I've been reading through 1 Corinthians this week, and found some interesting stuff. I love that reading the scriptures can remind us of the things that we thought we knew but perhaps have been a little warped through cultural teachings and a lack of returning regularly to that passage of scripture.

I often hear people ask how we are to save the world if we do not associate with the world (i.e. we often hear "be in the world but not of the world," and it is often taken as a command to not have anything to do with unsaved people - scary teaching in itself). But as I read in 1 Corinthians 5 that we are not to associate with the immoral person, it is very clear that Paul's instructions are not talking about the unsaved, who do not have the same standards as we are given, but rather the brother or sister who acts in an immoral manner. Check it out:

"I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

There are ways set out in scripture for approaching a brother or sister who is living in their sin, whatever it may be - we need to follow those. But the final admonition when these "brothers" do not want to correct their behaviour is to remove them from fellowship. It's a smart thing - especially with the thoughts of yeast and how it works its way through a batch of dough - but what a hard thing to do. God give us strength and wisdom.

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." (Matthew 18:15-17)

Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22)