Fellowship: Sometimes It Must Be Withdrawn
One of the great failures of the present day churches of Christ is to faithfully practice corrective discipline. I'm not sure what the reason is. With some I'm convinced it's laziness, and with others I think it's just fear—fear that someone is going to get their feelings hurt. Then others seem to think that they are wiser than God. I know this to be true because I have heard people say, including an "elder," that church discipline just doesn't work. As far as I'm concerned, that's blasphemy.
Paul said, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” (2 Thes. 3:6). Notice that corrective discipline, we call it withdrawal of fellowship, is a command. It is equal in weight with "repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38).
For the purpose of this study, I want to observe some of the points concerning the subject of corrective church discipline.
Only Christians are subject to corrective discipline.
In 1 Corinthians 5, there is a Christian man who has been engaged in sexual immorality with his father's wife. As a result, Paul tells the brethren at Corinth that he needs to be withdrawn from. Paul later makes this point: “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world” (1 Cor. 5:9-10). Notice that Paul said, "not altogether with the fornicators of this world." It's impossible to totally separate ourselves from the world. We must not live like the world, but we have to live in the world.
Who is subject to corrective discipline? The Bible says that the following erring Christians are to be withdrawn from: false teachers; those who refuse to work; fornicators, covetous, extortioners, idolaters, railers, and drunkards; those who refuse to rectify personal offences; and, anyone who walks disorderly (2 Thes. 3:6; Rm. 16:17; 2 Jn. 9-11; 2 Thes. 3:6-14; 1 Tm. 5:8; 1 Cor. 5:11; Mt. 18:15-17; 2 Thes. 3:6). [Parenthetical note: "Disorderly" means to walk out of step. It's a military term. So, If I walk out of step with what the Commander and Chief commands, then I'm disorderly and subject to withdrawal. It is a term that is comprehensive in nature. So, if I do anything contrary to God's will, and do not repent then I'm subject to corrective discipline.]
A disorderly brother or sister is to be disciplined with love.
This is the motivation for fulfilling any of God's commands. In point of fact, Jesus said that "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15). John also said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Rev. 3:19).
Faithful Christians will withdraw fellowship from erring Christians in order to save their soul from death—final destruction in hell (1 Cor. 5:5). Add to that, erring Christians are to be withdrawn from so that the church of Christ as a whole can be preserved. Paul rebuked the Christians at Corinth for being tolerant of sin. He said, "Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Cor. 5:6). Sin spreads like cancer in the body. If we don't remove sin from the body of Christ, then it can destroy the entire local congregation.
There is a biblical process for carrying out corrective discipline.
First, the one whom we think needs to be withdrawn from must truly be guilty of sin. There should be a search and enquiry as to whether or not one is guilty (Dt. 13:12-14; 17:4-6; 1 Tm. 5:19).
Second, the guilty party must be lovingly confronted (1 Thes. 5:14; Gal. 6:1-2; Jas. 5:19-20). This is a process that should involve every member of the congregation. During this process, there should be adequate time given to allow an opportunity to repent. It should not be too short of a period, nor should it be too long. I've seen folks go for years saying, "We're still trying to give them opportunity to repent."
Third, once every effort has been exhausted, the congregation must follow the mandate given by God to withdraw from the erring brother or sister. Again, we must emphasize that this is a congregational effort.
Fourth, every member of the congregation is to withdraw—even if the one being withdrawn from is a family member. Every member of the local congregation is to withdraw fellowship from the one erring, as well as surrounding congregations. Faithful members must not share in social engagements with those who have been withdrawn from (1 Cor. 5:11; 2 Thes. 3:14).
Fifth, the withdrawn from member is to be admonished as a brother (2 Thes. 3:15). Add to that, they are not to be given special treats or gift baskets that would indicate a type of acceptance and approval. Gifts tend to violate 2 Thessalonians 3:14. We want the erring Christian to be "ashamed." They need to realize that fellowship has been lost.
When corrective discipline is practiced, positive things happen.
The one withdrawn from might be restored. Such was the case with the fornicator of 1 Corinthians 5 (cf. 2 Cor. 2:6-8). The practice of corrective discipline shows other members of the church what their lot will be if they engage in sin and refuse to repent (Acts 5:11; 1 Tm. 5:20). Practicing this command will cause those outside of the church of Christ to know that we take a strong stand on Bible matters (Acts 5:11,14).
