Fellowshipping Issue

[FervorForFaith]

Hey everyone,

My wife enjoys fellowshipping with another woman in our church. They get along very well. Sounds reasonable enough. The problem is that this woman and her husband are much weaker in the faith (more akin to babes than mature adults). Their kids are worldly and dress provocatively, the house is run like a circus, and the husband/dad does not rule his own house. This is obviously not an ideal situation, but we usually would look past these things because we do believe that this couple is saved (the kids, however, are a mystery). It got worse, though, when this past weekend their five-year-old daughter shimmied her "breasts" in front of our 11-month-old son as part of a "dance" she was doing. Needless to say, I was livid.

My wife has been trying to witness to the wife and show her these errors. Unfortunately, when the wife brings it up to the husband, he does nothing. He's "afraid of losing his daughters" when they turn 18. Because of this, he doesn't discipline them. Again, these things are made all the more worse when our son is considered. What would you do in these circumstances? Should we continue fellowshipping with them?

[Psalm 51:17]

1Cor 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
1Co 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Co 5:3  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1Cor 5:11  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.
1Co 5:12  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1Timothy 1:18  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
1Ti 1:19  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1Ti 1:20  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

[Christian40]

You will have to make that decision but i can give you verses:

Matthew 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Romans 13:9   For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

[Kilika]

Hey Fervor,

That's some very good verses shared. I think they cover your questions.

As I see it, your first mistake is with attending "churchianity". Stay away from the false churches and you'll save yourself and your house a lot of trouble.

As for your fellowship, that's clear also. As scripture says, "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother...", and finally, "Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person".

Just because a person says Jesus, attends "church", and claims they believe, their words and actions are what speak of their true beliefs. If you observe a lifestyle that opposes true sound doctrine, then you have a responsibility to avoid that couple, to keep your house from them.

This can be a difficult thing, especially if your spouse has her own ideas about it. The potential for disagreement is great if either of you are not sound in the faith.

Just think about it honestly, and ask yourself if you feel the desire to avoid those people, if you feel uncomfortable around them. If so, I'd say you know what to do, because the Spirit is telling you, with "an unction from the Holy One".

You and your wife cannot save that family. They will either repent or they won't. Yes, we witness, and live by the ensample Jesus gave us, but it is God that will convict them of their sins.

All we can do is desire and pray that all men would be saved. Thankfully, God is handling it, so we have no worries! Thank you Jesus.

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." Romans 16:17 (KJB)