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ExCommunication

Classik

Classik

Member
How do you view excommunication in christian churches today? My church still does it.

If a member sins (fights or commits immoral sins) she/he is publicly rebuked and suspended from all she/he does for the church. He/she is handed over to the devil for torments.


He or she is made to sit behind every other member throughout the period of his/her excommunication. He or she is last to give an offering. Once he or she does...no other person is allowed to give an offering. You don't talk to him/her, You don't visit her/him - only the pastors do. And if you mistaken visit or talk to him/her...you could be punished or the devil might attack you as well (since he/she has been handed over to the devil)


He or she is given time to turn back to God. And when the church notices true changes in him/her then the church will publicly pray for him or her and restore him/her to her normal church work.
 
I think one of the reasons why some churches don't do it (or don't find it comfortable) is that they think they might lose their members.
 
Lots of TV preachers could use a timeout.

Classik, kidding aside i think/feel something should be done..We have become too tolerant of sin in general... Often we hear about Jesus eating with the sinners etc they were not sinners when He left.....Seems we dont hear preaching on DONT sin just His Grace.... There are couples living together with out marriage, divorce rate is high, hidden abortions. Folks cheating on taxes etc... I hear many church folks screaming about 'gays' how much is that a cover for our sins?
We are to be set apart we are to be noticeably different. I dont feel that difference should be because we ware head coverings or backwards collars. It should be from the heart...

Little preachy here I do include myself.....
 
Classik said:
How do you view excommunication in christian churches today? My church still does it.

If a member sins (fights or commits immoral sins) she/he is publicly rebuked and suspended from all she/he does for the church. He/she is handed over to the devil for torments.


He or she is made to sit behind every other member throughout the period of his/her excommunication. He or she is last to give an offering. Once he or she does...no other person is allowed to give an offering. You don't talk to him/her, You don't visit her/him - only the pastors do. And if you mistaken visit or talk to him/her...you could be punished or the devil might attack you as well (since he/she has been handed over to the devil)


He or she is given time to turn back to God. And when the church notices true changes in him/her then the church will publicly pray for him or her and restore him/her to her normal church work.
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I'm all for excommunication...but not the way your church does it. Many failures can be handled very simply and easily without the need for punishing and shaming people. I'm afraid that the kind of church that handles sin the way your's does fosters an atmosphere of unholy fear that keeps people from confessing their sins one to another and seeking forgiveness and healing from God. Instead it helps people stay fearful and isolated and choose a life of hypocrisy instead of honesty and transparency.
 
Individual churches/denominations can of course behave however they want because the (adult) member of the congregation are there of their own free will.

Few of us accept the extreme nastiness of some churches based on their sometimes odd beliefs. Those with less extreme beliefs should also question whether they are right to withdraw their love from their fellows just because they did something they do not think is right. Who are we to make people suffer because they break one of the church rules but turn a blind eye when they break one of God's laws?

Leave it to God. In the mean time love the sinner but not the sin.
 
I used to think the measures taken are extreme until I read the scriptural backup. It is scriptural. It is done in deep love.

I should be getting the verses soon.
 
Classik said:
I used to think the measures taken are extreme until I read the scriptural backup. It is scriptural. It is done in deep love.

I should be getting the verses soon.
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It's not that excommunication is not Biblical. It's just that it is to be exercised for the stubborn and unrepentant, not for the failure of the sincere saint maturing in Christ who grieves over his sin.

What you shared reminds me of the couple on a TV documentary several years ago who smacked their kids for every single thing that went wrong because the Bible says to 'not spare the rod'. They actually spent their time almost continually smacking them as they carried out their daily lives. It was the most absurd thing I'd ever seen. Experienced parents know you reserve the big guns for stubborn or willful rebellion. Same for the church. Don't embarrass and shame someone who is simply growing up into his faith through the common failures and weaknesses of the sincere saint growing up in his faith in Christ.
 
Jethro Bodine said:
It's not that excommunication is not Biblical. It's just that it is to be exercised for the stubborn and unrepentant, not for the failure of the sincere saint maturing in Christ who grieves over his sin.

