The Rejection of a Repentant Fornicator in Money-Driven Churches
The Rejection of a Repentant Fornicator in Money-Driven Churches
The Bible teaches that Christians must separate from fornicators who refuse to repent. In 1 Corinthians 5:9-11, Paul writes:
"I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
This passage clearly instructs believers to separate from those who engage in fornication without repentance. However, when a fornicator repents, Scripture commands restoration rather than rejection. Galatians 6:1 states:
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
Despite this, modern churches—many of which function as businesses rather than biblical assemblies—often operate by worldly standards rather than Christ’s commands. A repentant fornicator who is poor, physically weak, or unable to contribute financially may find himself rejected, rather than restored in many of today's money-driven churches.
The Business Model of Modern Churches
Many institutional churches prioritize wealth, influence, and social standing. Their leadership often favors members who:
- Provide large tithes - Enhance the church's reputation - Are physically able to serve in roles that benefit the institution
On the other hand, those who are seen as a burden—including repentant sinners who may have suffered physically, financially, or socially—are often cast out rather than embraced.
James 2:1-4 condemns favoritism based on wealth:
"My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?"
Yet, many modern churches actively practice this kind of partiality, seeking to benefit from the wealthy while discarding the weak and poor. In such institutions, a repentant fornicator may find himself unwelcome—not because of his past sin, but because he no longer holds financial or social value to the church.
False Accusations and Church Corruption
In extreme cases, some church leaders may go beyond rejection and resort to false accusations to remove an unwanted individual. A pastor who operates as a businessman rather than a shepherd may:
- Falsely accuse a person to law enforcement to protect the church’s reputation
- Slander the individual to justify their rejection
- Manipulate the legal system to silence or imprison those deemed as liabilities
This aligns with Christ’s condemnation of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27-28:
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."
Rather than seeking the spiritual well-being of all believers, these corrupt churches prioritize image and influence, rejecting those who do not serve their financial or social agenda.
True Biblical Restoration
A true biblical church, in contrast to a business-driven institution, follows Christ’s teachings and restores the repentant. 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 states:
"Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him."
A church that follows Scripture:
- Forgives and restores repentant sinners
- Does not judge based on wealth or physical strength
- Does not falsely accuse or manipulate the legal system
- Encourages repentance rather than using sin as a means to discard people
Conclusion
A repentant fornicator should be restored to fellowship in a true biblical church. However, in many modern, money-driven churches, the emphasis is not on spiritual restoration but on economic and social utility. Those who do not serve the business interests of the church—whether because of poverty, physical weakness, or past mistakes—are often discarded or even falsely accused rather than forgiven.
This reality reflects a broader problem in modern Christianity: the departure from biblical principles in favor of corporate, worldly priorities. A church that rejects a repentant sinner for financial or social reasons is not following Christ but the spirit of the world.
For those who find themselves rejected by such institutions, the answer is not despair but seeking true Christian fellowship, even if it means leaving organized, institutional churches. The true body of Christ is made up of believers who follow His Word, not those who build financial empires under His name.