1 Corinthians 5:11 in relation to fellowship and worship

[Jiggy37]

1 Corinthians 5:11
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.


If we shouldn't eat with such a person, should we fellowship with or worship alongside such a person?
If so, then what's the difference?
If not, then just what sort of congregation can we attend? (Because which congregation contains not a single professing Christian who lives according to any of these ways?) Given that we shouldn't forsake assembling together.

And if the leadership knows about the troubles, but refuses to do anything about them, should we separate ourselves from them?
Likewise, if the leadership supports the troubles, should we separate ourselves from them? In spite of the greater loss of those who aren't in the leadership.

And on a more personal level (as opposed to speaking about an entire congregation, or fellowship group, or so on), how do we figure out when a professing Christian has gone "too far" and we should separate from them? We're all sinners, and I'm nearly certain that all people have done at least one of the things that the verse lists. Where's the line when we should dissociate ourselves with these people?

[carmen]

When I read the above I don't see Christians that are occasionally dealing with these issues. I see people in a lifestyle of the kind of sin mentioned above. Christians may struggle with related issues--as we all do, from time to time, idolizing money, lusting or coveting are pretty common, I think--but I don't think that's what's being described above. When I read that, I see people just giving in to those things and living that way with no thought about changing, about how wrong it is, about trying to change, etc.

As to how we know when someone goes too far...are they repentant at all? Do they care what they are doing? But most important....is the Holy Spirit leading you to cut off fellowship with them? That is one of the reasons the Holy Spirit came to dwell within us--to lead us to live according to His will.

Much as we think we'd like to have hard and fast rules to judge everything by, God hasn't seen fit to be quite that specific. He wants us to seek Him, and to walk with Him, allowing Him to guide and direct us. Plus, He allows some flexibility because we are human and so terribly fallen and corrupt. If that flexibility wasn't built in, we might as well continue under the law :fear

Thanks be to God, we longer live under the law :nod

[happyhiker]

It is confusing because look at Jesus telling Zacheus, the tax collector that he was joining him for dinner. No one liked Zacheus and he sure loved his money.:confused Now if Jesus had simply turned away from Zacheus when he was up in that sycamore tree and not had dinner with him then Zacheus may have never listened to Jesus again or any of Jesus' disciples. Am I missing the point of this scripture?

[carmen]

It is speaking to the behavior of professing believers. Zacchaeus wasn't, at that point, a believer. Believers are held (and rightly so) to a higher standard of behavior than non-believers. To whom much is given, much is required :):

[antsinmypants]

I think what is missing from the OP Is the fact of what is called "Assembly Discipline" or "Church Discipline" which is implimented and explained in other passages.

We're told to go to the individual privately that is sinning and talk with them.
If they don't change, we return with a witness or two..
If even then they don't change, you take them to the elders of the congregation.
If they STILL Refuse to repent of a sin, you are to dissassociate with them.


The situation of Zaccheus, if one notices, Y'shua and he dialogue about his sin, Zaccheus agrees to pay back 7-fold (Per scriptural mandate actually) and it is explained why Y'shua sups with him.

The other thing to notice is that the Pharisees/Saducees had a habit of calling people that flunked out of Talmudic/Scribal/Rabbinic schools and those who didn't go regularly to a synogogue or Temple (or even someone "beneath them" or serving the Romans as "Sinners"...

Not entirely G-d's idea of who is and isn't nessisarily a sinner...

[Hootmon]

The other thing to notice is that the Pharisees/Saducees had a habit of calling people that flunked out of Talmudic/Scribal/Rabbinic schools and those who didn't go regularly to a synogogue or Temple (or even someone "beneath them" or serving the Romans as "Sinners"...

Not entirely G-d's idea of who is and isn't nessisarily a sinner...Missing a different mark entirely, eh? Interesting...

[lamby]

1 Corinthians 5:11
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.


If we shouldn't eat with such a person, should we fellowship with or worship alongside such a person?
If so, then what's the difference?


There is a difference. We as believers are not to interact or be within the company of someone who claims to call themselves a christian yet live a wordly lifestyle. By shunning such a person may make them feel ashamed and bring them to repentance.