What the Bible teaches about Disfellowship



As with so many things, scripture has a lot more to say about this than most think. There is also a natural consequence for disobeying Yahweh God on this matter. The best known instance of disfellowship in scripture is found in First and Second Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 5:1  "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the nations, that one should have his father's wife."

and

1 Corinthians 5:5  "To deliver such an one unto The Accuser for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

and then

2 Corinthians 2:5-8  "But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him."

An important aspect to note in this situation is that disfellowship in the church works best when the church is close knit and fellowship and love are genuine and sought after. A person who has no stake in the group will just move on and find fellowship elsewhere. It can also be that in cases like that the wrong is on the side of the group and not the individual. An example is that if you have ever seen someone disfellowshipped for getting a divorce then you have seen a wrong. Divorce is not a sin. There may be sin associated with the act, but the act itself is not a sin.

So then the question arises how do we deal with those who are disfellowshipped or those who fight against the church?

Matthew 5:43-44  "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you".

Keep in mind now through the rest of this that we are commanded to love our enemies, those with whom we do not get along or have some problem. What we will show next is a separate category of disfellowship altogether. The man who was disfellowhipped for having his father's wife did not consider himself an enemy of the people he knew in the church. There is no mention of any problem between them. Sin makes one an enemy of God. That is continued unrepentant sin. Apparently the man repented and then was no longer an enemy of God.

The least known aspect of disfellowship has to do with God's enemies. Unlike our enemies we are never commanded to love or forgive them. In fact Scripture does not permit us to do so. This is difficult for most Christians to believe and understand since the politically correct training these days is so strong toward this illicit behavior.

First two definitions that are given false meaning today. A brother in scripture is a Christian who behaves like a Christian. Not everyone is your brother. Scripture defines who is your Christian brother. A neighbor is someone who behaves as a Christian and does not hate our God. A person who hates Christ is not a neighbor in scripture. The Bible is very precise in its wording, especially in the Hebrew and Greek. Do your study and see.

So here is how we are to behave toward those who hate our God, have separated themselves by unrepentant sin and do not believe that Christ came in the flesh and is in fact Yahweh God.

2 John 1:9-11 "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

and

2 Chronicles 19:2b "Should thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate Yahweh? therefore is wrath upon thee from before Yahweh."

Bidding one God's speed is a greeting, well wishing. "Be well" and "Have a nice day" are examples.

Matthew 18:17 "let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."

Now the last admonition is that as a church the members must accurately know what is sin and what is tradition. A congregation that disfellowhips a member for violating a tradition is weak in the word of God. They have sinned in that they do as the Pharisees and prevent those wishing to enter the Kingdom of God.

There is more to this study, but it is a start. So besides 2 Chronicles 19:2b what is the consequence of ignoring God's Law on this matter by loving and helping those who hate our God?

Matthew 7:6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." 

Tim




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