Title: Alas, the concept of mutual responsibility relative to mankind is almost a lost concept today, even among too many professing Christians. All men affect others and, to a degree, we are each responsible for one another (cp. Rom. 14: 7). Cain was the
1Achan, Mutual Responsibility
- Alas, the concept of "mutual responsibility"
relative to mankind is almost a lost concept
today, even among too many professing
Christians. All men affect others and, to a
degree, we are each responsible for one another
(cp. Rom. 14 7). Cain was the first to reflect
the selfish human autonomy thinking when he
asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen. 4 9). ."
Introduction
2Achan, Mutual Responsibility
Introduction...
There is in the general sense, a brotherhood of
men taught in the scriptures (cp. Acts 17 26
ff.). This "mutual responsibility" and moral
awareness and reciprocity circumstance is clearly
observed in the relationship Christians are to
experience one with another. Paul expressed it
this way "So we, being many, are one body in
Christ, and every one members one of another"
(Rom. 12 5).
3Achan, Mutual Responsibility
Introduction...
- As we establish a stage for the introduction of
"Achan, a Study of Mutual Responsibility," allow
me to mention one important role of the "Old
Testament." The many examples found in the
Hebrew scriptures are profitable for us today (I
Cor. 101ff.). Hence, our study of Achan.
4Achan, Mutual Responsibility
Military defeat
- "10 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up
wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 11
Israel hath sinned, and they have also
transgressed my covenant which I commanded them
for they have even taken of the accursed thing,
and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and
they have put it even among their own stuff. 12
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand
before their enemies, but turned their backs
before their enemies, because they were accursed
neither will I be with you any more, except ye
destroy the accursed from among you" (Josh. 7).
5Achan, Mutual Responsibility
- In the case of Jericho, Israel was warned not to,
"take of the accursed thing" (the spoils of war,
Josh. 618). We read, though, that this command
had been violated.
"But the children of Israel committed a trespass
in the accursed thing for Achan, the son of
Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the
tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing and
the anger of the LORD was kindled against the
children of Israel" (Josh. 7 1).
6Achan, Mutual Responsibility
A contradiction?
- Notice the plural noun and pronouns in the case
of who sinned, "Israel, "they." Without
question, "Israel hath sinned (Josh. 7
10-12). Yet, upon closer examination, we are told
that it was an individual named Achan who had
sinned (Josh. 7 1). The particularity of
Achan's sin is provided. Upon a search of Israel
as to the sin, Achan was discovered and he
confessed his sin (Josh. 7 7ff.).
7Achan, Mutual Responsibility
Achan's Sin
21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly
Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of
silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels
weight, then I coveted them, and took them and,
behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of
my tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua 7 21
He saw
He coveted
He took the accused
8Achan, Mutual Responsibility
Eve's Sin
- 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good
for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes,
and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she
took of the fruit thereof, and did eat (Gen. 3)
Genesis 3 6
9Achan, Mutual Responsibility
Eve's Sin
Achan's Sin
Joshua 7 21
He saw
He coveted
He took the accused
He and Israel punished
10Achan, Mutual Responsibility
- Notwithstanding the fact that it was Achan who
had committed this flagrant trespass, the whole
nation of Israel is held responsible and it was
not until Israel had addressed Achan and his sin
that Israel was again blessed of God. I submit
that herein lies a very relevant and powerful
lesson for God's people today, one that most
certainly involves "mutual responsibility."
11Achan, Mutual Responsibility
Back to Achan and Israel
- Allow me to emphasize and further explain this
mutual responsibility as seen in the instance of
Israel and Achan by sharing some cogent
quotations from the Pulpit Commentary. - "The crime of this one man is imputed to all
Israel on the principle of the organic unity of
the nation. As the body is said to be diseased or
wounded, though the malady may lie only in one of
its members, so his trespass destroyed the moral
integrity of the whole nation. We are reminded of
certain ways in which a community may be
implicated in a wrong actually done by only one
of its members."
12Achan, Mutual Responsibility
Back to Achan and Israel
- "Commentators have largely discussed the question
how the sin of Achan could be held to extend to
the whole people. But it seems sufficient to
reply by pointing out the organic unity of the
Israelitish nation. They were then, asChristians
are now, the Church of the living God. And if one
single member of the community violated the laws
which God imposed on them, the whole body was
liable for his sin, until it had purged itself by
a public act of restitution (see Deuteronomy
211-8)."
13Achan, Mutual Responsibility
Back to Achan and Israel
- "The very words 'body politic' applied to a state
imply the same idea that of a connection so
intimate between the members of a community that
the act of one affects the whole. And if this be
admitted to be the case in ordinary societies,
how much more so in the people of God, who were
under His special protection, and had been
specially set apart to His service?" (Pulpit
Commentary, Vol. 3, excerpts from both the
exegetical and homiletic sections).
14Achan, Mutual Responsibility
- An examination of Paul's teaching to the church
at Corinth exemplifies this same idea of "body
politic." While the church at Corinth as a whole
was not engaged in the specific fornication
addressed in chapter five of the first epistle,
they (as a body) are still held responsible.
15Achan, Mutual Responsibility
- "1 It is reported commonly that there is
fornication among you, and such fornication as is
not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one
should have his father's wife. 2 And ye are
puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he
that hath done this deed might be taken away from
among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body,
but present in spirit, have judged already, as
though I were present, concerning him that hath
so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and
my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
16Achan, Mutual Responsibility
- 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be
saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (I Cor. 5,
cp. 2 Thes. 3 6).... - "6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a
little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge
out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a
new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ
our passover is sacrificed for us" (I Cor. 5).
17Achan, Mutual Responsibility
- The principle of mutual responsibility is
actually observed throughout the scriptures and
its presence is precipitous to many truths and
requisite acts. For instance, we read how one is
responsible for the "wicked" and "righteous" who
go astray and to fail to warn them is to incur
their blood (Ezek. 3 17-21). Paul articulated
this same truth (Acts 20 26, 27).
18Achan, Mutual Responsibility
- The church at Thyatira is held answerable for the
element of evil among them and the church as a
whole is told to "repent" (Rev. 218-28, see also
Pergamos, Rev. 2 12-17).
19Achan, Mutual Responsibility
- Achan is judged by the word and his deeds (Josh.
7 16ff. cp. John 12 48, Rom. 2 6, Jesus shall
be our righteous Judge, 2 Cor. 5 10, 2 Tim. 4
8).
20Achan, Mutual Responsibility
- Achan is punished and evil is put away from
Israel and they go on to be victorious in taking
the land (Josh. 7ff.).
21Achan, Mutual Responsibility
Conclusion
- Let us learn from Achan the nature of the unity
that God intends to characterize His people. Let
us also be aware that we are our brothers keeper
and that each is to do his part to help another
and to keep the church pure.