It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. [2] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. [3] For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, [4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, [5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. [6] Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? [7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: [8] Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. [9] I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: [10] Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. [11] But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. [12] For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? [13] But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Now, is Paul being Judgmental? No he is not judging when he asked that the wicked person be removed from fellowship. Remember, there were no Religious rules and regulations SET in the fellowship to keep such a person out in those days. Paul is judging what the man is doing, not WHO he is because he desires to fellowship. Man made religious sects and denominations, SET UP RULES �before� you join their fellowships and this act is a matter of �SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS�. The rule, having been posted, should keep the sinners out! These same rules (based on sect or denomination) reflect their lack of understanding of �How� to resolve the conflict of What, When, and How to treat these men and women who are lost to the ways of the world.
What then is the correct approach? There is none! Christ, Himself, was in the midst of the people and they in turn ministered freely by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to those in need, using all members - the called out ones �translated means church - to share their convictions to the sinners who came.
In other words, the church MOVED to meet the needs of one another. If in the fellowship some one were found, having already been confirmed to those around them, that he or she would trust Christ with their life, then they would be approached in love about what they were doing - never about whom he or she was. If they resolved to stay, it would be a matter of grace allowed by those in the fellowship, and not some rule of Law. In this light the sinner now has to CHOOSE with their heart, not with their mind. If they choose to remain in sin, then it is their doing, and this is where they are AGAIN told by the elders to do what they wish to do, but then they shall no longer participate in the fellowship. ...
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