What do we do if a brother or sister in Christ is living a life in open rebellion to God's Word? I heard one preacher say, "Just be nice. You can't disconnect a trailer that's not connected in the first place." Another said that we need to "get rid" of such people to "purify the church." Another favored putting them in minor leadership positions to encourage them. So what is God's advice? Check out 1 Thess 3:14-15:

"If anyone does not obey[...] take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."

God recommends a form of ostracism so that it might produce shame and repentance on the part of the one in open rebellion, and thus result in his restoration. Sounds harsh, huh? No leading an assembly for sure, and definitely some disconnecting of the trailer from the truck! But the goal is RESTORATION. The goal is to admonish, which means to "instruct through warning."

And above all, we have to love them, and cherish them as our family. We have to wish for their success. If should grieve us to see them struggling with sin; it should hurt to limit association. Our hearts should be pained, not poisoned.