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

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

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

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?

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.