Questions
Is there a difference to be made so far as social interaction with:
- one withdrawn from in the local congregation VS one withdrawn from in another congregation?
- one withdrawn from in the local congregation VS one who is unfaithful but hadn’t been withdrawn from (whether locally or elsewhere)?
- one withdrawn from in another location VS one who is unfaithful but hadn’t been withdrawn from (brethren sometimes fail to do what they are supposed to do regarding church discipline)?
Answers
- Withdrawal is a function of the local church toward its own members (1 Corinthians chapter 5). It is a part of congregational autonomy (1 Peter 5:1-4). It only directly affects the members of that local church. It affects spiritual (“deliver such a one to Satan”) and social (“with such a one no not to eat”) activities. It cannot be bound on other congregations or members of other congregations.
- Do not share in the sins of a sinner or encourage him in his sin (Ephesians 5:11), but only the local church can exercise congregational discipline (1 Corinthians chapter 5). Congregations should not accept unrepentant sinners, but each congregation must determine for itself who fits that category (Acts 9:26-28).
- Withdrawal of fellowship is the function of the local church toward its own members (1 Corinthians chapter 5). The only things you can do about sinners who are not members of the local church where you are a member, whether they are Christians or not, is to try to teach them (Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20) and to refuse to share in their sins or condone their sins (Ephesians 5:11). If the church refuses to take scriptural action (1 Corinthians chapter 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6), there may not be anything you can do except to state your disagreement and/or to go to a congregation that practices scriptural discipline. The family is a fleshly, earthly relationship, not one that involves fellowship in Christ. The husband and wife are “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6), not one spirit.
