“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us” (II Thessalonians 3:6).
Probably no New Testament teaching is so politically incorrect in our day as this. Once we had a number of community ladies attending a home study in Acts. We lost them, however, not at Acts 2:38 but at Acts 5, when we noted the implications of the Holy Spirit’s action in removing Ananias and Sapphira from the fellowship of the Jerusalem church. They could not believe that Christians could be so “judgmental” as to withdraw from immoral and disorderly members. Showing them I Corinthians 5:11 and II Thessalonians 3:6 made no difference.
Some congregations have neglected such corrective discipline for so long and overlooked so much sin through the years that to begin now would produce frightful repercussions. On the other hand, some have practiced it so mechanically and coldly that it has failed to accomplish what God intended. Though there are other reasons for the practice, the primary purpose is that the sinner “may be ashamed” (II Thessalonians 3:14) and “that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (I Corinthians 5:5).
Preliminary Steps
When a brother or sister is “overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).
Rather than backing off when we see a brother or sister weakening, Christians should reach out to them: increasing association, getting to know and understand them better and building the confidence that is needed to influence them for good. As shepherds of God’s sheep, elders should be especially watchful for signs of drifting and act to counteract the tendency. Perhaps this is one reason elders should be “hospitable” (I Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8).
Such fellowship as described above is what must be withheld if the brother or sister continues backsliding. It is the pain of losing such a loving relationship that is intended to bring them to repentance. But if no such relationship exists, there is no sense of loss.
Elders of one congregation, when their own efforts to bring a sinner to repentance seemed to be failing, made announcements of the problem to the members, asking them to visit, call or write letters of loving admonition to the sinning brother. When this failed, asking the church to withdraw its fellowship was no surprise to the church or to the sinner. He had not only rejected the elders but his brothers and sisters as well, and the resentment that so often follows withdrawal did not materialize. That young man recently repented and returned to the Lord. In his confession he stated that he had kept every one of the letters written to him in a folder and had read them again and again.
The Action Required
The time does come, however, when decisive action must be taken. The scriptures require it. Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us….And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed” (II Thessalonians 3:6,14). He wrote something similar to the church in Corinth: “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone who is called a brother and is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person” (1 Corinthians 5:11). The entire fifth chapter of First Corinthians deals with this subject.
Time for Final Action?
Does the time ever come when we can feel that we have taken the final action to save the soul of a brother or sister? Sometime the decision to withdraw and the action involved are so emotional and even bitter that we may heave a sigh of relief and simply be thankful it is over. But this is not what the Lord intends. “Yet, do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (II Thessalonians 3:15). How seldom is this done!
The admonition we give may be explicit or implicit. We should try to reason with such people from the scriptures. But “even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word may be won by [our] conduct…” (I Peter 3:1). We must be careful not to suggest acceptance of their sin or give them comfort in their rebellion. However, a birthday card, a get-well note, a sympathy card, or just a note that says “we still love you and miss you” may be what is needed to bring them back. Remember, they are still our brothers and sisters and such expressions of love will make it easier for them to return. Someone has said that it was not the experience in the pig pen that brought the prodigal home so much as memory of his father’s house.
“It’s not over till it’s over” may not be a scripture quotation, but it should be remembered as we deal with one from whom we have withdrawn. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).
~ by Sewell Hall