Church discipline

1 Corinthians 5:9–13 (NIV) — 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 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. 11 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. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

I think one of the failings of American Evangelicalism is the quickness to judge those who are outside the church, to do so loudly and vehemently. There seems to be more concern about constitutional amendments, supreme court justices, and attempts to overturn laws and rulings like abortion on demand and homosexual marriage than there is in being  unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Perhaps if there was a focus on the later there might be more influence on the former.

Note: Paul said I wrote to you in my letter … This suggests there was an earlier letter before 1 and 2 Corinthians. However, besides that one phrase, there is no record of this lost letter or what might be in it. Apparently the Holy Spirit felt that letter was not helpful to us and so did not preserve it to be included in the bible.

What kind of people does Paul say we should not associate with? How does he then qualify that command? How willing are you to associate with the people of this world who don’t live moral lifestyles? How do you associate with them without compromising your own beliefs?

Why should we treat those who claim to be brothers or sisters differently? What are we supposed to do about them? How willing are you to do that? How willing are you to support church leadership if they propose such action?

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” What authority have we been given to judge? What authority has God retained for himself to judge? The last quote comes from Deuteronomy where it is quoted no less than seven times. How does it apply to the church age?