"If the local church in Corinth does not separate itself from unrepentant sinners, it will cease to have any gospel impact at all."

The goatee and the raised eyebrows make Bauder look positively Mephistophelan in that picture.

Some encouraging stuff in there.

“If so, Bauder and Doran suggest that a fissure is inevitable.”

What does this mean for the future? To be honest, I am concerned about this. But I am thankful that God is sovereign. And that Jesus is the Head.

thinking of heart issues,
et

Maybe I’m misreading it, but the topic sounds odd in the light of:

1 Corinthians 5

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 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. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

Hmm. It seems to have unrepentant saints rather than sinners in mind.