The Plymouth Brethren have a notorious rule that if someone in their family is not a believer they will set them apart at mealtimes.  My mother-in-law and father-in-law went to a church that quoted ‘be ye seperate from among them’ and would not socialize at a movie theater, a rock concert or such like.  This seems to be what had happened as a result of Paul’s earlier letter to the Corinthians (now lost).  Paul clarifies here by saying that you should dissociate from those who claim to be in the same club but disregard the club-house rules.  We are not talking about those who try and fail, we are not talking about those outside the club who play by their own rules.  We are talking about those who redefine the rules and therefore make sexual immorality, greed, slander, drunkenness and dishonesty an integral part of the church.  Those people need to be isolated or expelled.  They bring shame on the church itself.

1 Corinthians 5: 9-11

⁹I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. ¹¹But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

Questions

1. What did Paul write to the Corinthians in his previous letter?
2. How had they misunderstood his instruction?
3. How did Paul want the Corinthian church to act?
4. Do you make light of sexual immorality, greed, slander, drunkenness, or swindle?  How should Christians act toward you?
5. Do you know someone who claims to be a Christian and is sexually immoral, greedy, slanderous, drunk or a swindler by nature?  How do you act toward such person?

Going Deeper

Case Studies

1. Your church decides that its members must dissolve all friendships with unbelievers lest they become polluted.  How do you respond?
2. A church elder’s wife habitually runs down members of the congregation.  She seems very concerned with the lack of support there is for her husband.  She starts naming a list of people in the church who have let her and her husband down by not addressing sin issues strongly enough.  Howdo you respond?
3. A young man comes to the leadership of the church and admits that he has had sex with his girlfriend.  She is pregnant.  He says that he is very sorry and wants to work thing through with the church.  How would you respond?
4. A group of your Christian friends want to go to the movies to watch a movie that your pastor used as an illustration of immorality.  What do you contribute to the discussion?
5. You used to have a glass of wine to relax in the evening.  Now you have a bottle of wine to yourself regularly.  You know you are becoming dependent.  How should you address this with your church?