Answer: No! We are to keep away from them, (verse
17).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
"Keep away" is also translated
"avoid." This comes from the Greek word
ekklino, and it means "to turn away from, to turn
aside," literally "to bend out of." Here,
it is a turning away from those who cause offences and occasions of
stumbling.
Matthew 18:15-17: [Jesus said,] "If
your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just
between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your
brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others
along, so that 'every matter may be established by the
testimony of two or three witnesses' [Deuteronomy
19:15]. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to
the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat
him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."
1 Corinthians 5:9-12: "I have
written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral
people--not at all meaning the people of this world who are
immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case
you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you
that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother
but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a
drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What
business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you
not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.
'Expel the wicked man from among you'"
[Deuteronomy 17:17].
Ephesians 5:3-7: "But among you
there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind
of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy
people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse
joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For
of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy
person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in
the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with
empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those
who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with
them."
2 Thessalonians 3:6, 11-15: "In the
Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers,
to keep away from every brother who is idle and does
not live according to the teaching you received from us...We
hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are
busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus
Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for
you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. If anyone
does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of
him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel
ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a
brother."
2 Timothy 3:1-5: "But mark this:
There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,
disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love,
unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers
of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but
denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."
Titus 3:9-11: "But avoid foolish
controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the
law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a
divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that,
have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is
warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."
2 John 1:9-11: "Anyone who runs
ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have
God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the
Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching,
do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who
welcomes him shares in his wicked work."
