The original distinction between exclusion from the assembly and denying communion
Claim examined: Worship, music, and prayer
Scriptural Answer
You wrote, "How about a little consistency? Weren't you just saying the church could NOT deny someone communion? Why are you arguing with Faith when she agrees with you?" If you would read what I wrote, you would see that I am "not" advocating denying someone communion which is what you want to see in my post that is just not there... Please go back and re-read what I wrote, I quoted 1 Cor 5:13 which states, "Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person." The person would not be in the assembly to partake of communion if they are "put away" now would they Frank??? Faith wrote, "No [name omitted], Your verses are out of context--as usual." Of course that is your opinion and you are entitled to it however, it is not the truth... You wrote, "God says let he who is without sin--cast the first stone." Jesus made those remarks concerning a woman who was caught in adultery... This has nothing to do with judging someone... You wrote, "All those verses that you used, say nothing about excommunication as we understand it." How about quoting the verses that I used and show how I am "guilty" as you allege of taking them "out of context" as you allege??? You wrote, "Those verses are about how to handle sinners in the church--but they say nothing about excommunicating them out of the church." I suppose that to "put away" someone does not mean anything to you does it Faith??? You quoted, "1 Corinthians 4:5 says, "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts." Then wrote, "Paul makes it clear that we should not disassociate ourselves from unbelievers--but warns that associating with believers who are disobedient--does not serve Christ, but harms others for whom Christ died. we must be ready to correct--in love-- such offenders. But excommunicating someone out into the cold was hardly the real point of Paul's message. Casting someone out--is hardly going to be very ministering!" You really don't get it do you Faith??? Talk about me taking a verse "out of context" you really did a number on 1 Cor 4:5... Just a few verses later Paul writes in 1 Cor 5:2, "And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you." Paul is definitely stating that the person who did this deed is to "be taken away" from them... Do you just blindly listen to what your minister whithout investigating what the Bible actually says on any given subject??? What you said above clearly contradicts what Paul wrote in the verse I quoted... So much for your assertion "But excommunicating someone out into the cold was hardly the real point of Paul's message." You wrote, "By not including them in things and not associating with them will be enough to send a strong message--but this is not to say that you lock them out of church." God says in 1 Cor 5:6-7, "6 Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened."
KJV Scriptures Used
Read each passage in its chapter and compare the Scriptures together.