“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 slander, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.” 1 Corinthians 5:11
Paul comes out very strongly in who a person should be around. He lists off several groups of people: sexually immoral, greedy, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards, and swindlers. Very quickly he points out that these are not people in the world, but people who claim to be believers in Jesus yet do these things.
The world lives in sin because they do not know any better. They are expected to commit all kinds of sins. That is what they do.
As a believer it should be different. Every person who believes in Jesus, must strive to be like Jesus. Jesus was perfect with no sin. Believers must strive to be perfect and have no sin in their lives.
Looking at churches, there are people in the church who claim to be a believer in Jesus, yet lead a completely different life. There are some who sleep with others in sin while going to church. Some will slander others very viciously. Many are very greedy. Some will try to cheat everyone and anyone. Many will stay drunk all the time. Each of these do these things Monday through Saturday, then go to church looking good to other people. The real problem is most other believers turn a blind eye to the sin and accept it as normal and acceptable.
Paul says not to even eat with these types of people. A believer may have a problem with a sin, but should be striving to overcome it. These types are not even trying to stop the sin. Many will even justify it.
If you know someone living like this, you must approach them with God’s word and see if they will change. Do not ignore the sin. Let them know what God says about their sinful lifestyle. Pray for the person. After this, if they refuse to change, do not associate with them anymore. They are a bad witness for Jesus.
I pray today that you will take a stand against all sinful lifestyles in your life and in other believers lives; that God will give you wisdom in what to say and do; that God would change the hearts of others through you; and that God build His kingdom through you.