Page 185 - Push Back

In all areas of the Christian life it is necessary to be led of the Holy Spirit. This certainly applies
to the realm of discipline. Believer’s need to seek the mind of Christ to know how to apply
correction. They need to speak and act according to the leading of the Spirit. The Spirit will
direct the saints to speak truth and to manifest love for the offender, seeking their ultimate
welfare while keeping honor and obedience to Yahweh uppermost.

When dealing with those outside the church, and outside of one’s family, the situation is greatly
altered. The apostle Paul writes:

I Corinthians 5:9-10
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.

Christians live in the midst of a dark and immoral world. Apart from moving to the wilderness,
or adopting a monastic life, it would be impossible to not have any association with immoral
people. Yahweh has not called His people to come out of the world. He intends for them to
remain as salt and light in the midst of a world that needs both. Christ was criticized by the
Jewish religious leaders because He associated with prostitutes, drunkards, and tax collectors, all
of whom were regarded as immoral. In reply He stated:

Matthew 9:12-13
"It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn
what this means, 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous,
but sinners."

Yahshua and Prostitute

Luke 5:31 adds the word “repentance” to the phrase above. Yahshua came to call sinners to
repentance. This should be our goal as disciples of Christ. Yahweh desires compassion upon the
lost masses of this world. Yahshua came to seek and to save that which was lost. His goal is