Page 901 … Associating with drunkards
Thereafter you move along to 1 Corinthians 5:11, which reads – “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or who is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one.”
My Friend, while it is true that this verse does seem to condemn those you wish to condemn, it actually does no such thing. And even more importantly than that, it actually violates the Way, the Truth and the very Life of your own Lord & Savior!
Please consider the following Truths related thereto:
Truth: This verse contains no mention of homosexuals or homosexuality at all; only the “sexually immoral” – a phrase which accurately describes every single man and every single woman who even fantasizes about having sex with anyone other than his or her husband or wife (see Matthew 5:27-28). This means that this verse probably relates to you & yours just as much (if not even more) than it relates to Oliver Clyde Allen!
Truth: This verse also condemns associating with those who are greedy, as well as with all “idolaters”, “revilers” and “drunkards” – a list which at least in part accurately describes a very large percentage of all heterosexual Christian ministers; the same ministers who you apparently would go and hear preach on Sunday … Now that this hypocrisy has been called to your attention, does this mean you will now refuse to go and listen to them preach as well? Does this mean you are now going to start worshiping solely in the privacy of your own home?
Truth: Perhaps most importantly of all, this verse actually asks us to do the exact opposite of what Jesus wanted us to do – namely, Be Kind to the sinners in our midst. Where Paul tells us “do not even eat with such a one”, Jesus frequently broke bread with sinners (see Matthew 9:10-13, Mark 2:15-17, Luke 5:29-32, Luke 15:1-7, Luke 19:1-10 & John 4:40) … Where Paul tells us to criticize those who are immoral, Jesus tells us to keep our judgments to ourselves (see Matthew 5:22, Matthew 7:1-5, Matthew 23:25-26, Luke 6:37-42 & John 8:7 et al) … Where Paul tells us to reject those who do not meet our own personal standards of ethical righteousness, Jesus tells us to humble ourselves as little children and reach out to those “enemies” with unconditional Love! (see Matthew 18:3-4, Matthew 23:12, Mark 10:14-15, Luke 6:36 & John 13:34-35 et al)
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