Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God

29 November 2024

Reading From I Corinthians 5-8

“I wrote to 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 to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked person from among you.’”

–I Corinthians 5:9-13

     Jesus set the example for us of always being willing to spend time with those who self righteous people would not associate with.  He repeatedly went to house parties where the worst sinners of society were in attendance.  As sons and daughters of the Most High God, our citizenship is in Heaven and until we are in our forever home, we are to be in the world but not of it.  This means that we are to be intentional in spending time with those who do not follow Jesus yet and share His love and message with them. 

     In his first letter to the Corinthian church, he instructs them that they are to continue to reach out to those outside the family of God with the hope of bringing them in, but he warns us to take a different approach with supposed believers who are leading a double life.  I do not believe that Paul expected every brother and sister to be perfect.  He himself admitted to his own shortcomings.  But there is a difference between believers who are struggling and are humble and honest regarding what they wrestle with and those who intentionally sin and pretend that they have it all together. 

     It is unfair for Christians to expect unsaved people to behave as though they are.  This is what baffles me about the approach that many believers take with regard to morality in society outside of the Body of Christ.  Yes, we long for a godly culture, but it is unrealistic to expect those who are not born again to lead a holy lifestyle.  If we would like to have a more righteous and compassionate society, then we must continue to make every effort to obey the Great Commandment and fulfill the Great Commission.  A nation will be Christian only when the majority of its citizens are not only talking the talk, but also walking the walk.

     Whether a believer is humble and honest about their mistakes or if they are putting up a façade to mask their secret immorality, those who know about willful sin in someone’s life should take the approach that Jesus taught us to use.  Above all, we must be sure that our attitude is one of love with a desire to see our brothers and sisters in healthy, right relationship with Heavenly Father and His family. 

     First, we should pray and go that person one on one and discuss the issue with them.  If that conversation is unfruitful, then we must take along one or two brothers or sisters to meet with them again.  If that still doesn’t work, then a meeting with the church is necessary.  The most practical and efficient way to “tell it to the church” is, in my opinion, to gather together the elders and explain the situation to them.  If this last ditch effort to bring the offending brother or sister to accountability and restoration is unsuccessful, then the church must expel the immoral Christian from their midst and “hand them over to Satan.”  Even as the person is excluded from fellowship, the church should pray and contend for repentance and restoration.

     Church discipline is never easy and it is heartbreaking to have to go through these steps.  If blatant sin is not dealt with in a way that is faithful to the plan laid out by Christ, who is the Head of the Church, then the value of our fellowship is cheapened.  Unchecked sin metastasizes like a malignant cancer and will eventually dilute the testimony of a church and will eventually destroy it altogether.  We must follow the way of compassion and speak the truth in love, seasoned with salt. 

“Lord Jesus, You are our Good Shephard who knows what is best for His sheep.  We are the sheep of Your pasture.  I pray that You will continue to protect us and guide us.  Keep us on the highway of holiness.  Fill our hearts with love for You, love for Your people, love for others and love for ourselves.  Help us to see ourselves and others as You see us; dearly loved and cherished by You.  In Your Name I pray, Amen.”

If your brother or sistersins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. –Matthew 18:15-17

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. –Galatians 6:1

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. –James 3:13-18