Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!princeton!njin!paul.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: lieuwen@cs.wisc.edu (Dan Lieuwen) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: This Present Darkness Message-ID: Date: 7 May 91 04:33:37 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: U of Wisconsin CS Dept Lines: 31 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu >>There is also the point that he took steps to expell a member from his >>congregation. It seems rather presumptuous to believe both that we >>are sin-free enough to be able to cast the first stone and that we >>know enough to pick which sinner to expell if we are perfect enough >>to judge since we are all sinful creatures due to the fall of Adam. >>Besides that, it is the sinners who need to hear the word of God, >>isn't it? How are we following in Jesus' footsteps if we refuse to >>embrace sinners (while hating the sin) when He repeatedly associated >>with those who needed to hear His word rather than speaking only to >>the righteous? >> The church must maintain discipline to be faithful. Jesus said some pretty harsh things to the Pharisees. He drove moneychangers out of the temple with a whip. We are to take into fellowship ANY repentant sinner, but if a person will not repent (which was the case in the book), it is the duty of the church to excommunicate. Paul talks about "expell[ing] the wicked man from among you" and mentions turning two men over to Satan (excommunicating them) so that their souls could be saved through this harsh punishment. It is only by forcibly letting them know that they are ALREADY OUTSIDE THE CHURCH by their refusal to repent of known sin that they can really hear the gospel. The gospel is good news because it tells us how to be reconciled with God. If we think things are great between us, we have no need to turn from our sin. Dan