Disfellowshipment

23 JULY 2007

How many people have been disfellowshiped from their churches over the years? Do ministers really have the power to disfellowship? What does disfellowship mean? Does it cut one off from God? What is it's purpose?

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom 16:17-18.

We are to mark and avoid those who teach contrary to sound DOCTRINE. What is a DOCTRINE? A DOCTRINE is; A RULE or PRINCIPLE believed to be TRUE. It is a basic FOUNDATIONAL BELIEF. It is a FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH. Joe Tkatch senior said that DOCTRINES cause division. He was RIGHT. They divide GOOD from EVIL, TRUTH from ERROR and the CLEAN from the spiritually UNCLEAN. He said that because they cause division, they are evil. He was WRONG. 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 2 Joh 9. 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 2 Joh 10-11. If a church does NOT have any DOCTRINE, it has no TRUTH, NO BELIEFS. It has ceased to be a church and has become a SOCIAL CLUB.

Mark and avoid those who cause division, contrary to the DOCTRINES that you have learned. What DOCTRINES? Those Doctrines taught by the Apostles, Prophets and Jesus Christ! Eph 2:20. Yes, We are an Habitation of God, through the spirit Eph 2:22. Our DOCTRINES, MUST be, the TEACHINGS, of the Apostles and Prophets and Jesus Christ as recorded in the Holy Scriptures. OR WE ARE NOT GOD'S PEOPLE!

Therefore WE MUST Mark and Avoid those who lead us away from the TRUTH of God, as contained in the Word of God! Anyone who says that we need not keep ALL of God's commandments should be avoided! Anyone who, himself, refuses to keep ALL of God's commandments should be avoided! Those who stumble, or slip and are repentant and trying, should be forgiven and accepted but those who reason that they have a RIGHT to BREAK God's law and try to TEACH OTHERS SO, must be avoided.

Why, must we avoid such people? Because they seek, through clever arguments, to TURN EACH OF US AWAY from God. They, by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts, Rom 16:18.

Is this marking, some special power of a minister? NO, Paul was writing to the WHOLE church at Rome. The whole church is to collectively act in these situations. Should this be done in SECRET? NO, This MUST be a public matter, so that; 1 other potential miscreants may be prevented, 2 the whole church may be warned, 3 the minister may be dissuaded from acting on trivial or selfish motives. GOD IS TRUTH. HIS WORD IS TRUTH. His church should be JUST and TRUE. We are NOT the children of DARKNESS 1 Thes 5:5. EVIL hides in darkness. Let us do all things openly, in the light of day. Each of us individually has a personal responsibility to avoid those who DEFY our God!

Does this marking cut one off from God? NO! It is the sin of breaking God's law that cuts us off from God Isaiah 59:2. This marking merely identifies the willful sinner as someone unclean, singling them out to be avoided. When only ministers have this power to act in secret, mistakes may be made. When he has to prove his case before the congregation, some of these mistakes may be avoided, due to the motivation to do more diligent research. Indeed, there are those who like Diotrophes would like to drive the innocent out of the church 3 Joh 9-10. When mistakes are made, remember that God knows the TRUTH. There is absolutely NOTHING but WILLFUL SIN that can cut us off from Him Rom 8:35-39. and SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW 1 JOH 3:4. WILLFUL HABITUAL SIN, which a person knowingly commits and feels justified to commit, is the ONLY reason to mark or disfellowship a person! There are No other reasons for rejecting a person who is sincerely trying to learn, grow and keep God's commandments.