The First Church of Utopia

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

Think you need to take a closer look at Pauls instruction to the church:

1 Cor 5:11-6:1

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.


KJV



It wasn't refering to just incest but sinful rebellious lifestyle in general of a "brother" Maybe our church would be better off following Paul's instructions, I think so.

TS, respectfully this is a gross distortion of the situation.

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[j] 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.”

If my brother falls -- and he is a professed Christian, a disciple -- and I love him, and I am committed to serving him. I definitely have a duty to be there for him when he falls. To point him back to the Gospel... this should mirror:

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer[a] is overcome by some sin, you who are godly[b] should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

With epistles, we must understand the Apostle addresses unique situations, and before making them normative and universal, we should bring caution to our application. Gordon Fee has written much on these two chapters, from an exegetical opinion sharper than mine, and I believe it's close to the heart of what Paul was instructing.