CONTRIBUTED

A Study of Abusive Practices Within Some Churches of Christ

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

By Bernie Parsons - Updated March 28, 2010

After more than four decades preaching in the Church of Christ, I find that there are many differing doctrines and interpretations of scripture, often leading to division in our ranks. Many of these misinterpretations are directly attributable to the fact that many of our preachers and teachers, not to mention our general membership, spend little time actually studying the Bible. When they do read, it is usually to reinforce the traditional beliefs that our forebears have passed along to us.

One such common misunderstanding regards fellowship. This misunderstanding leads to a plethora of cases referred to as "disfellowshipping". I despise the word "disfellowship", a word which appears neither in the Bible nor in the dictionary, but which I have heard all my life. It shows the lack of diligent study of the scriptures on the part of those who use it.

"Disfellowshipping" is the Church of Christ name for the Catholic doctrine that Catholics call excommunication. Since the Church of Christ is fond of claiming that there is no historical tie to the Roman Catholic Church (read History of The Church of Christ), they always try to find scriptures that seem to substantiate Church of Christ doctrines. Some of the following scriptures are called upon to justify a perverse and ungodly practice, because "disfellowshipping" is improperly used against those who disagree on doctrine.

• Matthew 18:17 "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."
• Romans 16:17-18 "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."
• 1 Corinthians 5:11 "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother 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."
• 2 Thessalonians 3:14 "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."

At first glance, these four instances of scripture, taken out of context and strung together, present a seemingly powerful argument in favour of the idea of "disfellowshipping". Yet, taken in context, each of the four reveals distinctly different circumstances and treatments. Let's look at each situation individually, within its intended context.

Matthew 18:15-17 "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. 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. 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."

In this setting, Jesus is telling His disciples the importance of forgiveness. Look at the same chapter, verse 35. (Also look at Matthew 6.) Notice that this deals, not with differences in doctrine or understanding of particular scriptures, but personal grievances. This is the procedure to follow if one professed believer, or Christian, does another Christian wrong.

Matthew 18:35 "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Matthew 6:14-15 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

What Jesus is teaching, as described by Matthew, is how to heal the body of Christ – the church – whenever there is a wound. Has someone harmed you? Approach that person in private and try to resolve the issue. The burden is on both parties to heal the wound. We have just read that the one who was offended is obligated to point out the rift, and seek closure. We also read words of Jesus in which He puts responsibility on the person who has committed the offense.

Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

A wound in the body of Christ--the church--is so serious, that both parties are obligated to seek restoration of the body. James describes this responsibility, as well.

James 5:16-20 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 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."

Paul also discusses splits, or schisms, in the body, and how they are damaging and dangeorus to the whole church. A suffering body works to heal itself--and so it is with a suffering church--the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:23-27 "And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

Jesus, in Matthew 18:15-17 gives a simple method of healing the church. The brother--or sister--who is offended approaches the one who committed the offense and seeks reconciliation. If the offender will not repent and seek the forgiveness of the one he offended, one or two witnesses are to be taken and the attempt is to be made with witnesses on hand. These witnesses can verify that the offended person sought reconciliation, and whether or not the offender did the same. (Note: the practice of some church trouble-makers who gather two or more of their friends to help them attack another member regarding doctrinal disagreements is not justified by this, or any other, Scripture.)

If the offender will not heal the wound in the church, he is to be treated as the unbeliever he is--for, at that point, he has fully rejected God's plan for healing the body of Christ. If he rejects God's law, he is not a true believer in God, nor is he a true worshipper of God, and is to be treated as such. This is not carte blanche for individual members to attempt to "throw someone out of the church". Since elders have the oversight of the local church, they quite logically should guide the church in such drastic measures. After all, the goal is the healing of the church as a whole.

Matthew 18:17 "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."

Let's look at the second scripture that is often abused:

Romans 16:17-18 "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."

This is quite simply a warning against false teachers and insincere individuals claiming to be Christians. These are people who preach for profit (read the article, "Paying The Preacher"), who serve themselves by preying upon the unlearned and the naive. Paul says to identify them for who they are, and steer clear. This is not the same as "disfellowshipping". Jesus warned against these false teachers, as did the Apostle Peter, and John.

Matthew 7:15-23 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

2 Peter 2:1 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."

1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

The cure here is not "disfellowshipping", but avoidance. Don't listen to false teachers, and don't support them. Ignore them, and they will be forced to go away.

The third oft-abused scripture when "disfellowshipping" is discussed is:

1 Corinthians 5:11 "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother 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."

The offense here is the direct violation of the laws of God by a church member who is committing fornication. When a man claims to be a Christian, yet engages in grossly ungodly practices--things that are clearly and directly opposed to God's instructions, then such a one is to be put on notice that the behavior is wrong, and is not a Christian attribute--after all, "Christian" means to be like Christ, or Christ-like.

