by John McGlone
Feb 12, 2024
What is the shunning process according to the Bible? I have believed since 2015 that failure by the leadership of local churches to correct errors within the body leads to a progression to apathy generally and individually. This apathy often will then grossly morph into general and individual apostasy. We see that in large churches and movements like the Methodists and Salvation Army that started so well to end in miserable apostate conditions.
What if we come before the Lord, and people we have served, taught, prayed for, discipled, loved, and had fellowship with are castaway by Jesus Christ on that final day? What if the souls that we were given responsibility over, are turned over to eternal torment in God’s justice called hell? What if we feared what men thought of us, more than we feared what God taught us by the Holy Spirit? The fear of man is a snare, but the fear of God is wisdom. Prov 29:25
Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
STEP ONE: DEALING WITH THE OFFENDER/S AND OFFENSES AMONGST US
Matt 18:15-17
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
a. alone
b. with a witness in this second step it is important to not reveal any of the problems of the situation to the second or third witnesses that they may judge the situation between the parties without bias or partiality. The person that seeks the witness to reveal sins, may in fact be revealed as a false accuser.
c. before the church (some teach this means elders/pastors only, I believe this to be a serious error)
STEP TWO: ACTIONS OF THE LEADERSHIP AND THE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL BODY
a. to teach every member of the church, youngest to oldest this Matt 18 process so that sinful; behaviors, doctrines(ideas) are removed from the fellowship of the saints over the course of time. This will eliminate the tendency of some members to gossip, slander, and backbite as the exposure, correction and solving of problems amongst ourselves helps to purify the local body.
b. to monitor these practices to ensure they are in order and above all to love one another.
c. to periodically check on the divisive brother to see if he’s changed his mind and behaviors which would lead them to be welcomed back into the body after he’s made his apologies/restitutions then he would be restored.
Titus 3:9-11
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick (some translations divisive) after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
This passage begs the question, “Is it divisive to then address bad doctrines or behaviors within the members that may lead to divisions? No, because the truth as taught by the Holy Ghost from the Holy Bible is in authority amongst all of us. For example, Hell and it’s real existence by the teachings of Jesus multiple times in the NT would never be called foolish strivings. In fact, doctrines are salvational not only for ourselves but those that hear us.
1 Tim 4:16
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
I suppose the doctrine the Apostle Paul is speaking of is generally the letter he wrote. We could at least call it the Gospel. IF that is the case then the warning of God’s justice and hell are an important part of that presentation.
HOW DO WE EXECUTE THIS DIFFICULT PROCESS?
Galatians 6:1 – 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.
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Ezekiel 33:8-9 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
STEP THREE: PUTTING THE SINNER OUT OF FELLOWSHIP.
Once sin among a member is discovered and processed biblically according to Matt 18, what’s next? The Bible is clear to put out or shun that person from the fellowship. I am not saying that we can not keep a relationship with them IF they are willing. But, that relationship is understood as a saint and an errant brother who needs to repent.
1 Cor 5:9-13
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, IF ANY MAN IS CALLED A BROTHER (emphasis mine) be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
James 5:19-20
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
1 Cor 5:4-8
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together (assembling of the saints), and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
BENEFITS TO FOLLOWING GOD’S INSTRUCTION ON DEALING WITH SINNERS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
In spiritually rejecting the willful sinner in your midst, you are purging the leaven/sin from within the local body. This is painful, but what are the affects on the individual and the body of Christ as a whole?
1. it may bring forth good fruit IF the transgressor repents and returns to the Lord Jesus and good doctrine/behaviors.
2. The biblical judicial exercise within the local church when exercised properly will cause the body to fear God. It will also cause the saints to obey Jesus’ commandments. Holiness unto the Lord!
3. Those that are lukewarm will either repent properly and be converted or they will depart themselves being pruned by the Holy Ghost. Better this than for Jesus to say depart from Me, ye cursed…
John 15:5-6
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Rev 3: 16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Matt 25:41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
4. Lastly, for those that are unbelievers amongst us, it will instill the Fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom leading unto salvation. However, it may cause them to depart as well thus cleansing the local church. Or they may depart for a season, returning when the Lord has convinced them to repent by the instruction of the Holy Ghost and those seeds we’ve planted and watered amongst them. I won’t list the five verses these ideas in this paragraph are based upon. Do you know where they are dear reader?
I would sadly estimate that nearly all visible churches in America fail to implement proper judicial and biblical corrections for it’s members. It is the responsibility, therefore greater judgment by God, of the elders, pastors, teachers, and deacons to administrate the local assembly of believers. What are some of the reasons for this terrible failure? a. Our culture and people are offended at any correction, even if it’s from the Bible. b. Our nation has fallen for the false idea that truth is relative, therefore what is good for this person may be okay for them even if the Bible condemns it. c. The church leaders refuse to teach that we are to live holy and obey Jesus and the Gospel. d. A false system of evangelism of ‘invite the sinner’ into the church or ask Jesus into your heart. e. A false idea that we are not to ‘judge’ which is disproven by many verses in the Bible. 1 Cor 6:2-5 f. A false idea that Christians sin in thought, word, and deed daily.
I believe that many who are believing this lie propagated by Augustine, Calvin, and the ‘churches’ through the ages have not sought holiness in Christ, thought, word, and deed daily. I believe the confusion is that people consider temptations to be sin. We are all tempted in many things daily, our afflictions are great, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Phil 4:13, 1 Cor 10:13
Jesus was tempted in all points, yet without sin. Heb 4:15 He is our example, and whom we should model our thinking, and behaviors upon. 1 John 2:3-6 John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb of his mother Elizabeth. See my blog post Doctrines of Temptations for more of God’s Word on this vital subject.
Prov 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
This model of evangelism in most churches is in direct contradiction to what we see in the book of Acts the blueprint for the church. All of the saints should have times of prayer individually and corporately, fasting, seeking the Holy Ghost, preparing, and going out into the world to preach or witness the Gospel to connect with our communities. We should: 1. bring them in if they are already born again and not attending fellowship (the spirits must be tested) 2. bring them in, if they are sincerely humble and seeking the truth of Jesus in a deeper way. (should go to immediate personal counsel with the leadership) 3. if they are choosing to hear another day then ask for a personal follow up over coffee. 4. If they mock and scorn then leave them to their wiles, tell them to repent or they will perish. Then pray that God would soften their hearts in the future. Thoughts of what happened with the Apostle Paul on Mars Hill come to mind in these scenarios.
#Shunning, #Shun, #Apostacy #ApostateChurch