1st Corinthians 5:9-10, “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 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.”
Preachers and religious church layman alike have a long history of wresting Scripture out of context to fit their agendas. People often only see what they want to see in the Word of God. I hear pastors from the New Independent Fundamental Baptist (New IFB, or NIFB) movement preaching hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community. They preach hatred of sinners!
In our text passage of inspired Scripture from 1st Corinthians 5:9-10, the Apostle Paul plainly counters his teaching not to keep company with unrepentant sinners, specifically fornicators, by clarifying that he wasn't talking about unsaved people. Paul goes on to elaborate, explaining that we ought not keep close fellowship with professed believers who still live like the Devil, that they might be ashamed and repent...
1st Corinthians 5:11-13, “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. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
”2nd Thessalonians 3:14, “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.”
I Grew Up Around Skid Row In Chicago
I saw a different side of life that very few people ever get to experience. My father and I would often see men lying in the gutter of the street, not knowing if the man was dead or alive. Back then in the 1970's when you called 911, they'd just send a police Paddy wagon to take away the individual. I was humbled as a child seeing that on a regular basis all my youth.
I just cannot relate to Steven Anderson's attitude of throwing sinners out the door of the church, hating on them. I didn't grow up that way, thank God! I grew up viewing people as being broken instead of bad. And I sincerely believe that is how God views all of us.
There's Room At The Cross For Everyone
In the late 1800's at the North Orange Baptist Church in Orange, New Jersey, an interesting thing happened one Sunday. It was the church where the great American businessman Samuel Colgate (1822-1897) was a member. Samuel Colgate, son of William Colgate, was an American manufacturer and philanthropist, born in New York City. During a church service a prostitute came forward to be saved. She trusted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and expressed a desire to join the church. "I'll gladly sit in some back corner," she said.
The self-righteous pastor hesitated to call for a motion to accept her into membership, and for a few moments the silence was deafening. Finally, another self-righteous church member stood up and suggested that action on her request be postponed. At that point, Mr. Colgate arose in her defense from the back of the church and said:
"I guess we blundered when we prayed that the Lord would save sinners. We forgot to specify WHAT KIND. We'd better ask Him to forgive us for this oversight. The Holy Spirit has touched this woman and made her truly repentant, but apparently the Lord doesn't understand she isn't the type we want Him to rescue."
Purportedly, many in the congregation blushed with shame. Another motion was made and the woman was unanimously received into the fellowship. I love that true story!
The New IFB Are Wrong To Hate And Give Up On Sinners
Saul in the New Testament was guilty of hating and murdering Christians, a crime I would think is much worse than committing homosexuality. Yet, Jesus came to Saul in love and reached out to him with the Gospel, and Saul was saved (Acts 9:1-5).
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