Inspired Discipline
"Withdraw yourselves"
“I am writing to you that YOU MUST NOT ASSOCIATE WITH anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is a fornicator or greedy, an idolater or SLANDERER, a drunkard or swindler. DO NOT EVEN EAT WITH SUCH PEOPLE.” - 1 Cor. 5:11.
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? DO NOT BE DECEIVED: Neither the fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor SLANDERERS nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” - 1 Cor. 6:9-10.
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of (i.e., with the authority of) our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye WITHDRAW YOURSELVES from every brother that walketh DISORDERLY, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” - 2 Thess. 3:6
“Warn a DIVISIVE (i.e., “factious”) person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” - Titus 3:10-11.
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause DIVISIONS and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. KEEP AWAY FROM THEM. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” - Rom. 16:17-18.
“And if he (i.e., the unrepentant delinquent) shall neglect to hear them (i.e., the witnesses), tell it unto the church (i.e., the local assembly): but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican (i.e., have no fellowship with him).” - Mt. 18:17
Neglecting inspired commands for withdrawal;
places the flock in danger,
discourages victims in profound grief,
supports the delinquent/s in remaining disorderly,
brings reproach to the name of Christ, and
communicates to the community the height of said hypocrisy.
When a local congregation has been infiltrated and dominated by cunningly divisive individuals, taking preeminence in the leadership, who are publicly known and marked slanderers, that congregation no longer brings anyone to Jesus; it has pushed out the faithful and devoured the idle for its own selfish agenda, even if they do manipulate the teachings of certain truths to capture the weak.
“Ye shall know them by their fruits” - Jesus.
What kind of “fruit” are they producing? Devils divide and devour. Saints unite and build. Choose your circle wisely. Brethren who refuse to “know them” will encourage further devastation.
“Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good” - 3rd John.
We are not in fellowship with individuals (independent or collective) who are witnessed and known slanderers, hateful and divisive, abusive and toxic, whose resume is a history of chaos in every church, marriage, family, and friendship they’ve ever contaminated.
Please, may we trust the Holy Spirit and follow His Divine instructions? The local assembly will flourish in His Majesty’s grace if we do. Security, ancestry, forgiveness, unity, healing, compassion, benevolence, growth, hope, peace, and many other blessings for all who trust in the truth of disciplinary actions.
Your servant,
SM