How then Shall We Live

What does it involve to be a Christian? Is it possible to live right in a society that is largely wrong? By what standards are we to assess conditions?

Some years ago a well-noted Episcopal theologian, standing on the platform of a college in Pennsylvania, made this statement: “There is no rule book.” So he argued that we get our ethical principles from the people around us. He was a strong advocate of situation ethics. I heard him say this.

Then he went to Israel with the intention to rewrite the Gospels. However, he came to his end in the sands of a Judean desert. His death to the Israelis was a mystery. It still is. Some people argued that the Lord removed him before he could blaspheme Jesus.

I affirm the Bible is our guidebook. He thought we have no guidebook. I believe we have a Guide Book in the Bible and that Guide Book is for everybody. That is why it is so important for the Wycliffe and the New Tribes Mission translators, and all others, to be out there among the people who have no Bible and translate the Holy Scriptures into their languages.

I am so pleased to tell you we have now mailed over 140,000 free Bibles to people in more than 90 countries around the world. We believe the Word of God is universal and timeless.

Some argue that if Paul were living today, he would not write as he did in the first century. I don’t believe that. I believe the apostle Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and he wrote what is applicable for us and all people for all times.

So I will answer the question I raised, “HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE?” from Paul’s writings in I Corinthians 5:9-13:

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

11 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.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Living as he did in a pagan, sensual world, the apostle Paul gives us three WAYS to live now! They are just as applicable today as they were in his day.

The first way is:

11 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.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

Now the apostle Paul comes closer home. He addresses the brotherhood. If there is somebody in the
brotherhood who is a fornicator, who is covetous, who is an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner, separate yourself from such a person. Rebuke the unregenerate, so-called brother, and have no fellowship with him. Is there any church that would admit such members knowingly?

I remember hearing an illustration, I am not sure it ever happened, but anyway it is something we can consider. This young man came to the pastor and wanted to become a member of the church.

“Oh, that is fine,” the pastor said.

“Well,” the applicant said, “pastor, I like to spend some time with the men at the bar after work.”
“Well, that is alright,” the pastor said, “just do it moderately.”
“Well, pastor, I am also intrigued by the X-rated movies and I attend one sometimes.”
“Well, just don’t be intemperate. Do it carefully.”
“Well, pastor, I like to gamble some at the gambling houses.”
“Well, again, watch out that you don’t overdo it.”

Then finally, the young man said, “I don’t see any point in joining your church because I can do what I am doing where I am. And I can do what I am doing when I join your church, so I don’t see any point in joining your church.”

Do you see what I mean?

During the Reformation, some of the groups inaugurated what they called the ban. They saw this word “no not to eat” and took it very literally. It was a restriction not to keep company, not to mingle with anyone who was not in strict fellowship with the church and not to be intimately in close contact with such persons.

One very significant statement is “the crown of fellowship is eating together.” The apostle said, “Don’t sit down with them, don’t eat with them.” Certainly not the Lord’s supper! This may have a broader application than that, however. But at least not the Lord’s Supper.

Jesus, in His high priestly prayer in John 17:15-18, prayed words that are meaningful:

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Do you see what I mean? Live among them but be separated.

Some seem to watch the fashion magazines to fit in! But you know a dairy farmer does not become a cow just because he is a dairy farmer. Separate yourself from the apostate person.

I quote another.

Remembering the condition of Corinthian society, we are not astonished to find such sins as Paul here mentions appearing in the Church. A so-called Christian living in the practice of these or similar iniquities, thereby proves himself to be no Christian at all. There must be no fellowship with such persons, no eating and drinking with them as if they belonged to the Church. They are to be put out of the Christian society. This applies, not only to the judicial act of the Church but also to the conduct of individual members towards offenders. There must be a holy abhorrence of the sin as defiling the body of Christ, and a careful keeping of our garments clean.

The third way is:

13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Exonerated means “to be free from guilt.” Remember, God is the final Judge. Those outside the church are in His hands. He will judge righteously. And I remind you, there will be no altering or shredding of the records.

Nobody will be able to say, “I beg your pardon, I forgot. I don’t remember what I did.” No. All memory will be clear before the Judge of all the earth. Everyone in the church should live by the TRUTH. The truth is The Holy Bible, and that is unalterable. Let me say that again. Truth is unalterable. It does not change. It is the same forever. Truth is a part of God’s own being.

“Putting away” may become necessary, but never without sorrow. It should not be a gleeful experience when a member of the church needs to be set aside, but it must be sometimes. Let God exonerate you. Barnes in his commentary brings a wonderful truth to us:

The principles on which Christians should regulate their relations with the world, are these:

They are not to be conformed to the world; they are not to do anything that shall countenance the views, feelings, and principles of the world as such, or as distinguished from religion. They are not to do anything that would show that they approve of the peculiar fashions, amusements, opinions of the people of the world; or to leave the im pression that they belong to the world . . .

They are to endeavor so to live and act so to converse, and so to form their plans as to promote the salvation of all others. They are to seek their spiritual welfare and to endeavor by example, and by conversation; by exhortation, and by all the means in their power to bring them to the knowledge of
Christ. For this purpose, they are kept on the earth instead of being removed to heaven, and to this object they should devote their lives.

Let God exonerate you.

Therefore, the answers to my question, “How Then Shall We Live?” are found in I Corinthians 5:9-13.
Here they are again:

But exonerated FROM THE WORLD