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Should we shun unrepentent sinners?

I'd like to start answering this by asking a question:

What if you had a friend you stopped by to visit you at your home on a regular basis, and that friend was always stealing things from you? One day he takes your TV and sells it at a pawn shop. The next day he takes your car and sells that also. He takes your watch, any cash that is lying around--he even takes your dog! Then he takes your wife! Every chance he gets he steals something from you.

Would you continue to invite that person into your home?

I wouldn't. I might try to assist him in getting help with his problem, but I wouldn't invite him into my home anymore.

This is what the Bible is talking about. People who call themselves Christians, but are unrepentent sinners, are stealing people from their salvation in Christ if they are allowed to continue in the fellowship of believers.

However, this does not mean we are to shun people. 1 Corinthians 5 also tells us:

"When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshippers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian, yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people." (1 Corinthians 5:9-11)

Sin keeps us separated from God. If someone claiming to be a Christian is leading people into sin, that person should not be allowed to lead members of the church away from Christ into sin. That person (after all other attempts to get them to change have failed) must then be excluded from the fellowship of Christians.

This does not mean we shun them as the Jehovah's Witnesses do. It does mean, however, that we don't give them any opportunity to lead us or other Christians away from Christ. We are to obey the word of God and not allow them to steal potential new Christians out of God's house.

This same principle also applies if we are part of a church that is not following Christ. In this situation we are not in a position to put out those who are leading people away from Christ, so instead all believers should leave and become a part of a fellowship that is Christ-oriented.

"But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publically maligned the Way [Christianity]. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus." - Acts 19:9