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Pilgrim wrote:
doulos said:
I've known lots of folks who are gay or lesbian or feminists--pick an extreme--and most of them were ostracized by some one who was close to them for their beliefs. . . .

I knew a gay man whose father--a minister--had completely turned his back on him. There were no open doors. There was no hope for reconciliation. He had simply ceased to exist. Whose fault? Who knows, but his Dad was not without guilt.


doulos,

The above statements piqued my interest, obviously enough to respond to them. I'm curious how you think Christians should act toward those who are living in gross sin and/or espousing views which are diametrically opposed to biblical Christianity. What comes to mind is Paul's injunctions:


Romans 16:17-18 (ASV) "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent."

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 (ASV) "And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. And [yet] count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."


Now, I grant you that these words of Paul could be construed as being limited to that which takes place within the confines of the Church. But I do think they are applicable to those outside the Church as well. In the Thessalonian passage, Paul says that we are to "have no company with him"; company being the Greek word, sunanamignumi, i.e., to associate with.

Would you be so kind to offer your comments on my question(s) and to share your understanding what is mean to not "associate" with such people?

First regarding your quoted bible comments I have to say that they are restricted to Christians/Church members. For example if a churchmember if found to be homosexual he should be submitted to church discipline. Failing that: yeah its time to expel him. (See the bold in the Thessalonians passage.) The Church as far as I can see has no authority over those who are not members and if it did, they probably wouldn't give a flip.

"I'm curious" he says...once again you are asking my opinion about something so I am prepared to be bludgeoned about the head and shoulders...nah. Here's what I think:

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Jude 1:17-23 (NIV)
17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

I think this applies to the lost. They have little hope of hearing the gospel if they are completely ignored, if Christians refuse to do business with them, if there is no interaction at all.

Rom 10:14 (NIV)
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

OK. I'm ready to take my licks now.