The Truth In Print Vol. 19 Issue
7, Aug. 2013
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Withdrawal: Family Reunions, Vacations,
Special Days etc.
When Paul wrote
to the church at Corinth instructing
that the immoral brother be “taken away from among you” the church collectively
was to withdraw (cf. I Cor. 5:1-7). When he instructed them in I Cor. 5:11 not
to associate with any so called brother who is a fornicator, covetous, extortioner or idolater each individual Christian was
responsible to comply — his application “not even to eat with” such a person
showed what he intended.
“not to eat with such a one”
Some teach that
“no not to eat with such a one” (kjv)
refers only to spiritual things; that “keep the feast” (I Cor. 5:8) as a
metaphor refers to fellowship in Christ, to the spiritual realm and to
worshipping with one withdrawn from. This relieves them of having to do the
uncomfortable thing — disassociating with them socially!
The proof that
“not to keep company” refers to associating with unfaithful Christians lies in
the context. Paul explained in I Cor. 5:10 that when he wrote prior to this for
them not to associate with immoral people he did not mean the immoral outside
of the church, those of this world, for then they would have to go out of the
world. “Not to keep company” in I Cor. 5:11 is the same as “not to company with”
in I Cor. 5:9 — one does not worship in fellowship with the sexually immoral of
the world who are not Christians. Thus I Cor. 5:10 implies a social
relationship — that is how Paul defines it in his explanation. It is clear
since he applied it to our association “with” the world that he means “social”
and not spiritual fellowship in Christ.
Who is not to be Associated With
1. Matt. 18:15-17. Members who refuse to listen to the
church and are withdrawn from. The “not associating with” is clear from Jesus’
reference to Gentiles and tax collectors as brought forth in the charge when
Peter got back from Cornelius’ household — “Thou wentest
in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them” (cf. Acts 11:3; also Gal.
2:12 event).
2. I Cor. 5:11. Any man that is “called
a brother.” One is named a brother at baptism into the one body,
Christ’s church.
3. 2 Th. 3:6, 14. The command in verse 6 is to keep away
from (“withdraw yourselves,” i.e. refrain from associating with) every brother
who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition (teaching) received
from Paul and others. This is followed in verse 14 with “note that man” and “have no company
with him” (which is the same as in I Cor. 5:11) that he might be ashamed.
This tells what
one cannot do — one cannot associate with him. This applies when anyone who is
a Christian leads an unruly life — it is each individual’s responsibility — the
church is not responsible for social affairs. This command is not a command to
just refuse to worship with one — not partake of the Supper with, sing and pray
with etc. You must recognize the value of their feeling ashamed!
2 Th. 3:15 tells
what one should do when the opportunity presents itself. The “admonishing”
appears during the period of shame and can be accomplished without violating
Paul’s command not to associate with them. You can admonish, they can ask
questions about restoration, repent and start going back to church without you
violating God’s commands.
That “not
associating with” produces shame and saves souls in clearly demonstrated by
comparing I Cor. 5 and 2 Cor. 2:6-8.
Sometimes
brethren will want to limit “walking disorderly” to just idleness or being a
busybody (cf. 2 Th. 3:11), but it is not limited to such in the two epistles to
the Thessalonians. Such things are found: drunkenness (I Th. 5:7), sexual
immorality (I Th. 4:5), adultery (I Th. 4:6), not attending to your own
business (I Th. 4:11) — thus not walking in a manner worthy of God ( I Th. 4:12; 2:12).
Notice Paul said
“We behaved not ourselves disorderly among you” (2 Th. 3:7). In I Th. 2:12
their example and instruction was so that they could “walk in a manner worthy
of God” which is equal to “according to the tradition” in 2 Th. 3:6. They did
not teach error (I Th. 1:5; 2:3). If one taught or upheld error they’d be
walking disorderly! They were not men pleasers (I Th. 2:4), did not use
flattery (I Th. 2:5), had no cloak of covetousness (I Th. 2:5), were gentle (I
Th. 2:7), were not a burden, thus labor (I Th. 2:9), were not given to sexual
immorality as dealt with in I Th. 4:4-5.
Add it all up:
If you are faithful you know when one in your family is not faithful. At times
you’ll hear, “Does this mean that Paul’s commands apply to one’s own mate
should they become unfaithful?” Yes, read the verses again if you need to.
Some Points on “Invitations”
1. Jude 12. Jude
mentions “feasts of charity” and describes some who “feast with” Christians.
This describes a feast where they are being entertained together. It is not a work
of the church collectively (cf. I Cor. 11:34). Christians are warned here about
those who would be present — who were false in every way — but who had crept in
among them having concealed their false doctrines and immoralities. They were
there without the fear of being detected or receiving a public rebuke such as
Peter got from Paul in Gal. 2:11-21. They had not been marked (Rom.
