Dagmire
Puritan Board Freshman
1Cr 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Cr 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Cr 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Cr 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Cr 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
I know that this passage is quite plain in wording, but I want to understand the practicality of it. How am I to go about this? I have a friend, nay, two friends, who at the least call themselves brothers and are still fornicators. One of these friends is concerned of his sin and has guilt over it, the other is niether concerned nor has any guilt that I have ever seen him express. The guilt-ridden friend is a member of my congregation. What am I to do? I haven't been spending much time at all with him lately and I confess that it has been a relief and maybe even a blessing to me. He goes looking for trouble. Should I continue to separate myself from him? How can I be an example to him? Is separating myself from him, as taught by Paul, part of being an example? I want to do firstly what's right by God and secondly what is right by my friend. I would really appreciate some wise counsel in regard to this.
Now, the second friend I mentioned is less a trouble to me, but now even more of a concern because I haven't until now considered our friendship much of a problem. He claims to be a Christian, but lives as a heathen. He constantly utters "goddamn" and will not even consider having a relationship with a woman unless she is willing to perform sex acts with him before marriage. I should not be this man's friend, should I? I have not discussed with him at all my beliefs. We met during a lowpoint in my Christian walk and the Lord has since built me up and molded me further and of course with it comes conviction over the things now in my life.
I am dismayed. I give to much heed to the thoughts and words of men. I am afraid to do what I think is right, because I don't think my friends will understand. I am weary of fellowshipping with darkness, though. I am tired of tolerating wickedness where it shouldn't be.
Please help me know what I should do in this situation.
-Davis
1Cr 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Cr 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Cr 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Cr 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
I know that this passage is quite plain in wording, but I want to understand the practicality of it. How am I to go about this? I have a friend, nay, two friends, who at the least call themselves brothers and are still fornicators. One of these friends is concerned of his sin and has guilt over it, the other is niether concerned nor has any guilt that I have ever seen him express. The guilt-ridden friend is a member of my congregation. What am I to do? I haven't been spending much time at all with him lately and I confess that it has been a relief and maybe even a blessing to me. He goes looking for trouble. Should I continue to separate myself from him? How can I be an example to him? Is separating myself from him, as taught by Paul, part of being an example? I want to do firstly what's right by God and secondly what is right by my friend. I would really appreciate some wise counsel in regard to this.
Now, the second friend I mentioned is less a trouble to me, but now even more of a concern because I haven't until now considered our friendship much of a problem. He claims to be a Christian, but lives as a heathen. He constantly utters "goddamn" and will not even consider having a relationship with a woman unless she is willing to perform sex acts with him before marriage. I should not be this man's friend, should I? I have not discussed with him at all my beliefs. We met during a lowpoint in my Christian walk and the Lord has since built me up and molded me further and of course with it comes conviction over the things now in my life.
I am dismayed. I give to much heed to the thoughts and words of men. I am afraid to do what I think is right, because I don't think my friends will understand. I am weary of fellowshipping with darkness, though. I am tired of tolerating wickedness where it shouldn't be.
Please help me know what I should do in this situation.
-Davis
