FLEEING EVIL

I feel like a bit player in a greek tragedy where I am caught in a fate beyond my comprehension or understanding. Thank the Lord for the Truth, and the Word, which reveals a drama, that began long before my existence, and has a definite ending.

That said, I heard from certain brothers and sisters in Christ, that we should flee evil. Ok, that sounds like sound advice, but practically, we live in a fallen world, and to simply believe that we are commanded to run or flee from evil would suggest that we would have to physically leave this world (1Cor 5:10) to avoid evil. Hey, by our own omission that we are all sinners, and will continue to sin, makes our continued relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ questionable (i.e., I should avoid you because you are a sinner)!

My limited search and understanding of Scripture, has not validated the simple act of fleeing evil or sinners is what we are commanded to do. Rather, my current view is that Scripture (1Thes 5:22, 2Tim 2:22, 1Tim 6:11) suggest we should avoid our personal conduct of evil practices rather than a simple act of association. That said, since we are sinners and weak, we would be unwise to subject ourselves to a sinful environment, where likely we would be enticed to conduct sinful practices or give in to our evil desires. Everyone has been blessed with certain or unique strengths, which suggests that some of us may be able to resist sin more times than not then others.

Hopefully, this is not just godless chatter associated with quarreling about words (2Tim 2:14-19), but I need your prayers with 1Cor 5:11 which states: "But now I am writing you that must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are tasked to police our church, which could be for the purpose of avoiding any perversion in the application of the Word in the day to day conduct of our lives. Hence, what are guidelines to say how we should judge and expel anyone since we ourselves are not without sin?

Well, here is my problem. The devil knows scripture better than any of us. Hence, I have little hope to win an argument or quarrel with Satan based on scripture based on my fallen world background. Plus, Satan will always play the sinner card, where beyond guilt, maybe some day someone could judge me and say that I should be expel. Hence, what is the threshold for declaring a brother or sister in Christ immoral or wicked? It seems to me the history of Christianity has too many examples of witch hunts, which unfortunately reflects how the church can be perverted from within in name of God.

Of course, it would be easy say that I should turn this over to the Spirit, which perhaps, the reason for this blog posting with hope the Spirit will speak through one of the readers. I ask for continued prayers.