Lack Of Love Separates Parts Of The One Body

Sometimes the religious are more dangerous than the irreligious.
When the religious do not understand, or suspect things afoul due to a lack of some kind in them,
love wanes... and those once close are pushed far away by much religious arguing.
Love grows cold and people become confused... challenging their love for others.
There have been 'Christian' groups that have 'destroyed everything' that preceded them.
Some of these groups have actually left the Way, while arguing they have 'found' it.

The religious mind sees walls and makes judgments on others according to the walls in their minds and hearts.

But in a world created by God and all things under His authority, do human perceived walls exist?

Humans make judgments all the time ('that is too hot', 'that should be done better', that person was mean', etc.).

The righteous mind sees unity among mankind, knowing full well God will separate the weeds from the wheat at His appointed time.

The individual is not commissioned to pull weeds; that is the job of the Spirit through angels.

The righteous mind also makes judgments of all sorts, but weighs them on their heart when considering others... careful to speak through love things difficult to explain.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked person from among you. 

- 1 Corinthians 5: 9-13

There is a lot to be learned from this portion of the 1st Corinthian letter.

Was the person expelled to never be allowed back into the fold?

No.

There is a process of sorts to allow for repentance.

Regarding those outside the Church, often times a religious argument claims that the believer is be far removed from secular circles as much as possible.

Sounds logical.

However, is this what Yeshua did and taught?

While Yeshua was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 

On hearing this, Yeshua 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: 10-13

Breaking bread with others is quite an intimate affair.

It brings all those gathered at the table into a peer position, if even only for a short while.

Sentiments are exchanged, manners are revealed, and people can be drawn closer to one another.

Hearts can be reflected and kinship found among people of varied backgrounds: the Church.

The previous religious stance the Pharisees were speaking from (the Pharisees being a group of people who 'looked' like they knew what they were talking about), was to avoid 'sinners' and anyone who did not reflect their religious values, religious points of view, religious beliefs.

Yet with their great learning, ability to cite Scripture and repeat much memorized verse, these religious people were unable to recognize the Author of Life standing before them: Messiah.

Their method was to avoid such people at all costs... and it is still today.

Typical human nature.

Interestingly, Messiah turned all of this on its head.

He loved the sinner, and gave them the time of day.

He spent time with the outcasts, and would go along with anyone who invited Him.

How often do religious people 'go along' with 'sinners' for something like a meal, or some other kind of social gathering?

All of this, of course, has to be considered in realistic terms.

Messiah was not invited into a whore house, or to go wait in ambush for some victim, but something neutral meant to bring people closer together.

I don't think Messiah would have gone to such places, but if invited to such things, I think He would likely give a response containing a lesson about the detriments of such a way of life.

He was full of grace, even when correcting accusations against Him.

He always left the door open for repentance... and He still does Today.

The righteous treat everyone as if they are a brother or sister, and if in due time they are revealed not to be, at least the testimony in their actions will be praised.

The religious are quick to pass judgement on someone that 'looks' like they are not a part of themselves, and thus approaches them with indifference.

The righteous speak love to others, despite their appearance or affiliation or current state... to draw them nearer to the Father.

The religious argue over things they think they know... and thus find it necessary judge others outside the Church, which is not to be done for what should be obvious reasons.

The righteous understand they stand with God regardless of man's opinions of them, even religious people with very strong opinions and wild arguments about things they think they know.

The righteous do not use their relationship with God as a tool of power, force, elevation or dominance.

Instead, the righteous understand the weight of their responsibility and their servant role in reaching others.

The righteous reflect the humility and peace of Messiah.

The religious are unaware of what God has long established on earth, even His kingdom and 'how' that kingdom 'is', and usually interpret the world according to physical things.

The righteous are not bothered by the unknown, since He who was previously unknown has been made fully known.

The Father in heaven has been fully revealed in the Messiah, according to ancient prophecies fulfilled.

The righteous are not swept away by intrigues, while the religious argue over such distractions... using Scripture as their evidence of things suspected.

In the Corinth Church there were people unaware of their new life in Messiah.

They were unaware that their new life meant they had been called to leave the ways of the world behind (their old self), and are now to be, not religious, but righteous.

They seemed unaware because they continued in certain lifestyles of which they were warned would disqualify them from God's kingdom.

There is nothing different today.

