Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 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. 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. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:6-13
How many times have you heard this passage preached or taught? This is actually pointed right at YOUR fellow ‘Christians’. In your Church, group, and meetings. Why is this so avoided by the preachers and teachers of today? Paul is dealing with subjects no one wants to talk about. Judging your brothers and sisters (we actually are to do that with the fruit of the Spirit). Sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, partying, getting wasted, and cheating are all things that should be avoided to the point of avoiding those who practice and continue in these works of the flesh — that are CURRENTLY in the Church — BUT not those outside of the Church. We are to leave God to judge those in the world, but we are to be VERY mindful of those we associate with who claim the name of Christ. We are not to allow these kinds of behavior in our circle of our spiritual family.
Has the Holy Spirit ever asked you to stop associating with a particular person? Did you listen to Him? Why would He do that? Reread the first paragraph of the above listed scripture again. You are ‘affected’ by those around you… like the flour is affected by the yeast. It has been said that your character can be known by the five closest friends you have. Meaning …I can see what kind of person you are by the closest friends you keep.
Why is this topic so difficult for the Church? The modern American institutional Church is built on a worldly system — which is money driven, and a top down authority pyramid structure which promotes a compromised lifestyle. Hypocrisy then — is the norm. And one can easily be called out if they are judging while maintaining a ‘log in their own eye’. (Matthew 7:3-5) Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is set up differently. It actually is inverse to this worldly system. (Matthew 18) Children usually just blurt out the truth without malice or evil intent, but just say it as it is. “The Emperor isn’t wearing any clothes!” As adults we like to believe the lie and get others to believe it with us.
The new covenant works on a whole new premise — that being it is Spirit led, infused, inspired, directed, and maintained. It is NOT maintained by manmade rules to ritualistically drive us into compliance with their interpretation of the scriptures, like the Pharisees did in the old covenant. The new covenant is not maintained by a worldly authoritarian pyramid structure of denominations / factions / and religious leaders — but ONLY by the Spirit of God who NOW indwells those individuals who have invited Him into their lives.
With the Holy Spirit — one is instructed and directed if the person chooses to follow Him. The Spirit of God gives wisdom and understanding to the Word of God. (both Rhema and Logos) He leads a person into a righteous lifestyle —step by step. Many ‘play’ religion or have it as social club status in their life — but Jesus requires a much higher standard. (Luke 14:26)
What has happened to the American Church? Unrighteous yeast.
Who do you associate with — in the “family of God”. Who tells us of your character?