“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”

Christians have long been told to separate themselves from the world, using verses like: “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” (2 Cor. 6:17). And Paul indeed instructed the Corinthians, in a letter lost to antiquity, not to associate with immoral people. In some Christian circles this has meant to avoid friendships with non-Christians, for, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

Paul clarifies that the greater concern is associating with “so-called” Christians, those who pass themselves off as believers but who live blatantly immoral lives. Non-Christians live immoral lives because that is what non-Christians do. They have not experienced the grace and forgiveness of God. They act like non-believers because they are non-believers. But anyone who claims to be a Christian but lives like a non-Christian is in the truest sense a hypocrite, living a lie. At least there is some integrity in the non-believer’s lifestyle, for he doesn’t claim to know Christ.

To be sure, we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14), nor join them in their sinful behavior (Eph. 5:11), for we have had enough time in the past during our pre-Christ days to live that way (1 Peter 4:3). But we can’t avoid some dealings and associations with non-believers, lest we become isolated enclaves completely out of touch with our contemporary world.

No, the real danger to Christians is associating with pretend Christians, as though they are an accepted part of our warm fellowship. Paul lists some sample behaviors that are completely unacceptable, including coveting possessions and wealth (i.e. materialistic individuals), along with the more obvious sinful behaviors. For those, we should avoid the typical activities of close fellowship like shared meals. And to those self-righteous people who say we should not judge, Paul says we are to judge the integrity of those who profess faith in Christ. The Corinthians failed in the most basic and obvious cases.

Lord, help me to live a life of integrity as a genuine follower of Yours.