[Thankful Jane]

Originally Posted by Peter Debelak

What were the Corinthians doing that Paul said: "Do not even eat with such a one..."?

Originally Posted by Peter Debelak

Is everyone in LSM-abiding churches doing something equivalent?

If so, should I turn down meal invitations?
If not, is there something other than affiliation with an "LSM-church" which determines whether the "idolatry" is so bad that, as in Corinth, I should refuse and reject certain believers?

Peter

Dear Peter,

This verse by Paul is very specifically applied to people who are established to be such ones—ones for whom this is a way of life. If someone becomes involved in fornication or adultery and will not repent and stop the behavior, then they can be judged to be such a one. If a fellow believer habitually obeys dictates from someone that are clearly against the plain teaching of the Bible, and they will not repent when confronted with this, then they can be considered "such a one." This doesn't just apply to fornication, as I thought in the past. The Bible says clearly that one who practices coveting as a way of life is an idolater, and a brother who is an idolater is in the list of those with whom we should not eat.

Would I refuse meal invites? It would depend on the situation. If it had not been clearly established that someone was "such a one," I would not decline an invitation to eat. However, if it had been clearly established that someone was "such a one," then I would decline. This doesn’t mean I could never talk to them. It just means that I would not be able to enjoy close, intimate, family interactions and fellowship with them around the table. My unwillingness to eat at the table with them is a reminder to them that something is wrong. The purpose in this is to help them not forget their sin and to help them come to repentance. Note that I said "if this is established." This can't be done on a whim or as a result of gossip you have heard. There must be a proper process of having established what is really true which involves them, meaning Matt. 18 steps of communicating. If you just decide you think someone is an idolater and stop eating with them without communicating why, that would be wrong.

I have been put in this position in my life with people I love very much and am having to walk in it currently. I feel the loss keenly, but I have God’s peace that passes understanding and I believe He is working to convict of sin. I remember vividly a time in the past when the Lord gave me the verse "with such a one no not to eat" just before I was about to invite a sister to lunch, so I didn't. Later the Lord told me to ask her if she was involved in fornication. I did and she was, much to my surprise. When she refused to repent, I told her that the Bible did not allow me to have a nice social relationship with her as long as she continued this way of life because she was a sister in Christ. She chose to go her way for a few months, but later returned to tell me she had repented. Our fellowship was restored. She thanked me for having taken a clear stance with her about this. She had not been able to forget it.

I know this sounds hard to think about practicing. It isn't easy to write about it either. We love people, but sometimes true love is to do the hard thing in love. Often, the hardest thing is honest communication. It's always easier just to avoid it.

This is my view. I leave you and any one else to reach their own conclusion about what these verses mean in practice.

Thankful Jane