Suspended and Disfellowshipped

Dear Brethren,

There is a strange phenomenon that is an entrenched part of the culture of the Church.  This trend existed to some degree when most of us were a part of the Worldwide Church of God organization.  Surprisingly, today, with the Church widely scattered there remains a good sized segment of the brethren who are fearful of being “put out” of the Church.

Sadly, it is not the lawbreakers or heretics who are afraid of being rejected, marked or disfellowshipped, it is the truth-seekers who are trying to find other true believers who have not let down and become lukewarm.  These concerned brethren with valid questions are the ones most likely to arouse the ire of controlling ministers who suspect them of rebellion against their organization.  There is something inherently wrong with the membership being controlled and restrained by the means of fear tactics.

We find the Biblical practices of suspension, and marking in the Scriptures.  The questions we should understand are these:  When is someone supposed to be suspended; and what is supposed to be achieved by putting a member out of the congregation like this?  What would cause a person to be marked or disfellowshipped?  Those who are living Christian lives should never be afraid of asking questions or standing for the truth.

There is nothing to fear.  Those who have been disfellowshipped from corporate organizations for political reasons have not been removed from the Body of Christ.  We were warned by Jesus Christ that we would be disfellowshipped – but woe to the perpetrators of those offenses.  Jesus said:

“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be scandalized. They shall put you out of the synagogues [meeting places]: yes, the time comes, that whosoever kills you will think that he does God a service.”  (John 16:1-2) 

Things are topsy-turvy in God’s Church in these last days.  Instead of the corporations or colleges being the sole repository of right doctrine – it has fallen to the faithful brethren to also be defenders of the truth.  It is often the dedicated brethren who are standing in the gap for doctrinal purity.

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  (Jude :3)

God tells us in both the Old and New Testaments to be a holy people:

“Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.”  (Leviticus 19:2)

It is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”  (1 Peter 1:16)

Being “holy” means that we should each be set apart from sin and uncleanness.  We are supposed to be a Godly people.  When a member is engaging in sin he becomes unholy, and should not come among the faithful brethren.  The Scriptures do not instruct us to disfellowship a brother or sister in this case, but to suspend their contact with the faithful brethren until such time as they repent of their ongoing sinfulness.  In tomorrow’s sermon we will examine the role of the congregation in enforcing God’s directive in this situation as we are given example in 1 Corinthians 5.  We will see how Paul shows not only how to handle the sinful situation – but also who is responsible for dealing with the terrible encroachment on the Church brethren. 

The Corinthian congregation was not mature or well developed spiritually.  One of Paul’s most important responsibilities before God was to promote the spiritual growth and development of the Church congregations that he pastored.  In this epistle, Paul did not address this problem on account of the immoral man, or his father, whom he had so grievously wronged (Leviticus 18:8).

Paul’s purpose in writing was for the welfare of the congregation – for the care of the congregation – to enable them to spiritually mature to the point of handling their problems themselves.

“Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his [the sinner] cause that had done the wrong, nor for his [the father] cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you [the congregation] in the sight of God might appear unto you.”  (2 Corinthians 7:12)

Paul had told the congregation to handle the problem with the fornicating sinner themselves – by putting him outsuspending him until he repented.

“In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”  (1 Corinthians 5:4-5)

On the other hand, had the sin involved been heresy, Paul would have handled the situation differently.  When someone has gone off doctrinally and seeks to spread their heretical doctrine among the brethren, the much more stringent measure of disfellowshippment is called for.  The church does not condemn people – but people do condemn themselves.

“A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; [shun that person] Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”  (Titus 3:10-11)

After two clear warnings and Scriptural admonitions Paul brought a matter before the entire Church – to protect the flock.  When we follow the Scriptures – we are under God’s authority.  If we handle things contrary to the Scriptures – we have departed from God’s authority.

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note [mark] that man, [distinguish] and have no company with him [disfellowship], that he may be ashamed.”  (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14)

A faithful minister will not let loyalty to an organization, or to another man, nor any ulterior motive influence his judgment when dealing with a member of the Body of Christ.  Too many ministers have thrown around disfellowshippments like a gunfight of wild cowboys at OK corral.  They cause the brethren to believe that these very serious matters are handled in a haphazard way – which they never should be.

When someone must be suspended or disfellowshipped there must be ample evidence and witnesses who attest to the sinful behavior on the part of the sinner that warrants the appropriate action.  Fasting, prayer and counseling with every warning and admonition must be a part of the process.  It is reconciliation to the greater Body of Christ that is of the highest priority.  Only after a person is apprised of the sinful and erroneous conduct and given opportunity to correct it should the disciplinary action be taken for the purpose of preserving the holiness of the congregation.

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Sermon:  "Suspended and Disfellowshipped"


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