.
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Thanks for sharing. You are actually Right about What you have said. It is 'mainly' carried out on People who have been in faith for long - and who have been found guilty of a particular sin. It is interesting to note that most of these People in my church openly reported themselves to the church for punishment and excommunication over the sins they've committed. Openly rebuking them isn't a crime.
 
God is our judge. If someone sins (as we all do each and every day) then it is up to that person to seek God and ask forgiveness and guidance in living the life God wants.

I'm taking it that these sins which we are talking about are seen as particularly "bad" but what i always like to remind myself of is that even the smallest sin is going against Gods way so who are we to define what is worse than what?

We sin, that is why Jesus died. And as long as we realise out wrongdoings and repent and seek forgiveness and ask God to help us live the right way i don#t think its up to us to judge
 
2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name 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.


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

1Co 5:5 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.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 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:

There are times when we need to do some house cleaning. There is a right way to do so..

Gal 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.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
 
Many years ago a dating couple that attended our church stood before the congregation with the pastor and confessed that they had failed morally. They asked for forgiveness, we received them, and it was over. They married soon after that. No need for an official inquiry, or punishments...and certainly no need for excommunication. Excommunication was not even considered or remotely necessary, for they had humbled themselves, and excommunication and shunning was not needed. I couldn't attend a church where sin that was either discovered or confessed was treated the way the OP described it is in their church without considering how the offender is responding to their own failure.
 
I think the main reason a lot of churches have left excommunication is based on how the Catholic church once handled it. It turned into a political move and was used by a very corrupt force. Its intended purpose is to keep people on track with christ, but the reality is that people will use it for selfish reasons. Put a person in power and give them an infallible source and then corruption will follow.
 
reba said:
2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name 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.


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

1Co 5:5 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.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 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:

There are times when we need to do some house cleaning. There is a right way to do so..

Gal 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.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Click to expand...

This is a good post. I'm sure the reason this doesn't happen is because churches simply don't want to offend anyone. This is the same reason that the pastor's message is watered down without a stern stance on sin. I agree also that this needs to be reserved for members who are actively and willfully engaged in sin.

We sometimes lose sight of our main goal; to encourage each other closer to Christ. It's like a parent who doesn't punish the child. If they have no wake up call, we're not doing them any favors by turning a blind eye to their willful sin. That is to send the message that there's nothing wrong with it. No problem, no shame, no repentance, no salvation. We owe them so much more than that.

Lastly, the pastor needs to shepherd them back into a right response to God's Grace. Don't just excommunicate them and leave them without counsel.
 
reba said:
2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name 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.


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

1Co 5:5 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.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 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:

There are times when we need to do some house cleaning. There is a right way to do so..

Gal 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.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Click to expand...

These are indeed the verses. Thanks, reba.:wave
 
Mike said:
This is a good post. I'm sure the reason this doesn't happen is because churches simply don't want to offend anyone. This is the same reason that the pastor's message is watered down without a stern stance on sin. I agree also that this needs to be reserved for members who are actively and willfully engaged in sin.

We sometimes lose sight of our main goal; to encourage each other closer to Christ. It's like a parent who doesn't punish the child. If they have no wake up call, we're not doing them any favors by turning a blind eye to their willful sin. That is to send the message that there's nothing wrong with it. No problem, no shame, no repentance, no salvation. We owe them so much more than that.

Lastly, the pastor needs to shepherd them back into a right response to God's Grace. Don't just excommunicate them and leave them without counsel.
Click to expand...

:pepsi
 
Classik said:
These are indeed the verses. Thanks, reba.:wave
Click to expand...
And let's reserve the one's about excommunication for the willful, unrepentant sinners, not the sincere, struggling saint.

"3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." (Isaiah 42:3 NIV1984)
 
Jethro Bodine said:
And let's reserve the one's about excommunication for the willful, unrepentant sinners, not the sincere, struggling saint.

"3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." (Isaiah 42:3 NIV1984)
Click to expand...
1 Tmi 5:20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. (ESV)
 
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