Bible Question: How long should a person be expelled ? |
Bible Answer: Until true repentance is shown. We see all over the New Testament that Biblical church discipline of the unrepentant, open sinner is disfellowship: "This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme." --1 Timothy 1:18-20 "If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." --2 Thessalonians 3:14 However, there also seem to be circumstances in which the so-called "brother" is not really a brother at all and should be considered and outsider: "They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us." --1 John 2:19 It is very interesting to me that Paul refers to the individual in question as a "so-called" brother. From 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 it seems very clear to me that the over-arching goal of this type of discipline is doctinal purity in the church and purity of practice. It isn't simply that these people are preaching and practicing these things; they are preaching and practicing these things and at the same time proclaiming themselves to be of the household of faith. Whether they are false brethren or temporarily unrepentant, such activity has no place in the midst of those set apart for God's glory. So my understanding is that a person openly and unashamedly committing a God-dishonoring sin should be expelled from fellowship until they repent of their heresy/sin, and then restored. "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted." --Galatians 6:1 Lastly, there are the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ on the procedure for confronting this sin: "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." --Matthew 18:15-17 How many churches stand up and glorify God by actually obeying Christ in this regard? We should, because as Jesus added, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." And, yes, this is talking about church discipline, not prayer! --Joe! |