I am enraged

"But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother, but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolator or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man, do not even eat." 1 Corinthians 5:11

A few months ago, I was having dinner with my friend Thomas, and this verse came up. Thomas asked me where I draw that line, under what circumstances is a person's sin grievous enough that I would cut off fellowship with him. I talked through that question with Thomas, and I've continued to think it over, but I still don't have a firm line. I'm not sure where the line is that I would cut off fellowship with someone who is a drunkard, or an idolator. I think that for me, it is in the struggle. If someone is struggling with a sin, I think that it's my responsibility to support them, to help them deal with that. As one example, a friend asked me for help in quitting smoking, he came to live at my house for a week, so that he would be away from anywhere he was used to smoking. He wanted my supervision and support, and I was happy to give it.

This doesn't seem like the situation that Paul is describing in this passage. Paul seems to be talking about someone who is unrepentant in these behaviors, someone who calls himself a brother (a member of the church) and also who purposefully lives in this way. I have a hard time thinking that Paul would have someone thrown out of fellowship who is trying to stop doing something on this list. I certainly have no intention of ending my contact with anyone struggling with these behaviors. I think that the issue is in the struggle, it's one thing to sin, but be trying to stop, it's another thing entirely to embrace the sin.

I don't know exactly where the line is for me, though I do have a problem with teaching others that sin is acceptable. I would have a very hard time continuing to fellowship with someone who taught others to sin. The Bible is pretty clear that we're to support our brothers and sisters in righteousness, not cause them to stumble.

God says: "'But you have turned from the way, and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,' says the Lord Almighty" Malachi 2:8

Jesus says: "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:6

Last night, I heard of something which is far past the line. The Conservative Bible Project is a project to re-write scripture in order to remove the liberal bias, in order to emphasize Jesus free-market principles, which apparently weren't emphasized enough in the parables. The idea of remaking scripture to fit a political ideology fills me with rage. The correct response when we believe in an ideology, be that conservatism, liberalism, communism, libertarianism, or any other ism a person can come up with, the way to handle that is to compare your ideology to scripture. If parts of it don't jive with scripture, if there are parts that conflict with God's word, you change the ideology. You change your beliefs to fit scripture, you do not attempt to change scripture to fit your beliefs.

God has some things to say about changing the Bible. The Bible ends with the book of revelation, which is a prophesy about the end of the world. Revelation ends with:

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." Revelation 22:18-19

The idea of changing scripture to fit something created by man upsets me, and I feel confident that I am in agreement with God on this. I urge you not to support any change to the content of scripture, I urge you to read the Bible, and ask God to work to conform you to His will. Peace, joy and purpose in my life flow entirely from God, and I assure you, can be part of your life as well.