belies the person's claim to be a true Christian?

Please do not answer this according to your own opinions. Cite the Christian Bible, Christian religious leaders and teachers, and Christian example to support your answer.

Edited for clarity.

[Amos]

The situation:
Someone claiming to be a Christian does a wrong. It is not an error or a slip. It is a deliberate, premeditated and continuing act that he or she knows is wrong. A non-believer publicly accuses the Christian of doing the wrong act, but has insufficient evidence to prove the case.

Questions:
What is the correct response to such an accusation according to Christians moral teachings and ethics? How should such a Christian respond to the non-believing accusers? How should such a Christian respond to the community of believers? How does the concept of being a light unto the world fit in? Is it your experience that the Christian community has effectively embraced their own moral principles on this? Is it that such activity belies the person's claim to be a true Christian?

Please do not answer this according to your own opinions. Cite the Christian Bible, Christian religious leaders and teachers, and Christian example to support your answer.

For argument’s sake, I will assume that by “publicly accuses� you mean the non-believer has made his accusation known to the brethren of the sinning Christian. The Scriptures teach that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established (Deuteronomy 17:6, Matthew 18:16). Since the evidence of the sin is not sufficient to prove the case, the testimony of the single witness is insufficient to require the church to disfellowship the sinning brother in accordance with 1 Corinthians 5.

It probably is sufficient, though, to cause the elders of the congregation to investigate the matter to determine if there is any validity to the charge. Elders are to shepherd the church of God, watching out for the souls of the congregation as those who must give an account (Acts 20:28, Hebrews 13:17). If the elders determine the charges are true, they would be compelled to purge the leaven (sin) from the church so that it wouldn’t leaven the whole lump (encourage others to sin, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7). 1 Corinthians 5:6-13 is rather clear in declaring that it is wrong for a church to allow sin to be practiced by its members.

The objective of removing the sinning brother from the group is to encourage him to repent so that he may be saved (1 Corinthians 5:5, 2 Corinthians 2:3-8, 2 Corinthians 7:2-12). The Scriptures teach that in order for Christians to maintain fellowship with God, they must walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:5-2:6). The light in this context is the truth of the gospel, the commandments of Christ. If we fail to walk in the light, we have no fellowship with God and the blood of Christ will not continually cleanse us from all sin.

I’m sure someone will say this sinning Christian is not really a Christian, but that opinion is contrary to the Scriptures. 2 Peter 2:20-22 says this of false teachers: For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,� and “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.�� Who has escaped the pollutions of the world but the Christian?

And in Hebrews 3 a warning is given to “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,� whose Apostle and High priest of their confession is Christ Jesus (v 1) in verses 12 and 13: Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,� lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.� How can you depart from God if you are not in fellowship with Him? How can you be hardened if you are already hard?

[McCulloch]

Thank you Amos. You pointed out a weakness in the wording of the OP. What I was looking for was the correct response on the part of the Christian wrong-doer?

For example, if you were the one doing this wrong and being accused, what do you then do? How do you react? Is it the appropriate thing to initially deny the accusations against you that you, yourself know to be true? Is it the Christian thing to attack one's accuser, given that the accuser is correct?

[Amos]

Thank you Amos. You pointed out a weakness in the wording of the OP. What I was looking for was the correct response on the part of the Christian wrong-doer?

For example, if you were the one doing this wrong and being accused, what do you then do? How do you react? Is it the appropriate thing to initially deny the accusations against you that you, yourself know to be true? Is it the Christian thing to attack one's accuser, given that the accuser is correct?

Of course, the proper reaction is for the sinner to immediately repent when confronted. Ideally, you'd hope that a Christian would be pricked in his heart and cease and decist from his sinful behavior without having to be told because God sees what's going on even if nobody else does (Hebrews 4:13). And we are to put on the new man as Christians, no longer walking according to the lusts of the flesh if we expect to be saved (Colossians 3:1-11, Ephesians 2:1-3, 5:1-12, 1 Peter 4:1-5, Hebrews 3:1-14).

But to get to your scenario, David, a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), displayed the proper attitude in 2 Samuel 12:13 when Nathan confronted him about his murdering Uriah the Hittite: "I have sinned against the Lord." The 51st Psalm shows David's remorse and desire to be right with God again.

Peter also showed the proper attitude in Matthew 26:69-75. When he came to his senses after denying Christ, he wept bitterly. And we can see from the rest of his life that his repentance was genuine.

Paul withstood Peter to his face because he was being a hypocrite in Galatians 2. 2 Peter was written after the Galatian letter, and if you believe it was actually written by Peter as I do, 3:16 shows Peter didn't hold a grudge against Paul.

