2 Corinthians 6:17-18 ESV Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, (18) and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Many times I have had abuse victims/survivors tell me that they are in a dilemma. Specifically, that they are faced with some gathering – a wedding, a funeral, a family reunion – that they really would like to attend. And yet their abuser is going to be there. He is invited and welcomed by those hosting the thing, even though they know quite well what he has done to his victim.

This has been done to me repeatedly over the years. Myself and our church stood against some wicked evildoer who of course claimed to be a fine Christian, put them out from among us (or they just left after a tantrum and slander), and yet there is always, it seems, a number of people who simply will not break off from them. It can be a pedophile, a reviler, a domestic abuser or some other rank hypocrisy, yet there is this stubborn refusal of some to do what the Lord commands – come out from them and be separate. They will continue to go to the wedding, the funeral, the family reunion and have just a fine time. But the victim? She has to stay away – and she is criticized for doing so. She’s so unforgiving, you know.

Why would anyone expect us to party on with someone who has attacked us, slandered us, assaulted us, wickedly abused us, all the while claiming to be a holy child of God? Why is that expectation put upon us? Why do people who profess to be Christians persist in associating with the wicked? I can tell you:

• They arent’ Christians themselves
• They are cowards who don’t want to suffer for Christ and pay the price
• They don’t hunger and thirst for righteousness

When the wedding invitations go out, when the annual family reunion date rolls around, the question is NOT – “why isn’t she going?” The real question that you can bet the Lord Himself is “why are you going to party with the wicked.”