BJK111@psuvm.psu.edu (Barbara J. Kratz) (11/14/90)
I would like to know what thoughts you all have on the idea or practice of
'shunning' (for lack of a better term) as in I Corinthians 5:9-13...
(Paul writes)
In my letter I wrote that you must have nothing to do with those
who are sexually immoral. I was not, of course, referring to
people in general who are immoral or extortioners or swindlers or
idolaters; to avoid them you would have to withdraw from society
altogether. I meant that you must have nothing to do with any
so-called Christian who leads an immoral life, or is extortionate,
idolatrous, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a swindler;_with_anyone_
like_that_you_should_not_even_eat_. What business of mine is it to
judge outsiders? God is their judge. But within the fellowship,
you are the judges: 'Root out the wrongdoer from your community.'
(emphasis mine) (Revised English Bible)
The woman I have named for years my best friend, who is to me as iron
sharpening iron, wrote me a letter several weeks ago in which she simply
set down passages from the Bible to the effect of "stop sinning" and
closed with the above-quoted text. I understand this to mean she has cut
off contact with me until I put an end to a situation in my life where
there is a constant temptation to sin (for years I have skirted full
commitment and obedience to God in this area). So this was quite a shock,
and yet not wholly unexpected, since I had only been _totally_ honest
with her about the nature of the situation for a few months.
So: in my case, this 'shunning' has been really painful, and the whole idea
is really shocking (that people would DO this to each other?!?!?) ... and yet
it has forced me to face facts about being obedient (OUCH).
Comments?
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The best way of learning something Barbara J. Kratz
is to take a leap into the unknown Dept of Meteorology, Penn State
without looking back. bjk111@psuvm (bitnet)
- Yevgeny Yevtushenko bjk111@psuvm.psu.edu (internet)
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