Holy Ostracism…Not So Holy
I recently read a blog article about Holy Ostracism. It was asking the question if we should isolate ourselves…or otherwise refuse fellowship with homosexuals. There are biblical references to not fellowshipping with “sinners” that people rely on to support this view. However, here is my response.
I think we Christians, to our discredit, place much too much importance on the issue of homesexual sin. Outsiders view us a haters, high and mighty, pompous, etc… Is homosexuality a sin? yes. But remember that ANY sin is just as sinful as homosexuality to God. God teaches us to take the plank out of our own eye before we look to take the speck out of another person’s eye.
Should we practice holy ostracism because someone is homosexual? absolutely not. That only feeds the negative perception…that “we won’t associate with those sinners”..and that we are somehow better than them.
The fact is that we are NOT better than them. Even if we are Christian, and they are not…we are still NOT better than them. God is better…and it is Him who redeems us.
Would you ostracize someone who drank excessively? How about someone who was prideful. How about someone who lusts after someone who is not our spouse? How about someone who (insert any other sin you’ve ever heard of)?
Unless you are going to ostracise everyone (for all sins), I wouldn’t recommend ostracizing anyone for simply being homosexual.
Instead, associate with them. Share your love with them. Engage with them and let your life influence them positively. Let them know that even though God considers their behavior a sin…that we ALL sin, and God still loves us. Then encourage them to seek God and ask him into their life. Homosexuals don’t need to be “fixed”…they need to be loved. God will take it from there.
By the way, I’m very passionate about this negative perception of Christianity. I’ve started a movement to counter those negative perceptions…but it starts with YOU..and how you interface with the world. If you are interested, join our facebook group called “Chaning the Face of Christianity“:
Filed under: Changing the Face of Christianity, General
Great post. I completely agree with you on this. Homsexual sin is a sin like any other, and just like there will be previous alcoholics who are in heaven, there will be previous homosexuals in heaven as well.
Alcoholics may fall off the wagon ocassionally and I dont know, maybe homosexuals would too(?) but the desire to move away from sin is the natural fruit of a spirit striving towards Christ of course.
But the idea to ostracize someone for being homosexual is not biblical I dont believe either. I think those scriptures that support having nothing to do with sinners might be reflective of those sinners who we’ve tried to reach, and whom have publicly denounced following Christ.
Some may feel that the nature of homosexual sin, is one so flagrant that maybe there is not a spirit within the person to want to pursue God. Many of our sins are hidden, which at least shows a natural remorse for it. Homosexual sin is almost worn with such pride sometimes and I think that’s what makes them sometimes difficult to reach for Christ. However, there are many of my own sins I wore with pride too. So only God truly knows our hearts.
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This post is a year old, but I’ve been researching the idea of holy ostracism. I had never heard of it, but recently a friend of mine has decided to use this technique with her sister. Her sister claims Christ as her savior and is also sleeping with her boyfriend.
So she (my friend) has been led by scripture to ostracize herself from her sister.
It doesn’t sit well with me, but my friend has been praying about this and has a bunch of scripture to back her up. Her intentions are pure, she is doing this out of love, but it still seems hateful.
She is open to being shown scripture that leads her in another direction.
Any ideas?
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Bex, thanks for posting your comment and question. Here are my thoughts on your friend’s situation.
What is the point or purpose of Holy Ostracism? My understanding is it’s intended for people already in a Christian community/relationship (such as a church or small group) where the person’s actions are causing dissension within the group, spreading false teaching, or openly rejecting God’s teaching to the detriment of the other members.
On the surface, it doesn’t sound like the context of your friend’s situation applies here.
Is your friends sister going around telling other people that God endorses her lifestyle and choices? Is she creating an atmosphere in her church community that is disruptive?
It appears that the friend is trying to apply her morals to her sister’s life. (this never ends well).
Here is another principal that might produce more fruit:
God values relationships. I’d say it is one of His highest purposes in our lives.
My suggestion is for your friend to love her sister first and foremost. She should fight to maintain that relationship regardless of the sin that might be in her sisters life.
Now, here is the tough love your friend needs to hear.
Why is she focused on her sisters sin? We ALL have sin, and God says in His word that NO sin is better or worse than another.
Instead of worrying about her sister’s sin, she should focus on her own. Fix herself, before attempting to fix others. In the meantime, she can love her sister and MODEL to her God’s love, grace, and forgiveness.
Hope this helps.
Brad
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Ok but what about in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 where it talks about not associating with a sinning Christian? I’m well aware that we all sin daily, but for people that are “Christians” to have an ongoing sin in their life that they think is OK, like a Christian who is living the homosexual lifestyle. The bible says not to associate with these people am I right? I keep asking God if this is wrong to show me, and guide me. but I just can’t get around the verses. I’m open..
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Brad Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Dana, you make a good point about what the Bible says. What I’m not as comfortable doing is applying it to other situations that may serve our own self-interests (personally) as opposed the the christian community. I think we have to be very careful to not simply make the text say what we want it to say.
The beginning of 1 Corinthians 5 talks about a man that is having sex with his fathers wife (e.g. His mom or step-mom). Not only is it sexually immoral but it is breaking God’s command to honor thy father and they mother…one of the Big 10!
What might help in these situations is to look at your heart…truly, what is your motivation? Is it self-lessly trying to protect the good of your church community, or is it trying to punish someone for doing something you don’t agree with? Where your heart is should be a good indicator if the spirit is guiding your actions.
Lastly, let’s not inconsistently apply the standard and focus just on homosexuality. Are you prepared to oust the slanderers, drunkereds, and the greedy too? Paul was a very strict fellow it seems. He says don’t even eat with them. But Jesus himeself ate with tax collectors, who by all accounts were considered swindlers. I’d defer to Jesus over Paul.
Anyway, what do you think abou that?
Brad
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It’s not that homosexuality is a much more grievous sin and holy ostracism isn’t just to protect the body of Christ (all sin hurts the Body in some way), it’s ACCEPTING sin that is the issue. Christians absolutely still struggle with sin, but when someone professes both Christ and still accepts their sin after being rebuked in love then holy ostracism comes into play. Here’s a random link I found that looks at all the scripture around this:
http://www.jerrybolton.com/tag/holy-ostracism/
Also Piper talks about holy ostracism in the context of homosexuality:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkSyjLtptSo
soli deo gloria
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