Twin City church of Christ Blog
“March 28, 2024 - Associations”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsAssociations
Reading: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
As Paul encourages the Corinthians to remove from themselves a brother persisting in a sinful relationship, he clarifies the intent of an earlier letter he wrote them. “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world”(1 Cor 5:9-10). We do not have this letter, but it seems to have been a general admonition about associations. Yet Paul’s intent was not for Christians to distance themselves from worldly people. If we keep from worldly people because they are worldly, we would have to somehow “go out of the world.” We should not be surprised when worldly people think, talk, and act in worldly ways.
His point was—in the first letter and now in this one—that he wants them “not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother” (1 Cor 5:11) and yet lives this immoral lifestyle. Limiting this association extends even to the point of not eating with him (v. 11). Meals in Paul’s time often expressed agreement and acceptance. Paul wants the Corinthians to deliberately not agree and accept this man. The burden of judging this man’s actions rests on the Corinthians specifically because he is a brother: “Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?”(1 Cor 5:12). We judge one another and limit our association with brothers who persist in sin. Our relationships must be affected by their sin.
Associations matter because they communicate our approval. Paul is particularly concerned about our associations with Christians who persist in sin. By continuing to treat them as if all is well, we signal that sin is no big deal to us. There is much to say about the specific actions required here—and many difficult decisions to make about how we might apply them individually—but our relationships must be affected by others’ lifestyles of sin.
-----------
One Thing to Think About: How do I signal approval—or disapproval—of the people in my life?
One Thing to Pray For: Wisdom to know how to manage my associations properly
