MY COMPUTER HAS A VIRUS. THE VIRUS HAS PREVENTED THE POSTING OF MY DAILY BLOG FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS. WE ARE WORKING TO CORRECT THIS TODAY.
Pastor Mike
Paul makes it clear in this passage that believers cannot disassociate themselves completely from nonbelievers—they would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. In addition, with no contact with nonbelievers, believers would not be able to carry out Christ’s command to tell them about salvation (Matthew 28:18-20).
The difference between believers and nonbelievers lies in their relationship to Jesus Christ. The outsiders (referring to nonbelievers) are to be met where they are and offered the gospel message. Yet the believers are not responsible to judge them because God will.
In the church, however, believers need to make such judgments. The Bible consistently says not to criticize people by gossiping or making rash judgments. At the same time, however, believers are to judge and deal with those who claim to be believers but are living sinful, rebellious lives.
Paul’s instructions for this sinful man—remove him—come from Deuteronomy 17:7. This instruction should not be used to handle trivial matters or to take revenge; nor should it be applied to individual problems between believers. These verses are instructions for dealing with open sin in the church, with a person who claims to be a Christian and yet who sins without remorse. The church is to confront and discipline such a person in love. (Ephesians 4:15)
By going to pagan authorities to settle disputes, the Christians were acting beneath their dignity. They should be able to settle these disputes among themselves because someday Christians are going to judge the world (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 3:21; 20:4). Because of this truth, believers should not take their disputes into the world, because it would be a poor witness and would show a lack of unity in the church.
What kind of witness was this for the church? How much better for the believers to live “above” such matters, dealing with them in their own congregation with the help of respected leaders, so that nothing would hinder their witness for Christ in the world. Mature believers would not act in that manner. If they were wronged by other believers, mature believers should be willing to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39).
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
The church has a dual obligation and responsibility. One, we are to win the world to Christ. That is clear. That is why God left us here on earth after receiving Christ. The second is just as important. We are to build believers up in Christ. We are to help them mature. We are to help them grow up and not remain infant - spiritually speaking.
How do we help people grow? We have to train them to feed themselves from the Word of God. You'll never mature and grow to become the person God has for you to become until you start reading God's Word everyday. Will God still love you if you don't master this discipline? Of course. But, you've heard it said so many times - God loves you just the way you are to be sure, but He also loves you to much to let you stay the same. He wants to change you and mature you and make you like His son Jesus Christ.
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