The Perils of Exclusivity

[SteveEpperson]

“Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Okay, so now we have a starting point, at least. You quoted 1 Corinthians 5:13b.

I can see where immature believers who seldom read their Bibles would believe that what Paul was saying here (1 Corinthians 5:13b) was to not let anyone in the doors who was a total scum bag (the homeless, prostitutes, the unemployed Democrat). After all, they might rub off on us.

But if you read the entire passage in context, you come to a different conclusion:

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. Purge the evil person from among you. 1 Cor. 5:9-13.

Let's take this passage section by section:

1. What Paul is saying here is that the sexually immoral people we are to judge are the ones who commit the sin, yet are those claiming to be our brothers or sisters in Christ.

2. We are not to judge outsiders; God is only allowed to do that.

3. The people who Paul is calling out here are the ones who the church often holds up as exemplary, yet secretly commit adultery with other people's wives. These are the hypocrites at best and wolves at worst.

4. We are to judge those inside the church, not outside the church. As Christians, we too often get this backward.

5. In the last sentence, "among you" refers only to those who claim to be saved--or worse-- claim to be leaders in the church.

 

[Magenta]

Micah 6:8

 

[ResidentAlien]

When?

LOL, have nice day.

 

[ResidentAlien]

The modern church has become such a love fest people can't get their heads around the idea that it was set up to keep the leaven out. The inmates are running the asylum.

 

[HeIsHere]

Ooh, yikes! I don't think Paul was going for exclusivity here. He was speaking about someone already in the church causing such disruption that they should be admonished. In the next verse, he says:

Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thessalonians 3:15

I don't think he was talking about not letting sinners through the door. If that were the case, you and I both wouldn't get to worship on Sundays.

No, I don't think even our most pristine church buildings, with all their new carpeting, fancy sound systems, well-dressed people, and high-paid staff, should exclude anyone who wants to worship God in all His glory. The Pharisees tried doing that, but take a look at this verse:

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Where's the exclusivity in that? This verse isn't saying only those who:

• Have theology degrees
• Drive nice vehicles
• Pretend to be nice
• Have their dream jobs
• Have perfect marriages
• Live in nice houses

No, he's saying every person on the planet gets to be saved when they turn their lives over to Christ (even before they've completely cleaned up their lives). Those people include:

• Crack addicts living on the street
• Wife beaters
• Pimps
• Prostitutes
• People driving used vehicles
• Even those awful Democrats!

Your church body may not want these people ruining the aesthetics of their pristine sanctuary, but make no mistake, God will welcome them into heaven with open arms. And when He does, you and I will be amazed at how much gold he's set aside for "the least of these."

I think you are conflating many different things.

Of course Jesus died while were sinners, we could not save ourselves, this has nothing to do with the nature and the role of the gathering place of believers which is for worshiping God as a community.

Neither have I stated a person needs to have cleaned up their lives to be saved. I completely abhor that doctrine.

Yet the church is sacrosanct away from the world, not to be intruded upon by the ways of the world and the adherents are believers.

The "church" "kuriakon" are the called out ones.

 

[ZNP]

I think you are conflating many different things.

Of course Jesus died while were sinners, we could not save ourselves, this has nothing to do with the nature and the role of the gathering place of believers which is for worshiping God as a community.

Neither have I stated a person needs to have cleaned up their lives to be saved. I completely abhor that doctrine.

Yet the church is sacrosanct away from the world, not to be intruded upon by the ways of the world and are adherents are believers.

The "church" "kuriakon" are the called out ones.

View attachment 253466

I listened to a brother from Indonesia talk to us about the gospel in that country which is 85% muslim. He said the Muslims have a strategy to convert Christians. The muslim man gives a Christian girl a new cell phone, makes her his girlfriend and then gets her pregnant. Then he tells her if she will convert to Islam he will support the baby otherwise she is on her own.

This is the same strategy that Balaam taught Balak. Therefore Paul tells us "if a person calls themself a Christian and is a fornicator you need to excommunicate them."

 

[HeIsHere]

I listened to a brother from Indonesia talk to us about the gospel in that country which is 85% muslim. He said the Muslims have a strategy to convert Christians. The muslim man gives a Christian girl a new cell phone, makes her his girlfriend and then gets her pregnant. Then he tells her if she will convert to Islam he will support the baby otherwise she is on her own.

This is the same strategy that Balaam taught Balak. Therefore Paul tells us "if a person calls themself a Christian and is a fornicator you need to excommunicate them."

Agree, at some point the gathering of believers needs to deal with those within the church who are corrupting, causing dissension etc.,

So the whole concept of the perils of exclusivity is the exact opposite.

"The Perils of the Non-Exclusive Church"

Just take a look around @SteveEpperson one doesn't need to be rocket scientist to see the corruption of the church from within.

 

[Eli1]

Forgive me for not knowing all the man-made "isms" out there. Maybe you can expand on the idea for my benefit, and explain why Calvinism has caused exclusivity to creep into the church. Thanks in advance.

It's basically this idea that you don't do anything in this life because you're God's VIP so you can watch TV and eat chips all day, or even murder, cheat and gamble and you're still a VIP ... because God has chosen you. You are part of the select few. You are saved no matter what you do.