Expanding Divide

The media likes to talk about the expanding division between the rich and poor. The numbers vary depending on how wealth disparity is measured.  However, even more concerning is the increasing disparity in righteousness between the worldly and the elect of God. As the morals and values and virtue of the world continue to errode, the standard of God  remains immovable. Paul in the New Testament puts forth God's standard that establishes a minimum standard among Gods people. 

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (New Testament, 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 5:11)

This verse of scripture serves as the basis of worthiness and virtue in God's Church.  While we know that no one is perfect and all believers have access to the atonenent of Christ and the power repentance; nevertheless, maintaining God's standard of virtue maintains a community of safety, trust, and unity.  

1 Cor 5:11 serves as a basis for LDS interviews to be declared clean and worthy to participate in the ordinances of Christ's gospel like baptism and partaking of the Lords Supper.  You may not realize that LDS Bishops are not preachers.  The members themselves preach the gospel to each other including sermons and Sunday School.  The Bishop instead is a Judge in Israel and like the Priests in the OT, spend their time determining ritual purity and administering the church programs.  The membership themselves do the work of ministering to one other.

The consequence of erroding values is that for the elect who slip and fall into sin, the distance they fall is much greater and the pain when they hit bottom is greater.  Additionally, due to greater disparity between God's standard and the world, it is much more difficult get out of the pit a person may have fallen into.