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This topic could be one of a salvific nature if
not carefully dealt with. It is not merely about with whom to
socialize, but may include such. Much more is at stake. The bigger
issue is one of spiritual partnership. In the negative, here is
one passage for major consideration
But now I have written to you not to keep company
with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous,
or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner
-- not even to eat with such a person (1 Cor. 5:11).
Paul delineates between social "fellowship"
between sinners and saints. Clearly God demands us to refuse the
immoral company of brethren bereft of the spiritual nature. But,
He does not intend for us to altogether withhold socialization
from unbelievers. How else would we evangelize? Such a teaching
would even necessitate our leaving the world altogether (5:10
et al). To wit, socialization and fellowship have things in common,
but are not precisely the same. As my high school geometry teacher
said, every square is a rectangle but not every rectangle is a
square. So too, not all fellowship is merely socialization, although
we call it that when we have congregational meals. Calling such
feasting fellowship is actually somewhat a misnomer, at
least in my opinion.
When we become Christians, we are "called
into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1
Co. 1:9). Such fellowship is understood biblically as a spiritual
association, a community of saved souls, or joint participants
in the grace of God. We are adopted into God's heavenly family
(Ephesians 3:15). One of the most descriptive passages elucidating
the spiritual partnership shared between believers is 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
His Son cleanses us from all sin.
When two independent souls are united with God
(in fellowship with Him), they are bound together into fellowship
with one another. However, when a Christian turns from the goodness
of God, as in the case of 1 Corinthians 5, that fellowship is
inherently severed. Consequently, socialization must ultimately
be withheld from the impenitent brother even if that means forcing
that brother to leave the congregation.
Now a new issue arises. If all socialization is
withheld from the wayward brother or sister, how is Jude 22,23
to be obeyed? It must be there is a type of fellowshipping-socialization
and another type of interaction that is non-fellowshipping-socialization.
As such, motive is the key. For instance, in Romans 1:32 not only
is the sinner condemned, but also the believer who condones sinful
activity. The problem in 1 Corinthians 5 was continued spiritual
partnership with those whom God has broken fellowship, a salvific
state. This placed the Corinthians in error themselves, thus the
exhortation. Their motives for continuing a relationship were
impure, emotional and not spiritually driven. On the other hand
is the motive to rescue the perishing.
Wayward brethren find themselves in a dreadful
predicament (Hebrews 4:14-16). The further one moves away from
grace the more difficult the return. Hence, the faithful are told
to pull them out of the fire (Jude 23). Re-evangelizing the erring
is no easy task, but one expected of us nonetheless. If all interaction
with the wayward is forbidden, however, how is this to be accomplished?
The key is cut on top and bottom.
On the topside, the faithful child of God
has the motive of restoring the erring brother or sister (cf.
Matthew 18:15ff). This is pure motive. It's not ignoring an eldership's
disciplinary decision. It's not a casual talk over coffee at the
café. It is the motive of taking the call of the Gospel
for repentance to the erring. The bottom-side of the key
is a penitent heart.
Fellowship is a spiritual partnership. The faithful
mustn't partner with works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). We must
therefore abstain from joining hands with those espousing error,
teaching error or living in error (2 John 9-11 et al). Works of
darkness must be exposed and every effort made to restore the
souls working them to the path of truth, of light.
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