The bottom line is that a Christian must repent of his sins if he is to maintain fellowship with God (1 John 1:5-2:6, Acts 8:9-24).

[InTheFlesh]

The situation:
Someone claiming to be a Christian does a wrong. It is not an error or a slip. It is a deliberate, premeditated and continuing act that he or she knows is wrong. A non-believer publicly accuses the Christian of doing the wrong act, but has insufficient evidence to prove the case.

Questions:
What is the correct response of a Christian who has done wrong to such an accusation according to Christians moral teachings and ethics? How should such a Christian respond to the non-believing accusers? How should such a Christian respond to the community of believers? How does the concept of being a light unto the world fit in? Is it your experience that the Christian community has effectively embraced their own moral principles on this? Is it that such activity belies the person's claim to be a true Christian?

Rom.8
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

[Amos]

Rom.8
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8 teaches that those who walk according to the flesh will be condemned, but those who walk according to the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the flesh, will live (v. 1, 13).

The original question was about how a Christian who is walking according to the flesh should react when a non-believer calls him on it. Is your answer to this question that it is impossible for a Christian to sin, or is it that a Christian is no longer accountable for his behavior?

[InTheFlesh]

Rom.8
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

*Romans 8 teaches that those who walk according to the flesh will be condemned, but those who walk according to the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the flesh, will live (v. 1, 13).

#The original question was about how a Christian who is walking according to the flesh should react when a non-believer calls him on it. Is your answer to this question that it is impossible for a Christian to sin, or is it that a Christian is no longer accountable for his behavior?

*Are you saying that you don't walk according to the flesh?
You must be the only human who does not sin.

#A man should always react by speaking truth.

[McCulloch]

Rom.8 [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8 teaches that those who walk according to the flesh will be condemned, but those who walk according to the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the flesh, will live (v. 1, 13).

The original question was about how a Christian who is walking according to the flesh should react when a non-believer calls him on it. Is your answer to this question that it is impossible for a Christian to sin, or is it that a Christian is no longer accountable for his behavior?

I share Amos' quandary, but this is not the question. What are the moral and ethical instructions and guidance from the Christian doctrine for a Christian who has been sinning (deliberately doing that which he believes to be wrong) and is accused of doing so?

So far the answers include repentance. What about confession?
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[Amos]

Rom.8
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

*Romans 8 teaches that those who walk according to the flesh will be condemned, but those who walk according to the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the flesh, will live (v. 1, 13).

#The original question was about how a Christian who is walking according to the flesh should react when a non-believer calls him on it. Is your answer to this question that it is impossible for a Christian to sin, or is it that a Christian is no longer accountable for his behavior?

*Are you saying that you don't walk according to the flesh?
You must be the only human who does not sin.

#A man should always react by speaking truth.

"Walk according to the flesh" in the context of Romans 8 doesn't mean "exist as a human being." Paul is contrasting 2 different mindsets, one that is obedient to God (spiritually minded) and one that is not (carnally minded). Those who set their minds on things of the flesh and do not put to death the deeds of the body will be condemned. Those who are spiritually minded and put to death the deeds of the body will live (v. 1, 5, 13).

Of course I sin, but it is not my lifestyle. 1 John 1:5-2:2 teaches that we cannot practice sin as a way of life and be saved, just like Romans 8 does.

Confession of our sins is also necessary for forgiveness as McCulloch has pointed out. "Confess our sins" in 1 John 1:9 carries behind it the idea of acknowledging our sins.

[Amos]

*Are you saying that you don't walk according to the flesh?
You must be the only human who does not sin.

#A man should always react by speaking truth.

"Walk according to the flesh" in the context of Romans 8 doesn't mean "exist as a human being." Paul is contrasting 2 different mindsets, one that is obedient to God (spiritually minded) and one that is not (carnally minded). Those who set their minds on things of the flesh and do not put to death the deeds of the body will be condemned. Those who are spiritually minded and put to death the deeds of the body will live (v. 1, 5, 13).

Of course I sin, but it is not my lifestyle. 1 John 1:5-2:2 teaches that we cannot practice sin as a way of life and be saved, just like Romans 8 does.

Confession of our sins is also necessary for forgiveness as McCulloch has pointed out. I referred to 1 John 1:9 in my earlier response, but didn't discuss confession specifically. "Confess our sins" in 1 John 1:9 carries behind it the idea of acknowledging our sins. We cannot repent of that which we don't acknowledge. And James 5:16 indicates that there are times that that confession needs to be made to our brethren so that we may pray for each other.