The Forgotten Commandment Mark Gunderson Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person (1 Cor. 5:13). How many congregations of the Lords body practice this today? What we are talking about has been termed church discipline, withdrawing of fellowship, and withdrawing from the disorderly. All of these are familiar phrases to us and are discussed at times, but rarely practiced. Jesus once made the statement, these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone (Matt. 23:23). Some of the best material I have read on this subject is a tract, Withdrawing From The Disorderly by James Pilgrim, copyright 1977. I would encourage anyone to secure one of these and read and consider what it says. He deals with the subject of proper discipline toward those brethren who will not repent of sin in their lives. He makes it clear that this is not an option left up to each congregation to decide. God has given the divine instructions and authority for his people to withdraw their company from an erring brother. We all understand that the first step in practicing discipline is to go to the brother who is erring and try to reason with them about their condition. We must inform them of the error of their way and hopefully they will repent at this step. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted (Gal. 6:1). The word restore comes from the Greek word katartizo. W. E. Vine defines this word to mend, to furnish completely in Gal. 6:1, metaphorically, of the restoration, by those who are spiritual, of one overtaken in a trespass, such as a dislocated member of the spiritual body. The tense is the continuous present, suggesting the necessity for patience and perseverance in the process. But, if after attempting to patiently teach an erring brother who will not repent, we have no other choice but to mark them as walking disorderly. The brother of 1 Cor. 5 who had his fathers wife is a classic New Testament example of this. Paul instructed the Corinthians to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 5:5). And, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator....with such an one no not to eat (1 Cor. 5:11). The Bible is not difficult to understand on this point, just difficult, it seems, for men to obey. Jesus sanctified and cleansed the church with the washing of water by the word (Eph. 5:26,27), that it should not have spot, or wrinkle, or blemish, or any such thing! But, what happens when we let a little leaven intermingle with the spotless bride of Christ? Its not long until the whole body is defiled! Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person (old leaven), Paul said. May we realize that we are not in fellowship with those who are no longer walking in the light as God is in the light (1 John 1:3-7). Therefore, we must break our daily association and company with such an erring brother to help them realize what it is they are missing. Hopefully, they will be moved to repent while time is on their side. If so, we have gained our brother. Either way, we have obeyed what God has instructed us to do. 806 E. 7th Lamar, MO 64759
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:58:38 +0000
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