In this episode of the Three or More Podcast, Mauricio and Lars dive into one of the most misunderstood concepts in the New Testament: “surrendering someone to Satan.”
How do you reconcile that kind of language with a God who is love? When is it biblical to separate from someone? And how do you protect your walk, your family, and your calling without slipping into legalism, cancel culture, or cold-hearted religion?
Starting in 1 Corinthians 5, Lars walks through Paul’s teaching on church discipline, leaven in the church, and why certain patterns of unrepentant sin can’t be tolerated in close fellowship. From there, the conversation gets painfully practical:
How do you love family members whose beliefs are toxic, racist, or destructive?
What’s the difference between loving people and enabling them?
When is “protecting your peace” actually just New Age language wrapped in Christian words?
How can cutting someone off for a season actually save them in the long run?
Mauricio shares vulnerably about his own journey with boundaries around his kids’ mom and how a lack of godly boundaries created strongholds, pain, and fallout in his family. Lars opens up about a public family situation on social media, how he had to draw a line, and what it looked like to do that in love while still honoring Christ.
Later in the episode, Lars shares his own story of being legalistic and harsh in early ministry—judging people by outward appearance, modesty, tattoos, and “holiness rules”—and how the Lord corrected him, broke him, and led him into a deeper revelation of grace.
They also touch on:
The difference between judgment and condemnation
Why love is the foundation, but wisdom, boundaries, and holiness matter
How “turning someone over” can mirror Joseph’s story, Philemon & Onesimus, and even Lot leaving Sodom
Why some friendships and connections are actually hindering what God wants to do in your life
The episode closes with a powerful prayer for deliverance, healing, and salvation for listeners who feel stuck in unhealthy relationships, strongholds, or confusion about God’s love and discipline.
If you’ve ever wrestled with questions like “When do I cut someone off?” “Is this love or enabling?” “How do I honor God and still love people well?” — this episode is for you.
What “surrendering someone to Satan” means in 1 Corinthians 5
The danger of leaven in the church and in close fellowship
Difference between worldly “protect your peace” and biblical boundaries
Loving people vs. enabling destructive behavior
How separation can become a redemptive tool in God’s hands
Paul, Barnabas, and Mark: disagreement, separation, and eventual restoration
Joseph’s story as a picture of separation and later reconciliation
Lot leaving Sodom and why God sometimes moves the righteous out
The difference between righteous judgment and condemning people to hell
Lars’ testimony of legalism and how God broke a judgmental mindset
A prayer for freedom, healing, and salvation
1 Corinthians 5:5–13 – Delivering one to Satan, leaven in the church
2 Corinthians 6:14–18 – Do not be unequally yoked
Galatians 2 (implied) – Early church conflict and doctrine issues
Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not…” (and how it’s often misused)
John 7:24 – Judge with righteous judgment
1 Peter 4:8 – Love covers a multitude of sins
Romans 10:17 – Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
2 Corinthians 5:17 – New creation in Christ
Mark 8:34–35 – Deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Jesus
Psalm 23 – The Lord as Shepherd
Genesis 18–19 – Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Lot
Story of Joseph (Genesis 37–50)
Philemon (whole letter; Onesimus returning)
1 Timothy 2:3–5 – God desires all men to be saved
Key Topics CoveredScripture References (Mentioned or Alluded To)
