They will know we are Christians…by how we shun?

Paul says the following and it has to do with people who call themselves believers or Christians. It is not about those who are unbelievers.  

" I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.  In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world.  But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.  For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Are you not to judge those inside?  But God will judge those outside. Remove the evil person from among you." 1 Cor. 5:8-13

Paul makes it clear that the people we should have nothing to do with are those who claim to be Christians and live wickedly.  We are not to have anything to do with them or even sit and eat a meal with such a person.   But, how many Christians would treat unsaved friends and family members in this manner? 

Unbelieving friends and family members may mock our faith because they know where we stand, but is that such a threat to us?  Did Jesus shun the unsaved?  Did he shun those who mocked him and persecuted him?  Sure he strongly rebuked the “religious people,” the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees of his day, but to the sinners and outcasts - his arms were open wide, even for the Scribes and Pharisees if they were to acknowledge their own blindness and humble themselves in repentance.

Our family and friends may mock us, but they mock out of ignorance, not truly understanding.  How many times have we been guilty of the same as an unbeliever?  When we retort or reply angrily because our feelings have been hurt and they do things against what we believe, is it really a reason to shun them or not be involved in their lives?  Doesn't the bible say that everyone will know that we are his disciples if we have love for one another? (John 13:34-35)  Does this mean we only love them if they conform to our same convictions?  

They will be watching us by our example though they may mock us, ridicule us, laugh at us, try to silence us, poke fun of us, and even be angry with us, yet we can still demonstrate our love for them with the love of our savior flowing from our hearts towards them with wise counsel and encouragement. And one day they just might need us and they will know who they can confide in. To be around them doesn't mean we have to lower or throw our standards out the window, but to meet them where they are at, just like Jesus did in his day when he walked this earth.  

I heard somewhere that we might be the only Jesus they will ever see.  If we give them a good swift kick and avoid or shun them because they don't conform to our convictions, will they really see the benefits of what we have?   We should be known by our love, not by our hate, not by how quick we are to judge and how quick we are to shun them.  God will judge those outside, but in the mean time, every day is our opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us who do not know him.