9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”
Okay, so parts of this are really hard for me...I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. But, here we are, wrapping up this chapter where Paul speaks to the specific disorder in the Church. I can see the good things in here, and I trust them, but even many parts of Truth can be hard to swallow.
"When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that." So, he's saying right off the bat -- don't worry about the non-believers. Of course they will act the way they do, because they have no reason not to! Why should they? And there are MANY of them with this thinking...it's everywhere in our culture, right? In order to avoid people like this, we would literally have to die. So, Paul understands that there's no way around it. In fact, we are called TO associate with these people that perhaps they might find Christ because of our relationships with them!
11" I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people." Yep. We found it. Here's the tough part. We aren't to associate with anyone who claims to be a Believer yet indulges in sexual sin, greed, idol worship (has other "gods"), abuse, or drunkenness. We are not even to EAT with them? What?! Well everyone I know, even many Christians, go out and party regularly, and I don't know hardly anyone who is still a virgin! Yes, the incredibly hard part for me is that I do currently know people -- people whom I really love -- who do indulge in some of these things and have justified their behaviors. What am I to do? I love them! Even when I have tried to question them on some of this, they continue to live the way they want to live. But so do I, right? I'm not perfect either.
It all boils down to the name of Christ. What kind of Christ-follower chooses to boldly proclaim to be a follower of Christ, while at the same time boldly proclaiming that their explicit sin is not sin? That is not a Christ-follower at all! That is a Self-follower. Here's what I've discovered...of the people in my life who are making the choices I wish they weren't making, they aren't boldly proclaiming to the world how they're choosing to spend their time because deep down they know that their current choice is not inline with God's best for them. I really think they know and feel this...the Lord has not allowed them to be fully okay with this. So, instead of shunning them, I am praying for them. I don't think they are fully settled with the decisions they are making, so I'm praying the Lord will show them that He has a better plan, a perfect plan, and it is good. The boundaries and "rules" are really saying, "Molly, don't hurt yourself. Do it this way instead."
12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.” As we've said before on this blog -- it is never my responsibility or right to judge the salvation of another -- we can never know where someone stands with God because that is purely between that person and the Lord. But I can make judgements of other people's choices and behaviors, just as I hope my teenage child will someday make judgements about which friends would be good influences in their life or not. If our heart is loving and our actions are out of that love for our Christian brothers and sisters, we should acknowledge and question actions which may harm them, someone else, or the depth of their relationship with Christ. I have appreciated when someone took the time to bother to ask me questions about my actions.
Above all, Christians are called to be holy and blameless...if we don't encourage one another in this, who will?
I'm not claiming to be perfect at all. Far from it! But in this community of Believers, I do want people who will catch me before I fall off the cliff...and sometimes that can mean some pretty serious questions and conversations. Don't be afraid to have them. It's part of loving each other WELL.
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