Deuteronomy 13:6-8
6“If your brother, your mother’s son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (whom neither you nor your fathers have known, 7of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end), 8you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him.
This is a difficult step. The Old Testament was more severe than the New. However, it advocates not associating with believers who stray from the faith. In the New Testament it’s called excommunicating.
In 1 Corinthians 5:11, Paul addresses this. “But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”
The purpose of this is to create remorse in this individual. Once in that state, one comes to one’s senses and returns.
The Lord doesn’t want us to associate with such a straying christian as there may be a corrupting effect. There is plenty out there that seeks to draw us away from Christ, the world, the flesh and the devil. God doesn’t want our own brethren to do that as well.
This doesn’t mean we stop associating with nonbelievers who disagree with us. Verse 10 of the Corinthian passage makes that clear. That’s how we influence others for God. By being with them.
Lord, give us wisdom with these very difficult things. Help us to be a godly influence to those around us.