The problem was that the church looked the other way, tolerating unholy behavior.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 "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. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

"In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 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.

"Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 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: 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.

"I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 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. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother 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. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

Of the four instances often used to justify it, this comes the closest to "disfellowshipping" a person as it is practiced by some of the churches. In this case, a church member is committing public sin and is in danger of polluting the church from within, as well as generating criticism from without. The church is told to "take him from among them", "deliver him to the power of Satan", "not to keep company with him", "not to eat with him", and to "put away that wicked person".

This instruction is often abused by people who want to apply this severe punishment to anyone who merely disagrees with them on the meaning of a particular Scripture. Notice that this action was reserved for "fornicators, covetous, idolaters, railers, drunkards, and extortioners".  All of these are grievous, public sins. They are the mark of a person who roundly rejects the laws of God in favour of a life of sensuality and sin in the flesh. The person is described as "wicked". The danger in tolerating such behaviour, besides costing that individual his soul, is to contaminate the entire body of Christ. As Apostle Paul pointed out, Christ does not join His body to whores, and the church is the body of Jesus Christ. If one who fornicates is embraced as holy and acceptable, others may imitate the sin and the whole body is corrupted.

1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commiteth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

What is the intention in putting a publicly sinning church member away from the warm embrace of the congregation, and in "delivering such a one to Satan"? The goal is not punishment or control--the goal is repentance of the individual and a pure body of Christ.

I Corinthians 5:5-6 "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. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?"

Those who would withdraw from a member to punish him or her for having a different view on a scripture do not understand the purpose of the action, nor the damage that can be caused when it is abused. They also fail to consider that other Christians may be in different stages of spiritual development, and may either be younger or older in the spirit than they. If the person is young in the spirit, the goal is to guide them to maturity, not run them off. If they are more mature spiritually, perhaps their view is closer to the truth than your own! Would you want them to "throw you out of the church" if that is the case? By the way, we don't actually have the power to "throw people out of church", as we don't have the power to add them to the church. Read "Communion & Fellowship". The Roman Catholics with their doctrine of excommunication originated this ungodly practice.

In fact, the intended consequence in the above situation was realized as Paul writes in the second recorded Corinthian letter.

2 Corinthians 2:6-11 “Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

The goal is to have that person who had publicly sinned to come to his senses and abandon his sinful activity. The goal is to restore a wayward brother to the paths of righteousness, to heal the body of Christ. This goal was accomplished by the church at Corinth.

The fourth instance of scripture used to justify infighting and schism is:

2 Thessalonians 3:14 "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."

Some folks appear to reason that if another church member won't do what I think that they should, then I should have no company with them. Again, our goal should not be to lord over other people. View the complete context.

2 Thessalonians 3: 6-15  “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. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 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. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

The context is that of a brother who refuses to work to support his own needs, relying upon others to take care of him. Paul condemns this slothfulness, and reminds that he had worked at his own craft while among them, in order to set a good example. He also did it to keep himself out of compromising situations: if he did not take their money, none could feel that he was beholden to them, and none could rightfully accuse him of preaching just for money—read “Paying The Preacher”.

The message here is, if you don’t work, you don’t eat. Anyone who doesn’t take care of his own family is worse than an infidel—someone who does not honour God.

1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

Such a person has no place among the believers because he is not truly converted, is not walking in the footsteps of Jesus, and hasn’t the faintest idea what God expects of him. Even so, the person in this case is to be treated as a brother, not the enemy. This precludes our treating him as though he were invisible, or treating him like the scum of the earth. He is to be made ashamed in order to save him, and he is to be admonished—that is, warned—that if he does not change, his soul will be lost. This is done lovingly, as to a wayward brother, not bitterly or hatefully, as I have often witnessed. The goal is not to “throw people out of the church”, but is rather the restoration of the lost, and the healing of the church by bringing them back into it.

Galatians 6:1-2 “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. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Jude 1: 21-23 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

James 5:19-20 “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 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 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

Read the article, “Charity”.

The erroneous doctrine of "disfellowshipping" must be abandoned by the Church of Christ. It is clearly a renamed, repackaged Protestant version of Roman Catholic excommunication.

Love, in Christ,

Bernie

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FROM:  http://www.christianuniverse.com/doctrine/docdisc/disfellowship.htm

"These studies examine the traditional doctrines held by the Church of Christ to see if they are actually taught in the scriptures. This is not an "anti-Church of Christ" site. I was reared in the Church of Christ and have preached in the Church of Christ since 1968. My desire is that we walk righteously before God, not according to traditions of men."  Bernie Parsons