May 18, 2009 - I Corinthians 5

We are expected to be influencers not influenced. Paul makes this very clear in the second half of I Corinthians 5. He says, "I have written 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." The tone here seems almost like Paul would be shocked that most Christians today have no non-Christian friends. Who are we going to influence if we don't associate with people like this? Jesus spent much of His time with people such as this and caused much controversy, saying it was the sick that needed a physician. As Christians, most of us, myself included, have become rather insular. We protect ourselves and our reputation at the cost of trying to love and influence the sick right into a relationship with Jesus. I wonder if we haven't missed the point.