"But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”"
Those who do not know Christ will be immoral, greedy, idolatrous, angry, drunken, and deceptive. It is their nature. It is to be expected. This is not to say that every non-Christian will be clearly characterized by all or any of these things. This simply is the way many are, and it's what is natural for them. Christians should not run away from non-Christians who are like this.
However, if someone is believed to be a Christian, and he acts like this, it must be dealt with. After trying to convince someone (according to Matthew 18) to stop behaving these ways, if he refuses biblical counsel, you must stop fellowshipping with him. Many Christians accept this as true for those engaged in immorality, idolatry, drunkenness, or deception. But God takes it further, saying that we shouldn't even fellowship with greedy or angry believers.
This may seem like an extreme standard, and perhaps it even seems unkind and unloving. I suppose that the discipline could be done in such a manner. But the discipline itself is not unkind. It is for the sake of the person being disciplined, for the testimony of Christ, and for the protection of other people in the church.
2 comments:
A brother in our church is drinking excessively and attempting to keep it hidden. After alot of prayer over this and careful conversation with him, he finally told the elders but still has not stopped the drinking. We smell it on him when we've gone to see him and have realized by his 'behavior' it's been going on for several months. In the last few months he has secluded himself and keeps up very little contact despite constant attempts by men in the church to keep him accountable (phone calls, visits, etc.) He is in a sad addictive cycle and I believe is a true/serious alcoholic who despite being saved has not gone thru the proper 'recovery' he needed to go thru upon his conversion 4 1/2 years ago. Should the church not associate with him, or go to discipline verses instead e.g. Matthew 18: 15-17?
Dear Sir,
I'm sorry to hear about the bondage this one in your church is trapped in. To answer your question, I don't believe that you need to make a choice between 1 Corinthians 5 and Matthew 18. It seems to me that 1 Corinthians is what happens if the believer is still unrepentant after going through the process of Matthew 18.
It is important to note that the steps in the process in Matthew 18 are to be done repeatedly. If you have continually gone to him individually and continually gone to him with the church leaders, then taking it before the church may be necessary.
Whatever you do, be certain that love and restoration are your motives and that they guide the manner in which you act with this one.
As an additional note you might investigate Reformers Unanimous. They work with additions from a biblical perspective. I have not dealt with this group directly, but I have heard some very good things about them. Here is there url: http://www.reformu.com/
May God grant you and your church the wisdom and grace to see this one restored. I will be praying for you.
Joshua
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