I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.  I did not mean the immoral people of this world and the greedy and swindlers or idolater;  otherwise you would have to leave the world. But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler.  Do not even eat with such a person.  For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders?  Don’t you judge those who are inside?  But God judges outsiders.  Put away an evil person from among yourselves.  1 Corinthians 5:9-13 HCSB

Last night on the way to church, my 7 year old niece asked why we go to church on Wednesday nights.  I told her that we needed to be recharged in the middle of the week. She responded with, “Why? We’re not I-phones”.  I then explained to her that we need to be always filled with the Holy Spirit and that sometimes life seems to drain us and we need to go to church in the middle of the week to be refilled with the Holy Spirit.  She said that’s a good idea because you can always tell when people don’t have God’s Spirit in them. And once again, I realized how she is so wise beyond her years.

In this letter to the church of Corinth, Paul is instructing them on how to associate with unbelievers or those that are evil.  Paul warns that while we have no choice but to associate with them here on earth, that we should not have friendships with them or familiar fellowships.  He is also warning them against having fellowship with a Christian who is the process of being disciplined by the church.  In Matthew 18 Jesus tells us how to handle discipline within the church.  He tells us to first go to the person in private and point out their fault, if they don’t listen bring one or two more and if he still doesn’t listen, then shun that person.  In our scripture passage today, Paul is warning that to have what he calls familiar fellowship or to hang out and spend time with someone who is under discipline might indicate that you approve of what they do or did.

People go to church for many different reasons.  In a few weeks people who haven’t darkened the door of a church since last Easter will flood the churches to make their annual pilgrimage to the church of their choice simply because it is Easter Sunday.  Some people feel compelled to attend church at Christmas as well. But there are others who attend church regularly, but do not have God’s Spirit in them.

So, as Christians and church members we walk a fine line between being hypocrites and heeding God’s instructions.  Years ago, my former pastor preached a sermon that still sticks with me today.  He asked the question, is our church a hospital or a hotel?  Are we there to heal the sick?  Or are we there to cater to the well off?  We need to heal the sick, so often times people come to church for various reasons, but the Holy Spirit can work on them and we can see a change within their hearts.  But there are other instances where people come to church and other than the fact that they show up, not much changes.  They still have the same cold, hard hearts.  They may be bitter and unforgiving.  In Paul’s letter, he specifically warns against association with the sexually immoral, the idolaters, the drunkards, the swindlers, the greedy and the verbally abusive.  Now, that covers a whole multitude of sin there.  In Matthew 18 Jesus tells his disciples that these people should be treated as tax collectors.  Now they were considered to be the lowest of the low and you were not to associate with them in Jesus day.  In our scripture passage today, Paul tells the church members not to even eat with them.

Church discipline is not something that you hear much about these days.  As Christians, no one wants to be the one to hurt a church member’s feelings.  But the bible clearly tells us that if we know that a church member is having a problem with sin.  We need to be that hospital that will help them to heal.  If they refuse treatment, however, then we have a whole other problem on our hands.   Many churches will get rid of a good bible preaching pastor long before they will discipline an errant member.  Or as Jesus said in Matthew 23:24 people will swallow a camel, but choke on a gnat.  Sadly one rotten apple can spoil a bunch more!  Many churches struggle today to keep the doors open because church discipline was not done.

One thing is certain, if someone is playing Christian, it shows.  We know that God will judge them very harshly.  But while we live with them here on earth, we are to beware of these wolves in sheep’s clothing.  Pray to God for discernment and guidance in dealing with these people. But the bible tells us that this must be addressed. Be very careful, my friend as you walk this fine line.

Have a great day!