What should a believer do if a church member is a fornicator or drunkard?
Paul instructs believers not to keep company or have fellowship with a member who claims to be a brother yet is a fornicator, drunkard, or extortioner—not even to sit down and eat with such a person. This strong separation aims to bring the person to his senses.
Les explains that Paul distinguishes between the immoral people of the world and those inside the church. Believers cannot avoid all immoral people in the workplace or the world, because if they did, they would have to leave this world. But if a man who is called a brother—someone who claims to be a believer and is a member of the local congregation—is a fornicator, drunkard, or extortioner, the believer is not to keep company with him, not even to sit down and eat. This is strong language, but its purpose is to make that person feel set aside, no longer part of the Christian company, so as to bring him to his senses.
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
More Questions
What is the purpose of not associating with a sinning brother in the church?
The purpose of setting aside a professing brother who persists in sin is to make him feel he is being set aside, no longer part of the Christian company, so as to bring him to his senses.
What does Paul say to do with a professing Christian who is living immorally?
Paul commands believers not to keep company or have fellowship with a person who claims to be a brother and is a member of the local congregation but is a fornicator, drunkard, extortioner, or the like.