26TH SEPTEMBER
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 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.”
God wants you to associate with sexually immoral people, greedy people, drunkards, swindlers and idolaters!
These verses are a clarification of something Paul had written in an earlier letter when he told the Corinthians not to associate with these kinds of people. He realises that some of the Corinthians thought he meant they should only hang out in their bubble of Christian relationships and stay away from these kinds of totally secular non-Christians.
“No, no, no!” Paul says, “That’s not at all what I mean.” Jesus’ plan is for you to be in the world so don’t try to stay out of relationships with worldly people unless they are Christians who are ruining their witness for Jesus. Secular people hate hypocritical Christians and God hates hypocrisy just as much. Don’t claim the name of Christ if you aren’t going to live for him.
But also, if you are going to follow Christ, follow his example (and Paul’s example) of associating with “sinners”.
MAKE IT PERSONAL:
Who do you know—outside of your Christian bubble—that you can have a coffee or a cup of tea with this week?