Today’s Reading, 1 Corinthians 5-8
Focal Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:11 “But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.”
We have all heard the old phrase that you are known by the people you associate with in your life. It doesn’t matter if they are your close friends or people you hang around with on occasion. People who have suspect reputations or live a lifestyle that is contrary to the gospel should be avoided at all costs. I need to point out here, I am not talking about people who know they are lost. We are to reach out to them and share the truth of Jesus with them as much as we can every day.
In the reading today Paul is very specific about the people we should avoid. Paul’s states that he wrote to the church at Corinth before and told them not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer but commits these sins. If they are sexually immoral don’t be around them. If they are greedy remove yourself from their presence. Do they worship something else other than God? Keep your distance from them. If they are verbally abusive leave them where they are and expose their sin. Do they like to be drunk or swindle other people? You are instructed to not even eat with them in your life.
Again it is important to note Paul is telling the church to avoid people who profess Christ but live in these ways. These sins run from personal, to public and then even sneaky in their approach. So why does Paul tell the church at Corinth to avoid these people? That seems very unbiblical and not very friendly. Paul did this because he knows what happens when sin influences people.
So what about you? Are you a person who commits these sins? Or do you associate with professing believers who do? If you commit these acts it is time to repent and make sure you are a genuine believer. If you are around people who act this way it is time to bring them up for church discipline. Go to them and let them know their sin. If they repent you have helped them. If they refuse take a witness with you and confront their sin, again. If they still refuse bring them before the church and allow their sin to be exposed. They will either repent or they will continue to live in their defiance.
Paul’s point for the church is that sin is serious. It needs to be treated as serious. Far too often believers make excuses for their own sin and the sin in others. Yes, we must show grace and compassion when dealing with people who are struggling. However, we must be honest with where they are spiritually.
We as believers need to expose the sin in others by removing our association with them and bringing them under church discipline. It is time the church starts treating sin serious and not making excuses for the ones who make a conscience choice to disobey the Lord.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading 1 Corinthians 9-11
