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NASB | Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 3:23 since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, |
Bible Question: I have a brother who continues to outwardly sin. Do I not let him into our bible study group or discipline by separation in any way? |
Bible Answer: (part 1 of 2 answer to this question) Hi Pilot, I totally agree with Hank. First of all, when you say "brother" do you mean your sybling? or a brother of the church? I'm assuming your sybling. Also, does he consider himself a Christian? I mean, is he coming to know Christ? If he is wanting to attend your bible studies that is fantastic and should make you excited regardless of his lifestyle. I think his lifestyle is none of your business. It's between Him and God. It is God to judge not you. If he is being drawn to Christ and comes to Christ, God/Holy Spirit will change him and transform his heart. A bible study or a church should be a place to get well, a place of healing, not a place that points out your failures and then excommunicates you because you are not at the same level as more mature Christians. You come as you are. It's like saying at an AA meeting that those of you who are struggling with alcoholism should leave and not to come back until you no longer struggle with alcohol. Do you think Christians have a monlopoly on morality? All that differenciates a believer from a non-believer is a state of repentance. I don't know what your brother is doing that you deem sinful, but if he doesn't know Christ, how can you be judgmental of him for living this lifestyle? I mean, he doesn't know any better. Do you think your "righteousness" or what enables you to live a so called less "sinful" lifestyle is of your own doing? Do you think God loves you more than your brother because you, perhaps, don't curse, have sex or do drugs? Christ teaches us to be kind because he is kind to us...to be merciful and forgiving because He is merciful to us. Jesus sat and ate with prostitutes, tax collectors and "sinners". What did he say to the Pharisees who questioned and condemned him for this? He said: It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:12) When Christ quotes scripture saying: "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice", I think he is saying what is more important is showing love, humility and mercy rather than following these "outward" empty acts that represent a clean life. That is to say, what good is all your perfect church attendance, your strength in resisting cursing or premarital sex when in your heart you are judging and looking down your nose at sinners whom Christ died for and loves? This is why Christ so harshly condemned the Pharisees, because they claimed to "see", to be righteous because of their deeds, but all the time in their hearts they did not have the love of God in their hearts. They had no mercy or forgivness for others, only a hypocritical attitude of condemnation. Through out my Christian life I have been so hurt by militant, angry, judgmental "Christians" who saw themselves as very righteous simply because they didn't drink one sip of alcohol, dance or go see "R" rated movies. Outwardly, they looked the part, they never missed Church and passed out tracts diligently, but their hearts were so merciless, condemnatory and full of arrogance. There was no "fragrance" of Christ, no gentleness, no love of God. Thank God for God and other "real" brothers and sisters, because I would have completely rejected Christianity based on the harshness of these so called "godly" holy rollers. |