Once you stop sinning and repent, THEN you are welcomed back in the fold of the Church.
"How DARE you judge me, Ima keep dressing in womens clothes/fornicating with 20 people out of wedlock each year/breaking into cars" is a rebellious, non-repentant sinner. Expel them, IN SPITE of the pastor if necessary.
What I'm talking about is aggressive sinning, REFUSAL to repent for a clear sin and demanding other Christians accept your sin without comment.
Iif one says "I drink daily and am totally wasted by 8PM every night, mind your own business fellow Christians, and I ain't gonna change, and don't you judge me", that's a rebellious sinner, not a repentful, though imperfect, sinner.
There are rapid signs of grace when you repent, even if it's not 100% conquered overnight.
One might not go to total abstinence from being sloshed every night, but one will go to a six pack only on Saturday afternoons pretty fast.
Sinners have to be genuine and SIN NO MORE.
Once you stop sinning and repent, THEN you are welcomed back in the fold of the Church.
"How DARE you judge me, Ima keep dressing in womens clothes/fornicating with 20 people out of wedlock each year/breaking into cars" is a rebellious, non-repentant sinner. Expel them, IN SPITE of the pastor if necessary.
If we could sin no more we would not need a savior. I need God's continuous grace and mercy in my life.
What I'm talking about is aggressive sinning, REFUSAL to repent for a clear sin and demanding other Christians accept your sin without comment.
Iif one says "I drink daily and am totally wasted by 8PM every night, mind your own business fellow Christians, and I ain't gonna change, and don't you judge me", that's a rebellious sinner, not a repentful, though imperfect, sinner.
There are rapid signs of grace when you repent, even if it's not 100% conquered overnight.
One might not go to total abstinence from being sloshed every night, but one will go to a six pack only on Saturday afternoons pretty fast.
Indeed.
Apostasy and heresy are defined for a reason.