Although today the Church continues to warn of ways that do not lead to heaven, pseudo churches speak unclear messages layered in 'progressive' ideas catering to popular ideas.

Today there are 'new' ideas meant to somehow express a 'change' or 'correction' with the past examples found in the letters to the Church(es).

When a church group today invites all people (which it is to do) into its fold, yet avoids the difficult teachings of holiness, they are not projecting the light but conforming holiness to lesser manners.

Many teachings are empty of God's power; His ability to truly save others from immoral depravity.

When a church reinterprets the teaching of holiness regarding homosexuality, for example, in a way that ignores the clarity that this lifestyle disqualifies people from God's kingdom, what are they doing?

Surely the homosexual will be found in heaven... the repentant homosexual.

Much like all the rest of those found redeemed in Messiah; repented sinners of a plethora of sin, for God's sacrifice covers all sin.

It isn't that any particular temptation subsides or 'goes away', but the ability to distinguish choice through obedience is made clear.

But when any particular sin that disqualifies heaven is argued as now 'okay', God's power is denied.

God's grace knows how to handle the confused, otherwise He wouldn't be just... this speaks to places where God's Spirit calls to His children who may be listening to a less than clear teaching.

When quoting verses that clarify the offenses of the flesh as 'unloving', there is evidence of a unique departure of rationale.

God accepts the sinner, since that is what all men are.

God's love covers the sinner, since that is the triumph of Messiah.

The believer is able to overcome, by the Spirit of God living in them.

For those in the throws of battle, the believer is called to love them despite their battles.

Let not your love be interpreted as judgment, unless the redeemed (those part of the Church) continues in sin and has been somehow convinced their sin is not sin, but a natural way of life.

God's grace has allowed for the confused to be loved despite their confusion, for God will separate those who are His children from those who are not in due time.

I have been told of religious leaders who are tempted with all kinds of things, yet they do not indulge... these are revealed as the righteous and their thorns are openly spoken about by them.

Others justify their sin in arguments based not on Scripture's clarity, but on popular consensus... even at times using Scripture to argue other points... things unusual - human arguments.

We feel 'safer' when among our own 'kind', whether that kind is an ethnic group, a religious group, a political group, social group, economic group, et al.

When social groups are affiliated according to external factors, and even sinful lifestyles somehow argued as 'okay' through popular consensus (but not God's law), the Gospel message is manipulated to fit popular sentiments, instead of the Word forming people's hearts, minds, and lives in the image of Messiah (holiness).

It takes faith and maturity to break these walls down, firstly in our selves, and then actually walk among the world projecting His light and love to others.

To deny what we perceive as our identity definition is exactly what God desires to remove, since it is likely built upon earthly concepts and ideas.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it. 

- Luke 9: 24

The righteous are in the world although not of the world.

Such a walk takes faith.

Those with weak faith find solace in the Church, behind the gates of the sheep pen.

This is appropriate, for this is the purpose of the body when it gathers to break bread, to speak of challenges and triumphs, to build and sharpen iron, one mad being a shelter for another.

We all have our times of growth, and weakness, and need safe places.

The challenge is finding suitable safe places that are not simply mirrors of the world.

This is the point made in the Corinthian letter.

The safeguard of the Church shouldn't be a hiding place of those continually living a contrary lifestyle to holiness, but a place where such things are confessed into the light with others assisting to hold one accountable.

The Church is a place of healing and a place of light; clarity, full transparency, trust.

Yet, not every group that claims to be affiliated with the body of the risen Messiah are in the light, but simply unfortunately dens of darkness... yet God's grace can still pull His children from such places.

The teaching to remove those who live lifestyles contrary to holiness serves a purpose; to bring those people to their senses, so they may repent, and be invited back into the fold.

The separation from those outside of the Church, due to their less than honorable lifestyles, would seem like a very obvious concept... and there may be a seeming contradiction between hanging out with 'sinners' while expelling a 'sinner' that is in Church.

It can be similar to a house.

The owner of the house opens his home and invites everyone in... yet there are simple rules to entering.

One must remove their shoes, for the home is a holy place.

Those who refuse, are asked to leave since they desire not to abide by the rules.

If they abide, they are welcomed... and find the home to be their home.

Is it lack of love to point out what is unholy to others?

Only to a mind and heart that is unfamiliar with what holiness is.