Joshua 7 begins with the word "but". Most of the chapters in the book begin with the words "now" or "then" but there is something different in this chapter. There is sin in the camp. In verse 10 the Lord is quoted as saying to Joshua, "Israel has sinned." Achan's sin affected the whole nation.
Though it may not seem as serious when one of the body of believers sins today we must remember that one person's sin does affect the whole body. A pastor or elder gets a divorce and unless it is dealt with there will probably be many more members of the body getting divorced. Though we are not called upon to inflict capitol punishment on the sinning member we are told that we must get rid of the evil from the body. Every step in the discipline of a sinning member is to restore that one to fellowship with the Lord and the other believers.
Let it not be written over the door of our church "but..."
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