BANNED FROM FACEBOOK (6 OF 8)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: I Corinthians 5:1-13, I Corinthians 6:1-11
This content is part of a series.
Banned From Facebook (6 of 8)
Series: Facebook Morality
Jeff Strite
I Corinthians 5:1-6:11
(We opened with an approximately 2 ½ minute video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-CeW-5Do9o&feature=related).
They ban people from Facebook?
Did you know that?
Well, I knew it… I just didn’t know how common it was.
And – as we heard on that video - it’s shocking experience for those who get kicked off Facebook. They thought this was a free site… that they could say and do anything they wanted.
But that isn’t so.
Now, there is a Biblical equivalent of being kicked off of Facebook.
It’s called shunning or ex-communication.
Shunning is the practice of ostracizing an unrepentant sinful member of a congregation.
In essence – these folks are being banned from church.
The most famous Biblical example of “shunning” is the one found here in I Corinthians 5. From what we read here, it appears that one of the members of the church had decided to co-habitate with his stepmother (sleeping with his daddy’s wife).
AND it appears that the church knew about this and looked the other way.
Paul was amazed.
How could the church tolerate such sinful behavior?
Even the Pagans didn’t live like this.
Well – how could the church folks “tolerate such sinful behavior?” How could they just “look the other way” when a fellow Christian was so obviously immoral?
Well, apparently it seemed like a good idea at the time.
To their way of thinking, it was the “loving thing to do”.
If they could just be more patient and understanding, maybe he’d change.
I mean he was probably just sowing his wild oats.
And maybe they took into account problems he’d had earlier in life.
Besides… it wasn’t their problem.
Many would say: “It really isn’t any of my business.”
But Paul said: “Yes, it is your business. And you better understand – you need to step up and confront this sin.”
He wrote that they NEEDED to shun this man
And the reason they need to do it is “…so that ...
Series: Facebook Morality
Jeff Strite
I Corinthians 5:1-6:11
(We opened with an approximately 2 ½ minute video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-CeW-5Do9o&feature=related).
They ban people from Facebook?
Did you know that?
Well, I knew it… I just didn’t know how common it was.
And – as we heard on that video - it’s shocking experience for those who get kicked off Facebook. They thought this was a free site… that they could say and do anything they wanted.
But that isn’t so.
Now, there is a Biblical equivalent of being kicked off of Facebook.
It’s called shunning or ex-communication.
Shunning is the practice of ostracizing an unrepentant sinful member of a congregation.
In essence – these folks are being banned from church.
The most famous Biblical example of “shunning” is the one found here in I Corinthians 5. From what we read here, it appears that one of the members of the church had decided to co-habitate with his stepmother (sleeping with his daddy’s wife).
AND it appears that the church knew about this and looked the other way.
Paul was amazed.
How could the church tolerate such sinful behavior?
Even the Pagans didn’t live like this.
Well – how could the church folks “tolerate such sinful behavior?” How could they just “look the other way” when a fellow Christian was so obviously immoral?
Well, apparently it seemed like a good idea at the time.
To their way of thinking, it was the “loving thing to do”.
If they could just be more patient and understanding, maybe he’d change.
I mean he was probably just sowing his wild oats.
And maybe they took into account problems he’d had earlier in life.
Besides… it wasn’t their problem.
Many would say: “It really isn’t any of my business.”
But Paul said: “Yes, it is your business. And you better understand – you need to step up and confront this sin.”
He wrote that they NEEDED to shun this man
And the reason they need to do it is “…so that ...
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