Blog: Max Dawson
November 3, 2016
It is likely the most misunderstood topic in the Bible. Not only is it misunderstood, it is something that most churches do not practice. There are numerous passages that address elements of it (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ). There may be more passages on this topic. These will suffice to show it is something commanded by God.
What is the purpose of identifying someone who is out of fellowship with God? I think we have assumed some purposes that may not be found in Scripture. I don’t know all the things that may be in the minds of folks when they see a church “withdraw” () from a brother or sister who is out of duty.
But I do know that withdrawal is viewed by many people as “the final act.” Preachers have even called it that. Folks see the action as the last thing the church will do with respect to that brother. Withdrawal, in their minds, means “we are through with that person.”
That is very different from what God says in Scripture. states the most fundamental purpose for church discipline. Here is what God said:
“…that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
Other texts give more information, but this statement alone should clearly help us to see that withdrawal is not a final act. Rather, it is an attempt to bring someone back to the Lord.
If you carefully follow the line of thought from and continue into , you will see that the action of the church was effective. The brother who was guilty of immorality in the church at Corinth repented of his wrong and made himself right with God. The church at Corinth was not “through with that person.”
THE FINAL WORD
Withdrawal was never intended by God to be a final act. That fact is further evident from .
“…do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
Do not say, “We are through with him!” That view disagrees with Scripture.
When someone is withdrawn from, we should work all the harder to bring them to repentance. Do you know someone who has been withdrawn from? Will you admonish that person to make themselves right with God?
He is still your brother.
Blessings to you, my dear friends.
–Max