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The Spiritually Wounded
As this meme points out, we even beat-up on ourselves. In need, wounded and hurting inside, many flagellate their own conscience duckduckgo: flagellate – To reproach or punish severely. We need better self talk than that!
The church has a lousy record of dealing with their spiritually wounded. How’s your church doing? And you? How have you treated them… those Christian brothers and sisters who have fallen into sin?
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A Christian fails in…whatever, and — what is the most common reaction by church members? Seems like the reaction is just like what the world does to themselves: gossip all about it, do social media all over the place ending them, treat them like pariahs.
As has been said about churches, “They shoot their wounded.” Are you going to shoot yourself (figuratively)? What ever happened to forgiving and restoring? Do you forgive yourself when you fail and fall and sin?
God’s perspective is quite easy to see in Scripture. But simple humans have a tough time with it. We are quick and harsh.
We develop slap-down cultures in our little social media pass-times. Many immediately get gossipy, slander the fallen one, and brand them as “that failure”, become haters, and what-have-you.
What does Scripture say we are to do? Here are two passages. One is 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, and another is Galatians 6:1-5, 9-10 (there are many more). Let’s look into this one in First Corinthians:
Treating brothers and sisters who have fallen.
9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
11 But [f]actually, I wrote to you not to associate [g]with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God [h]judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
_________
That “wicked man” or woman who is in the church? Here Paul is talking about one who practices evil: the practicing “immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler” going to church. Sin is habitual to this person.
“Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”
He is not referring to someone who falls into a sin …sort of “one-and-done”? Paul addresses this “one-and-done” sinner in Galatians 6:1-5, 9-10. On the other hand, Paul speaks here, in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, of the church regular who’s lifestyle is a constant sinful practice – condemned in Scripture.
We can find large lists in Scripture of the sins which some make a practice of including in their lives. It’s what they are. They practice it. They have accepted it. The evil, of one sort or another, is what they do habitually — all the time:
See God’s Sin List references in one link or: 2 Corinthians 12:20, 1 Timothy 5:13, Romans 1:29, Romans 1:24-25, Matthew 15:19, 1 Peter 2:1, Proverbs 16:28, Ephesians 4:31, 2 Peter 2, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 2 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Timothy 1:6-11, Romans 1:18-19.
What to do about them?
When the church goer “practices sin”, we must make a concerted effort to not get involved in their life per the verse 11, as it says “I wrote to you not to associate with” that person. They can bring you down into sin with them, as warned here:
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.” – Galatians 6:1
“…keeping a watchful eye
on yourself,
so that you are not
tempted as well.”
– 2 Timothy 2:22
“…help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper].”
– 1 Thessalonians 5:14
“…keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.” – Galatians 6:1
Maybe think about this
The exhortation is ever before us. Maybe you yourself are wrapped-up in gossip and slander — because you have not been truly redeemed. Scary thought.
Apparently many who are in the church are NOT in the faith. As Paul puts it here, You are NOT “living your lives as [committed] believers”. They are counterfeit.
The most important thing here? How are you living? Evaluate yourselves!
2 Corinthians 13:5
Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit?
The church leadership is further instructed: Until that one returns repentantly, church leaders are to “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” *Not remove the Christian who has temporarily fallen. (Yikes: there would be nobody left in the church!)
PIC: Marek Piwnicki. Unsplash
The one with attitude
Paul means: remove the one who regularly is in sin – the one with an ongoing sinful experience, the one with attitude. The one who flaunts sin.
The inclusion of outright disobedient pagans into a church is contrary to Scripture. We love them, yes, befriend them, yes, invite them in to hear the Gospel, yes. But Paul says do not make them a regular part of the congregation once you see they are rejecting the Truth and refusing to admit and reject their sin.
To examine the Galatians 6:1-5, 9-10 passage, See: Forgiving and restoring the brother caught in a sin
FOR MORE:
The most important thing about sin is: Examine yourself and get right with God! But if you see a fellow Christian sin, what is the Scriptural thing to do?
____________
Forgiving and restoring the brother caught in a sin
You are here: How do you treat Christian brothers and sisters who have fallen into sin?
Sinners, versus living in sin Excerpt:
We are all “sinners”. All of us are failing God in many ways – disobedient, time and time again. However, the born again believer does not accept sin in their life. They fight it! Though born again, changed into a new creation, they are still sinners, forgiven, yes, but still struggling against sinning.
On the other side, non-believers, sinners also, have made decisions to accept sin in their life. Whatever the sin may be (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) the “not-truly-saved” person has accepted a normalcy which reveals their true heart.
Being wise in a very unwise world during these End Times Excerpt: People in the world are becoming more and more unwise. Noticed that lately? Absolutely irrational, stupid and foolish. We need more of God’s wisdom from above.
7 Ways Christians Can Avoid Deception | from Rosilind – rosilindjukic.com | Rosilind Jukic (Founder of A Little R & R) | Excerpt: The book of Jude urges the church to contend for the faith. There is a great difference between those who have sincere heart to love God and keep His commands and occasionally mess up and those who habitually sin. Jude urges: “but others save with fear.”
Our put down, slap down ways…we have developed slap-down cultures in our little social media pass-time, get immediately gossipy,
Taking hate to Holy Heaven? Your ways, your views?
Hating is life changing – eternal life changing. Scary thought.
PIC: I’m-so-shocked. Tenor.com
Is your light actually darkness?
The progressive nature of evilness
If I Were To Let Sin Reign In My Body
Acting Wickedly – Matthew 7:23 Excerpt: What is “acting wickedly”?
The Judge of All will define what it is. Is your definition the same as His? Or do you hope to stand before Him on That Day, and rebutt Holy God? Like…
“No. You are wrong, god. I do not define “acting wickedly” like you do. Let me explain it to you. To me, god, acting wickedly is this….”
16 Bible results for “malice” from Amplified Bible. See the 16 references…about sins going on inside the insides of church folk. Have you fallen into these: gossip, busybody, hating, malice, anger….
Ways that displease God and end in destruction
The sins we can practice to go to Hell. Just so you know.
Refuse to admit your sin…refusing to admit and reject their sin.
The “you will never enter” warning passages in Scripture
Thrasher.Poser.Fake
Think about it. Have you strayed from the Truth?
We are in God’s era of hope – grace, love, and forgiveness in Jesus’ Name
Evangelicals aren’t taking cues from high-profile critics | | Post Date: November 8, 2024 | wng.org | “no one cares—and nor should they—what the commentariat thinks about evangelicalism anymore.” “high-profile evangelicals”
What does it mean to be an Evangelical Christian? How is it different from other labels of Christianity? | from compellingtruth.org
Being an “evangelical” in today’s wild and wooly ungodly culture | from this site you are currently on
Mold me as an instrument of use
This Hope we have and what this Hope does Excerpt: Hope keeps us going:
for that is
just the place and time
that the tide will turn.”
―
Make Self Talk… God Talk. It goes on and on and on
Psalm 72: The Reign of the Righteous King/Thoughts to cultivate
“…they are to pray for him continually;
[u]They are to bless him all day long.”
Consequences of supporting evil
Sinners versus “living in sin”
Practicing Sin – Not Following Christ
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