These nice quotes & analogies are all neatly packaged & worth thought I guess, but when people can't/won't deal with the scriptures (you know, the infallible, timeless, perfect & flawless Word of God given to man that's useful for doctrine, instruction, rebuke, correction, reprove, & training in righteousness). "Let God be true & every man a liar." "Sanctify them by the truth. Thy Word is truth."

So, one more time, was Paul in 1 Corinthians just "bound up by his judging"? Was he trying to put the Corinthians in bondage by telling them "they should have judged this matter among themselves"?

Was Paul just in bondage to his judgement all spirit when he rebuked Peter PUBLICALLY to HIS FACE for the way he brought reproach to the Gospel with the Jews?

Was the apostle John being in bondage to judging when he said not to even let a false teacher enter your house, nor bid him God Speed, lest you become a partake in His evil deeds? The answer to these rhetorical questions is no. These wrong, incomplete & unBiblical understandings of what is righteous judgement & what is unrighteousness judgment (some people speak as if all judging is unrighteousness, but Jesus & the apostles didn't & made the distinction commanding us to judge righteously & among those who claim to be believers). At some point, people have to decide, "Did God really say?..." Like Eve listening to the serpent in the Garden.

And Paul said DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH THOSE CLAIMING TO BE A BROTHER BUT LIVING IN WILLFUL DELIBERATE REPETITIVE SIN, WITH SUCH A ONE, DO NOT EVEN EAT. Are some SI forum thread-goers "more loving" & "less judgemental" than the apostle Paul whose doctrinal
instruction to the Corinthians is recorded in the Holy Scripture, or is their just a lack of proper Biblical understanding? Is there a lack of discernment? "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." If the church lacks the plain & simple knowledge to not let the leaven leaven the whole lump & the purity of the church, the purity of right doctrine & understanding are both at stake. That which was holy becomes common. There is a mixture that displeases the Lord, waters down the church, & exalts the harlot "church" & mocks the Bride who wants to live in beauty, purity, & holiness unto one groomsman, without spot, wrinkle or blemish.

Yes, Christ was "a friend of sinners" & "of harlots & drunkards" & forgave the adulteress. But He didn't leave them that way! That would be a sham! The issue at stir in these matters is the Word of God, The Gospel, the Nature of God, & the blessed hope in this life & unto life eternal. With this watered down understanding of holiness (& a wrong understanding of what righteous judgement/discernment is), it's no wonder polls show that 50-75% of institutional church pastors are privately addicted to pornography but still standing in pulpits & "preaching". Of course they aren't preaching on sin. They're secretly bound by it! Or maybe the fact that their bound by it changes their preaching & the flock ends up with a watered down message/version? Either way, everyone will stand accountable for themselves. Everyone here has a Bible. Let that (all of it, not just picky-choosy parts of passages pulled out of the greater context) drive all of us to study to show thyself approved, a workman who needs not be ashamed, but rightly dividing the Word of truth.

right Jeff but tone it down a bit, we realize that most of what you are saying is true
but we really would not have it any other way now would we? Filthy movies, no problem, lots to wine, women and song, sure thing in moderation of course. Take it easy brother no need to offend the whitewashed lukewarm and accommodating
minions that are the vast majority of those who profess the christian religion.

this thread without ANY doubt surely must illustrate how far this once edifying forum has fallen.

I cant even find the words to describe the how truly bad this all is....

those who are in this sin, know who they are.

Greg, you know what you have to do.

Neil, I could not agree with you more. This thread and others remind me of the "Watchmen on the wall" facebook pages and websites that are specifically dedicated to "warning" (read: tearing down) certain ministries. The people who run these sites are right in their own eyes, seem to be bitter through and through and have an air about them that is NOT the spirit of Christ. Yet they know the "Word" and are adept at beating others into submission with Sola Scriptora. Such a heavy handed approach has gone on for centuries and there is never a good outcome. When churches or websites become dominated with judgmental, critical people who strut about with a superior air of their moral goodness, that church and/or website is soon doomed for the dogs. Paul said to beware of these "dogs" not in a derogatory way but to simply describe what happens when Pharisaical, self-righteous, legalists are let loose in the sheep fold. What was once a peaceful place is soon torn to pieces. I am not saying this is what is happening here but I do pray and hope that SI forums never allows itself to go down that road.

Colossians 3:
1 So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God.
4 When the Messiah, who is your[fn] life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature:[fn] sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these, God’s wrath comes on the disobedient,[fn]
7 and you once walked in these things when you were living in them.
8 But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self[fn] with its practices
10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your[fn] Creator.
11 In Christ[fn] there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian,[fn] slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.
14 Above all, put on love — the perfect bond of unity.

_________________
Fletcher