Biblical Double Standard

[LightningClap0002]

Are we directed to treat Christians differently than we are to treat those who are unsaved?

A sermon a few weeks back got me thinking about this question and some recent activity on the forums have pushed it back to the forefront of my mind.

The sermon in question focused on Paul's evangelism to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). It focused on how Paul approached the unsaved Corinthians. He didn't come with the intention of persuading or to share the great amounts of knowledge he had about sin and righteousness. He came to them and preached simply and plainly who Christ was and that man had crucified Him.

The sermon ended here and seemed very clear. The power of God alone can lead someone to be saved. Along with this, there seems to be a general theme throughout the new testament of showing love, and only love to the unsaved. Again, that God's power alone not only saves, but also convicts the unsaved of their sins when they have been called by God. In some ways I question how far this should be taken. Is directly sharing your belief that Homosexuality will send someone to hell too much? Is protesting abortion too much? Surely I think few on these forums would disagree that direct verbal accusations are too much.

So with this I see the first standard:
Show only love and support for the unsaved, even/especially when they are in need/suffering from the affects of sin (even their own sin). Share simple truth with them, and refuse(??) to be drawn into debates with them.

Continuing on in 1 Corinthians, verse 6 changes gears and focuses on those who are saved/mature. Paul goes on in the next several verses to discuss the depths of knowledge (spiritual) that God gives to those who are saved. That we should share great depths of wisdom and spiritual thoughts.

Along with this, there is a general theme throughout the NT of building each other up. Correcting and strengthening each other. Point out faults to the person in such a way as to build them up and correct them. We are still to love, and support, but that support now has limits. We should not support our brothers and sisters in sinful acts. We should seek to grow together and share and discuss the great spiritual truths and wisdom that we have gained through Christ.

So with this I see the second standard:
Show love and selective support for the saved, supporting them in their time of need, and correcting them when they are wandering. Delve deeply into spiritual truth and wisdom and discuss these things which are of great value.

I still have many questions, some mentioned specifically above. So, what does this mean? Is there really a double standard? How does that double standard affect our daily interaction with the saved and unsaved? Is there benefit in seeing this clear divide? Are there scriptures that come to anyone's mind which further support this idea that Paul seems to be presenting? Scriptures that suggest differently? Does the standard for the 'saved' actually require some level of the "judgemental" attitude that is typically such a stigma of the church.

So, is there a Biblical double standard for how to treat sin? One when committed by someone unsaved and a different one for someone who is saved?

 

[Oncefallen]

I wouldn't consider it to be a double standard, just a different standard for different circumstances. A double standard would imply that people are treated differently in identical circumstances.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not 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. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

I think this passage clarifies it. Those outside the church we are not to judge. An unsaved person in unrepentant sin is just acting according to their nature, a Christian in unrepentant sin is acting against the nature that was given to them.

 

[PopClick]

Yes, non-believers and new Christians are to be treated differently. The phrase "double-standard" implies unfairness, so I will leave it where I found it. There's more about this in 1 Corinthians chapter 3:

"1And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?"

Yes, we are to speak the truth IN LOVE to those Christians who may be wandering. And if they are unrepentant, there comes a point to even expel them from the church until they are walking as something besides "mere men". And no, I don't think we are supposed to have a "judgmental" attitude. When it talks about judging those inside the church, it isn't talking about condemning them or making them change. It commands us to remove the bad influence from among ourselves, so they don't corrupt the rest of the church. "Do not be deceived, for bad company corrupts good morals." So we really aren't doing anything TO them, just refusing to hang around with them if they won't change.

I don't think we are to show "selective support" for the saved, though. We are supposed to support them always, but "support" takes on many forms. You can support someone by not talking to them.
"14If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."