Thanx for the honesty about your own confusion. The cause of your confusion is relatively simple … for you are using the same logic to resolve your problems as those who repel you. I’m sure this will only appear to add to your confusion and very possibly cause you to use it as more reason to reject the only solution, but nevertheless, it is the truth.

I can think of a few brothers who fit within the realm of those who repel you. Do you then let THEIR confusion reinforce your own? How long will you hold on to the illusion that there is…

…a more logical and reasonable approach to problem solving and life experiences adopted taken by the Non-Christians Paul

Just because another brother seeks to escape his own unresolved problems — and in doing so, avoids reality — do you then follow suit? Just because YOUR course of action seems more logical to YOU do you think it is really any different? Or is that why you consider giving up on the only true source of life? No, you didn’t SAY that, but you still said it.

Bro, what you need to give up on is that belief of a logical and reasonable approach. This is NOT to say that God’s wisdom is neither logical nor reasonable, but that it is a totally different kind than what you are looking for. Yep, it is that obvious in what you wrote. And I don’t say this to put you down in any way because all confusion becomes obvious in the light, and mine shows up in the same light, too.

Remember how Paul told the Corinthian believers that he…

determined to know nothing among YOU except Christ, and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2

What does that mean, and why do you think he told them that? What other ways could he know them? Well, if you read through 1 Corinthians you’ll get a good picture of how he could have known them:

…fornicators … idolaters … adulterers … effeminate … homosexuals … covetous … drunkards … revilers … swindlers …” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

If you don’t think these virtues described many of the activities going on among them then you need to keep reading the letter over and over again and it will start to stick out like a sore thumb. But remember that Paul had made a determination. It is the only reason he could write what he did in spite of what he knew:

And such WERE some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God 1 Corinthians 6:11

Okay, then, does this suggest we pretend the crap isn’t going on? Not at all. Instead, it contains the very answer you asked:

how does a believer deal with other believers who still walk in the Flesh? Paul

First of all, know this: you CANNOT deal with a brother who is caught up in any sin by bringing a supposedly better approach. I know, I’ve tried it and it only adds to the problem. You and I are faced with it EACH TIME we communicate. When I think I have a better or more logical approach I am dipping into a poisoned well and offering them a drink. Don’t think that just because you have sincere motives that you are not offering poison. The fact is that I may be seeing my worth in Christ alone, but then as soon as I look at your problems and try to deal with them then my focus becomes on SIN and therefore, on LAW. And the focus pulls me in to compare myself with YOU. Oh, I will make sure I add “Christ” into the mix, but in doing so I am polluting the reality of Christ.

You wanna see how to deal with other brothers who are walking as if in the flesh? See YOURSELF in the reality of what Christ has made you … and then DETERMINE to see your brother in no other way. If you think this determination only applies to those you perceive as walking in the flesh, then you are still using a system of performance by which you make your assessment. Do you know why? Because you are comparing bad sin to good sin. Of course, the idea of good versus bad sin is bogus, but it is a lie we hold on to anyway.

Bro, how you deal with other believers will reinforce how they see themselves and how they see you. It will reinforce how you see yourself. Maybe you think that I am unaware of what some are going through. More has come to my attention than you might imagine, and there are some things that I will be dealing with in the near future. Maybe you think that the freedom of Christ is not enough to deal with this stuff or will cause you to turn a blind eye to it. Think again. It is the ONLY thing that will cause you to see it for what it is … and it is the ONLY thing that will make it obvious as to how you deal with each other.

I hope to hear back from you soon. Love, Jim