May God help us to have the courage to simply stand on the Word of God. We absolutely must live by the precepts found in this book so that one day we will be able to die by its rewarding promises.
Paul said, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” (2 Thes. 3:6). Notice that corrective discipline, we call it withdrawal of fellowship, is a command. It is equal in weight with "repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38).
For the purpose of this study, I want to observe some of the points concerning the subject of corrective church discipline.
Only Christians are subject to corrective discipline.
In 1 Corinthians 5, there is a Christian man who has been engaged in sexual immorality with his father's wife. As a result, Paul tells the brethren at Corinth that he needs to be withdrawn from. Paul later makes this point: “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world” (1 Cor. 5:9-10). Notice that Paul said, "not altogether with the fornicators of this world." It's impossible to totally separate ourselves from the world. We must not live like the world, but we have to live in the world.
Who is subject to corrective discipline? The Bible says that the following erring Christians are to be withdrawn from: false teachers; those who refuse to work; fornicators, covetous, extortioners, idolaters, railers, and drunkards; those who refuse to rectify personal offences; and, anyone who walks disorderly (2 Thes. 3:6; Rm. 16:17; 2 Jn. 9-11; 2 Thes. 3:6-14; 1 Tm. 5:8; 1 Cor. 5:11; Mt. 18:15-17; 2 Thes. 3:6). [Parenthetical note: "Disorderly" means to walk out of step. It's a military term. So, If I walk out of step with what the Commander and Chief commands, then I'm disorderly and subject to withdrawal. It is a term that is comprehensive in nature. So, if I do anything contrary to God's will, and do not repent then I'm subject to corrective discipline.]
A disorderly brother or sister is to be disciplined with love.
This is the motivation for fulfilling any of God's commands. In point of fact, Jesus said that "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15). John also said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Rev. 3:19).
Faithful Christians will withdraw fellowship from erring Christians in order to save their soul from death—final destruction in hell (1 Cor. 5:5). Add to that, erring Christians are to be withdrawn from so that the church of Christ as a whole can be preserved. Paul rebuked the Christians at Corinth for being tolerant of sin. He said, "Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Cor. 5:6). Sin spreads like cancer in the body. If we don't remove sin from the body of Christ, then it can destroy the entire local congregation.
There is a biblical process for carrying out corrective discipline.
First, the one whom we think needs to be withdrawn from must truly be guilty of sin. There should be a search and enquiry as to whether or not one is guilty (Dt. 13:12-14; 17:4-6; 1 Tm. 5:19).
Second, the guilty party must be lovingly confronted (1 Thes. 5:14; Gal. 6:1-2; Jas. 5:19-20). This is a process that should involve every member of the congregation. During this process, there should be adequate time given to allow an opportunity to repent. It should not be too short of a period, nor should it be too long. I've seen folks go for years saying, "We're still trying to give them opportunity to repent."
Third, once every effort has been exhausted, the congregation must follow the mandate given by God to withdraw from the erring brother or sister. Again, we must emphasize that this is a congregational effort.
Fourth, every member of the congregation is to withdraw—even if the one being withdrawn from is a family member. Every member of the local congregation is to withdraw fellowship from the one erring, as well as surrounding congregations. Faithful members must not share in social engagements with those who have been withdrawn from (1 Cor. 5:11; 2 Thes. 3:14).
Fifth, the withdrawn from member is to be admonished as a brother (2 Thes. 3:15). Add to that, they are not to be given special treats or gift baskets that would indicate a type of acceptance and approval. Gifts tend to violate 2 Thessalonians 3:14. We want the erring Christian to be "ashamed." They need to realize that fellowship has been lost.
When corrective discipline is practiced, positive things happen.
The one withdrawn from might be restored. Such was the case with the fornicator of 1 Corinthians 5 (cf. 2 Cor. 2:6-8). The practice of corrective discipline shows other members of the church what their lot will be if they engage in sin and refuse to repent (Acts 5:11; 1 Tm. 5:20). Practicing this command will cause those outside of the church of Christ to know that we take a strong stand on Bible matters (Acts 5:11,14).
May God help us to have the courage to simply stand on the Word of God. We absolutely must live by the precepts found in this book so that one day we will be able to die by its rewarding promises.
posted by Neil Richey @ 12:10 PM
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