Asking for some clarity.. my church is big on preaching forgivenesses, and helping people out of their sin, but this verse says not to even associate with these people if they’re in the church. What if the person is in the process of breaking that habit of sin, but slips up? Should we forgive & continue to try to help if they are seeking it? Or does this apply to those who don’t confess?
Thanks
Asking for some clarity.. my church is big on preaching…
I think the key word is “indulges” meaning they aren’t trying to stop. It is their way of life or their hobby or “guilty pleasure”. The true Christian if they slip up will be heart broken and convicted by the Holy Spirit. So forgiveness and helping someone who is truly repentant but struggling would be the christian thing to do. That’s about the best explanation I can give to you. =)
Yes, like what Chris said, it has to do with people who claim to be a Christian but pursue sin. Those that are sinners and seeking answers should be loved and encouraged.
This is speaking of the person who continues in their sin, and has no desire to stop and turn from their sin
We are to reach them out but not to be unequally yoked with them
I think it means that if these people are persistent
You can judge wickedness though you can’t make a judgment or condemn anyone, that’s the difference.
Take the example of the adulterous woman.
Who brought her to Christ for Judgment?
Who wanted to condemn her?
Who wanted the Law put upon her head?
Who wanted to stone her to death?
Who was standing there without sin and was worthy to judge her under the Law?
Christ, did not condemn her but forgave her and said go and sin no more.
How many times must one forgive the sin of their brother? Was it once, twice, a third time, or 70×70?
I’d be very careful what line one wants to cross if I was most people and know that all mankind have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
It is the heart of mankind that is renewed by the Spirit of God, so change the heart of mankind and one will go and sin no more.
There’s a theme all across most of Paul’s letters:
“… once you were, but now…”
Once you were a thief, but now you support yourself with work, for example – for the very simple reason that they are now New Creation.
Habits are hard to break, everyone knows that but I suspect some guys in Corinth weren’t even trying. What’s worse, they gave each other a pat on the back.
But surely, we could help those seeking help? Of course.
Rom 14: help those weak in faith…
Rom 15: we who are strong ought to bear the failings of the weak…
Peace
I would say the key word is “indulges”, as in, they are saying they are Christian, but deliberately shoplifts (or whatever sinful action) without any shred of true remorse. Those people you at first warn, and if they refuse to repent, you avoid them like the plague (Matthew 18:15-20).
I think indulges is the key word here. Someone who really wants out of their sin is not someone who continues to INDULGE themselves in it. One who indulges in their sin doesn’t really want out of it; they just dive deeper into it.
Thank you all for the clarification!
Galatians 6:1
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”
There is a difference between a brother or sister who slips but is repentant vs. one someone who claims to be a brother or sister who is unrepentant in a lifestyle of sin.
My first instinct is to state that this is a prescriptive text, meaning Paul is telling you what you ought to do. But Paul also gave the instructions to the Galatians to restore a brother with gentleness, however to keep watch lest you fall into sin (Gal 6:1). I think Paul is saying here that you shouldn’t associate with people who indulge in sinful lifestyles and unrepentant sin, yet be willing to help restore those who slip up.
Paul shows professing believers but living in sin that cause division in the church
Please take care to obey scripture than apply human wisdom, tradition or cultural appropriation….
If God said not to associate with such…. Then don’t associate. First, sin has the quality of being able to infect even strong mature believers… Also, it could cause a problem later on to others who would say, “but that’s how I have seen it practiced in the church”.. etc.
God had expressly commanded Israel to destroy and completely destroy, expel and wipe out the nations in the promised land. God had told them that if they did not do that, they would fall prey to gods which are no gods at all. And that’s exactly what happened!
To reach out to backsliders and those continuing in sin, God has appointed certain elders and leaders… And they too, if they are not careful, would be defiled by sin. Irrespective of what their intentions were.
This passage is talking about the boastful and conscienceless sinners who parade as Christians. Either as seen holiness as unachievable or that ‘everyone else is doing it’ or ‘we are under grace and not under law’
Jesus came to heal the sick. And it is our responsibilty to try to help anyone. Whch means associationg with everyone. Especially sharing Jesus with sinners with all types of sin.
http://www.orthodox.net/questions/forgiveness_sunday_1.html.
Let’s be honest here. What about porn addiction?
I’d go with where their heart is. Are they truly trying to struggle and run from that sin? Help them run. Are they embracing sin with no want to turn back? Run from them. They are a snare.
AMEN
I think we should all know if we are living by The Spirit who we can hang out with closely and who we should not be around as far as safe and unsafe people go. I think we need to start working in our codependency issues and call it what it is: IDOLATRY and once we do that, keep the gold close and the ones who are only in our lives to cause us problems or because we need to feel “purposeful” (btw, we are in God’s way), we need to truly take a close look with a sober mind and commune with The Spirit about what we need to do. I am experiencing one of these moments now and unfortunately it’s going to be quite a lonely road for however long it takes me to learn a lesson but WE NEED TO LEARN IT!
My Apostle at church several weeks back said to “stop chasing people every time they back slide and keep chasing over and over and over and those people don’t do any of the things that you tell them to do. Let them go.”
Our time is the most valuable thing we have. We don’t know how much we have!
We don’t need to be callous, we walk in love like Jesus but even The Word says to kick the dust (dirt) off your sandals if they don’t accept the message. Move on to the next “person” “village” “town”.
You can spend all your time and energy cuz you’re codependent on someone when there’s a harvest ready and waiting for you. Me, too. I’m speaking to me, too. These are perilous times. We must get ourselves together and crucify our flesh. I have to put myself aside because there’s a war going on that we need to join in a Sons of God to fight together!
This enemy we face is unseen! And evil hates one another but even they are unified!
Personally I believe its all about context, if a person is refusing to turn from there sin then yes they should be sent out after the error of their ways having been reproved in love. But thus is only if they will not repent of it.
The difference is whether they call themselves Christians. Don’t eat with Christians whose walk suggests otherwise.
Yes we are to spread the good news of the gospel. Once a person is born again there is no excuse to be still doing the sins they did before
[…] Asking for some clarity.. my church is big on preaching… […]