16:17). Now, would you be a part of a
“planned” feast by brethren where one who is known to have left the faith, and
is thus upholding false doctrines and beliefs, is invited and included in
entertainment together?
2. Lk. 5:29. Matthew (Levi)
made a big reception for Jesus at his house. There was a great crowd of tax
collectors and other people. The Pharisees were grumbling concerning His eating
with tax collectors and sinners. Matthew made Him a feast! He didn’t just show
up — it was “for” Jesus. The word reception means “a reception i.e. convivial
entertainment: feast.”
3. Matt. 11:19. Here they accuse Jesus of being a glutton,
a winebibber and “friend” of publicans and sinners. The word “friend” means “he
who associates familiarly with one, a companion.” Now we know that Jesus didn’t
hang out at the bars with the low lifes doing what
they did! But, are those who have left the church your friends? Are they your
fishing buddies, golfing buddies, vacation buddies, etc. — as per this
definition of “friend.”
4. Lk. 7:36, 39. The Pharisee
“desired him that he would eat with him,” and is said to have “bidden him” to
do so. The word “desired” means to ask, beseech. And the word
“bidden” means to invite.
5. Lk. 19:5-7. Jesus and Zacchaeus. Jesus told Zacchaeus “I must abide at thy house” — “abide” means to
sojourn there, tarry. Zacchaeus “received” Him
joyfully — “received” means “to admit under one’s roof, that is, entertain
hospitably: - receive.” They murmured saying “he has gone to be a guest with a
man that is a sinner” — “guest” means “be guest, lodge.”
A. Would you invite yourself over to the house of one who
has left the church “like”
Jesus invited Himself to stay with Zacchaeus?
B. If one who has left the church invited themselves to
your house would you “eat with” them and associate with them just because they
said they’re coming?
6. 1Co 10:27 If
any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go;
whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
A. Here the non-Christians are inviting Christians. But
make that person doing the inviting a “fallen” Christian — would they go with
them “after” getting Paul’s instructions in I Cor. 5:11? Would you be disposed
to go to a feast, or run around socially with one, if you were invited to do
such by a “fallen” Christian after reading Paul’s instructions in these
epistles!
Paul’s Commands Prevent Some Brethrens’ Invites to Fallen
Christians
At what point do brethren who violate I Cor. 5:11 begin to think that
their eating and associating with those who have left the faith is Ok? They
certainly should not be hearing that it is in classes, from pulpits, or from
individuals and especially those who are older and should know better. The
command prevents brethren planning an event that invites those who have left
the church for socializing, entertainment, and to eat with them. Such things
as:
1. Invites to come home for Christmas.
2. Throw a Birthday Party “for” them.
3. Plan them in on the Family Vacation just like when
they were faithful to Christ. Everyone does love a vacation even when they
don’t love Christ!
4. Plan, invite them and attend a Family Reunion “with”
them.
Why are these
and such like wrong? Because brethren have made up their minds to honor self,
friends and family above God (cf. Matt. 10:34-37; Lk.
14:26 includes father, mother, wife, children,
brethren, sisters and his own life). When you do that you are not worthy of
Him.
This isn’t like
going to a restaurant that receives anyone any time they are open for business,
and an unfaithful member happens to already be there at some table somewhere.
At some family
reunions those who are apostates—even having endorsed false religions (cf.
Titus 3:10; 2 Jo. 9-11) — prepare some of the food for all to eat in company
together there. And this is rationalized as participants not violating Paul’s
command. Invites home for Christmas are reunions too! Many reunions tend to
develop a “pattern” and you can almost count on who will be there. In the
common Gospel Singing do those who have left the faith and are singing think
they are still in fellowship with those who have not? (cf. I
Jo. 1:7). I’ve yet to hear of an invitation that says “Included will be public
rebukes and admonitions naming those who have left the faith.”
There are often
those who admit that they should have withdrawn from some “family” years ago
but then say, “But it is too late now.” Since when is it too
late to obey God’s command. You obey for yourself and in order to save
their souls when they come to repentance. Those who think this way usually
seduce others to do with them what they should not be doing — associating with
those who have fallen away from the church. Then they need to repent
themselves.
Planned Invitations
1. Those issuing them know what they’re going to.
2. Often those getting the invite know ahead of time
who plans to be there.
3. Sometimes one helping to plan the event is also one
who has fallen away and even joined themselves to a false human denomination or
church. In doing such they certainly uphold false doctrine (cf. 2 Jo. 9-11).
Brethren need to
open their eyes and see violations of I Cor. 5:11.
By Bob Lovelace
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