"I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." (1 Corinthians 5:9-11 NIV)
The Christians at Corinth misunderstood the Apostle's instruction in a previous letter. Paul must then clarify what he meant. He doesn't mean that Christians should not socialize with the unbelievers who are sexually immoral. What he means is that Christians should break the bonds of fellowship with those who confess the Christian faith yet live like unbelievers.
If we will not associate with sinners, we would have to leave this world for everywhere we go, we will always be surrounded with sinful people. Besides, we were commissioned to saturate the sinful world with the gospel message.
We however are mandated to cut off the links of fellowship with the so-called brothers who sin incorrigibly. We are not even allowed to eat with such men. The reason for this was already stated in verse 6-- the principle of sin's yeast effect. Sin, when tolerated never limits itself to the offender. It will surely affect others. Sa mga Pinoy, yan ay ang epekto ng isang bulok na kamatis sa buong kaing. We could see the same principle applied in 1 Timothy 5:20 where Paul instructs the younger pastor to rebuke elders publicly so that it shall serve as a warning to others.
For this reason, we must be cautious. As for me, I will not eat with a so-called brother who is persistent in wickedness... kahit maghain ka pa ng tinolang native manok
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I thought I've already posted my commects before, but let me refresh it..
ReplyDeleteOpen rebuke is better that hidden love..Prov 27:5 is one of my favorite verse..
Cutting-off the links of fellowship is already at the extreme level..
There were stages in terms of church discipline..
Since you used 1 Cor 5, then the case is already terminal considering the context of Paul's letter, you're talking about a fornicator.
Yeah, then I would agree.
But with a good polity of a local church, let's not always consider the extreme; because if it goes to it, then something is wrong with the system, IT IS NOT WORKING!
With the early stage of a brother/sister committing sin/s; I would love to dine with him/her and talk about his/her act..tinolang manok is one of my favorite..
Brother, for three consecutive Sundays, I ate lunch with a brother who was guilty of fornication. Perhaps we'll be together again on Sunday. He is in a stage where he is thinking about whether to submit to what the church requires of him or not. So far we're seeing some good developments. I think the hand of God is drawing him near.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with your willingness to dine with an offending brother in the early stages-- yan ang ginagawa ko ngayon.