OceanSide church of Christ
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A
GRAVE CONCERN:
Fellowshipping the
Disfellowshipped
Victor M.
Eskew
The leadership of the
Some members of this congregation, however, have not completely honored
the command to withdraw fellowship.
Some have fellowship with the disciplined sinner in a limited
fashion. Some maintain exactly the
same relationship with the disciplined member that they had prior to the act of
withdrawal. They visit, socialize,
and eat with the disobedient as if he/she is still a faithful member of the body
of Christ. These continued lines of
fellowship are of grave concern to this writer.
Let’s begin by reminding ourselves about what the Bible says about church
discipline. This practice is not
commanded in one isolated scripture.
It is sprinkled throughout the entirety of the New Testament. Even Jesus taught that personal issues
between brethren could become matters of public concern for the church. When they reach that point, a failure to
hear the church would result in disciplinary action toward the guilty. “And if he neglect to hear them, tell it
unto the church: but if he neglect
to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican”
(Matt. 18:17). The Jews had
absolutely no associations with heathens or publicans. Thus, when a brother was to be treated
“as” an heathen and a publican, the measures that needed to be taken were
perfectly understood.
In Romans 16:17, Paul focuses upon this subject. He writes: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them
which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have
learned; and avoid them.” The word
“avoid” means “to turn (one’s self) away, to turn away from…to shun one”
(Thayer). This is the same word
that is found in I Peter 3:11, where in Peter exhorts his readers to “eschew
evil.” Whatever action one is to
take to avoid evil, he is to take toward one who causes divisions and offences
contrary to the doctrine of Christ.
In I Corinthians 5, Paul addresses the matter of fornication in the
church (I Cor. 5:1). He instructs
the church about how to handle this matter. Paul’s words are very clear: “To deliver such an one unto Satan for
the destruction of the flesh…” (I Cor. 5:5); “Purge out therefore the old
leaven” (I Cor. 5:7); But now have I written unto you not to keep company, if
any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater,
or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat”
(I Cor. 5:11); and, “Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked
person” (I Cor. 5:13). Each one of
these actions involves a very bold measure in the original language. Take, for instance, the command found in
verse 11. Paul told the Corinthians
“not to keep company with” the fornicator.
These words mean: “do not
mix up together with, do not associate with, do not be intimate with.” Paul notes that this involves a social
meal. “…with such an one no not to
eat.”
Paul’s words to the church at Thessalonica are among the most familiar
about disciplinary action. Paul
exhorted his readers, saying: “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
traditions which he received of us…And if any man obey not our word by this
epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed”
(II Thess. 3:6, 14). The
disciplinary actions are precisely noted:
“withdraw yourselves” and “have no company with
him.”
Several other passages could be brought into this discussion (II Cor.
6:17; Eph. 5:11; I Tim. 1:19-20; I Tim. 6:3-5; Tit. 3:10-11; II John 9-11). The ones listed, however, are sufficient
for us to understand how we are to handle a person who persists in sin and
causes disciplinary actions to be taken against him. Are these “congregational” duties? Are these responsibilities to be taken
by every faithful member of the congregation? Yes! Let’s go back to I Corinthians 5. In the church at
Many Christians, including Christian leaders, believe these commands are
too harsh and unloving. They often
involve close friends and family members.
Having no company with them and refusing to eat with them poses
difficulties for the faithful.
These things and others keep them from being obedient to the divine
command to withdraw.
All Christians who are violating God’s command to disfellowship the
disorderly need to consider the faithful example of Abraham. In Genesis 22:1-2, he received a
difficult and heart-wrenching command from God. “And it came to pass after these things,
that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine
only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this is a serious matter. God commands that we withdraw from the disorderly (II Thess. 3:6). If we refuse to do what God has commanded, we sin (I John 3:4). Let’s muster the faith to do as God directs. Let’s hope and fervently pray that the disorderly will repent of his/her sins and be restored. Let’s keep the bride of Christ pure. Let’s keep our own souls out of the fires of hell.