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Victoria is correct when she says, “We are to rebuke sin wherever it is, inside or outside.”
You are wrong when you say, “Believers are not called to rebuke sin outside the church.”

The judging Paul was speaking of in 1Cor 5 had to do with those in the church and it involved an evaluation of their actions plus the rendering of a consequence, in this case excommunication. This could be done because the church has spiritual authority over its members, an authority that the individual acknowledges and agrees to abide by when he/she voluntarily becomes a member. Clearly, non-members have not submitted to the authority of the church and therefore the church has no right to evaluate their conduct and render a consequence. It is this two-step judging process that Paul says the church is not to attempt with outsiders. Only God has the sovereign authority to judge ALL people in this two-step fashion.

“What [business] of mine is it and what right have I to judge outsiders? Is it not those inside [the church] upon whom you are to pass disciplinary judgment—passing censuring sentence on them [as the facts require]? God alone sits in judgment on those who are outside. Drive out that wicked one from among you—expel him from your church.” (1Cor 5:12 Amp)

However, this does not preclude the church or its members from rendering a rebuking evaluation of sinful behavior wherever they see it, inside or outside the church. They just cannot go to the next step and render a consequence as is done with church members. Bringing attention to sinful behavior is an integral part of calling non-Christian people to repentance and this was done repeatedly by Christ, by Paul and by the other disciples throughout the New Testament. Usually, the best way to do this is as Peter advises, “…with gentleness and respect..” But this is not always possible. In Acts 13:10 Paul rebukes a Jewish sorcerer:

“You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?”

Paul advises Titus:

“It [God's teaching] has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness…Tell [them all] these things. Urge (advise, encourage, warn) and rebuke with full authority.”(Titus 2:12,15 Amp)

Paul advises Timothy:

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” (2Tim 4:2)

It should be clear to you now that you are wrong when you say, “Believers are not called to rebuke sin outside the church.”

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This is a joke, right?

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Assuming your assessment is correct (I don’t think it is, because Palin has certainly not gotten a “free pass” from the media), perhaps the media’s hands are tied by its refusal to take on someone “this badly underqualified and nakedly ambitious into the bargain” as Obama.

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I’m a little astonished by the free pass she’s been getting from a media that clearly doesn’t know what to do with someone this badly underqualified and nakedly ambitious into the bargain. At some point reporters will have to recover from their shock and start to suggest that, say, NOT ANSWERING ANY OF THE DEBATE QUESTIONS is inappropriate conduct, and that many of her criticisms of Obama are just outright lies and borderline incitement (”palling around with terrorists?” seriously?).

Conservative Christian and genius Andrew Sullivan has a great post on that topic at the Atlantic: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/when-will-the-p.html#more

I waish

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When each side is afraid that the least acknowledgment that their preferred candidate isn’t perfect, might somehow give aid and comfort to the enemy, civil discourse is impossible.

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I do agree that Biden’s plagiarism is a character issue worth considering.

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