“I’m Sorry, You Are No Longer Welcome Here,” Part 3A

Church discipline is the process of correcting sinful behavior among members of a local church body or a small Christian group for the purpose of protecting its members, restoring the sinner to a right walk with God, and renewing fellowship among the offender and those directly and indirectly touched by the offense. In some cases, church discipline can proceed all the way to excommunication, which is the formal removal of an individual from the fellowship and the informal separation from that individual.

In Part 1, we took a look at church discipline from 1 Corinthians 5, where a member of the church was sleeping with his stepmother. Then in Part 2, we examined church discipline regarding those who were lazy and got into everyone else’s business from 2 Thessalonians 3.

In 1 Corinthians 5, church discipline led to “excommunication” (vv. 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13). In 2 Thessalonians 3, church discipline led to “disassociation” (v. 14).

In 1 Corinthians 5, the outcome for doing church discipline led to “separation,” the removal of the sinner from the fellowship. In 2 Thessalonians 3, the outcome for doing church discipline led to “shame.” And since it is a Scriptural admonition to create an environment of shame to exist, it is sanctioned and empowered by the Holy Spirit Himself. We ought not to be afraid of doing both, carefully, prayerfully, thoughtfully, if we are really in favor of being obedient to God.

Now in this study (Part 3), let’s see what Jesus says about church discipline from Matthew 18:15-20.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Here are some key observations to dwell upon from the above text:

First, there is a proper procedure to follow.

If you have knowledge that your brother or sister is in sin, then you need to go to him or in PRIVATE. Do not broadcast it to others. Do not gossip about it. When you do, then you ought to be rebuked and taken to the side and counseled. A gossiper can just as easily be removed from the fellowship, if non-repentance persists, as one who is living in immorality can. When an immoral person is removed from the fellowship, it is to keep the poison from spreading onto others (cf. 1 Cor. 5:6-7). Well, the poison of a gossiper is just as damaging to the fellowship and ought to be seriously dealt with like manner.

If a private meeting with the sinner does not work favorably after several attempts, then you bring others with you who are called “witnesses” (v. 16), to witness the procedure and response of the sinner. Notice that the circle becomes a little larger – from private (between two people) to semi-private (between three or more people).

If after several attempts were made and does not work, then you are to open it up to more people which involves telling it to the church (v. 17). The news of the sin and the sinner is only spread at this third level. Too often before any steps are undertaken, the news has spread to everyone, many of whom do not need to know.

When gossip occurs and has taken control, expect there to be severe backlash and opposition from the sinner. Also expect more problems to arise and expect a breakdown in experiencing a sure remedy. Because gossip has gotten things out of control, a lot of mopping up must occur before even the first step is undertaken.

Furthermore, it would not be fair to go after the sinner who is, let’s say, living in immorality and not go also after the gossiper who was responsible to spread the bad news about it via the phone, text messaging or by word of mouth. If you go after the one, you must also (in order to be biblical and consistent) go after the other (if gossip is a problem).

Keep in mind that when Paul talked about dealing with a lazy person in 2 Thessalonians 3, he pointed out that one prominent reason not to associate with him was because he was going around and being a “busybody” (v. 11) which is another way of saying, he was spreading rumors and gossip around unto others because he had nothing better to do with his time. He was a trouble-maker while pretending to be God’s messenger.

Nothing will hamper the smooth and biblical flow of church discipline more than gossip. We tend to view immoral sins as more serious sins that need to be dealt with. But gossip is a sin of serious concern and not to deal with it is to show a complete lack of biblical discernment, a lack of love, and a clear failure to be obedience to the Lord.

End of Part 3A

“I’m Sorry, You Are No Longer Welcome Here,” Part 2

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian. He was also a participant in the German Resistance movement against Nazism, a founding member of the Confessing Church. His involvement in plans by members of the Abwehr (the German Military Intelligence Office) to assassinate Adolf Hitler resulted in his arrest in April 1943 and his subsequent execution by hanging in April 1945, shortly before the war's end. His view of Christianity's role in the secular world has become very influential.

He wrote the following on church discipline.  It is a classic:

“Reproof is unavoidable. God’s Word demands it when a brother falls into open sin. The practice of discipline in the congregation begins in the smallest circles. Where defection from God’s Word in doctrine or life imperils the family fellowship and with it the whole congregation, the word of admonition and rebuke must be ventured. Nothing can be more cruel than the tenderness that consigns another to his sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe rebuke that calls a brother back from the path of sin. It is a ministry of mercy, an ultimate offer of genuine fellowship, when we allow nothing but God’s Word to stand between us, judging and succoring. Then it is not we who are judging; God alone judges, and God’s judgment is helpful and healing. Ultimately, we have no charge but to serve our brother, never to set ourselves above him, and we serve him even when we must speak the judging and dividing Word of God to him, even when, in obedience to God, we must break off fellowship with him. We must know that it is not our human love which makes us loyal to the other person, but God’s love which breaks its way through to him only through judgment. Just because God’s Word judges, it serves the person. He who accepts the ministry of God’s judgment is helped.” 

In Part 1, we examined what Paul said concerning a man who was sleeping with his stepmother in 1 Corinthians 5. Now let’s go to another passage in which Paul deals with those who are lazy found in 2 Thessalonians 3. 

Here is the context.  In the Thessalonian church, there were some who were lazy and got into other people’s business (v. 11).  Paul referred to this as an “undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.”  Here Paul is using a play on words and is actually saying, “Some that are not busy in their own business (they have no employment), but they are over-busy in other people’s business” (i.e nosy).    

So what is Paul’s solution as to what ought to be done with such people?

First, “if anyone will not work, neither let him eat” (v. 10).

Second, “do not associate with him so that he may be put to shame” (v. 14). 

Sounds sort of like what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5 concerning the man who was sleeping with his stepmom.  Sort of, but not quite.

Here are some observations we need to bear in mind:

First, immorality such as sleeping with one’s stepmother and laziness are both considered sins and have as an outcome “dissociation” as a means of disciplining the sinner.   

Now we’re going from one side of the extreme to the other. Sleeping with your stepmother is an extreme form of sin. Laziness is not as extreme. Yet both are handled in virtually the same way – disassociation!

Now remember, this is only after several attempts have been made to try to counsel and restore the person in question. The Bible does not encourage throwing out anyone upon the first instance of their guilt. When a brother or sister sins, members of the church who have such knowledge go to the person in private and prayerfully seek to help the person back home into the fellowship with God and those whom have been offended.   It is only after multiple attempts have been made unsuccessfully, that it leads to the offender being asked to leave or disassociation.

Second, this form of church discipline is not to be done in a general manner, but specific. Note that Paul says in verse 14, “take special note of that man.” What does he mean?

Name him. 

Point him out.

Expose him.

Stop associating with him

Why? That he (only the offender) will be put to shame (v. 14b).

“Pastor Rich, that is so cruel!”

You know what cruel is?  Watch this. Follow Paul’s thoughts on this.

v. 15: “And do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

Now watch – Paul says, “When you name the person” (point out the offender), and when you tell him, “you refuse to work, then you don’t eat” (i.e. enjoy certain privileges that come from working), and you “do not associate with him,” so as to “put him to shame,” you are treating him or her like a family member!

This would imply that if you refuse to do these things, then you are no longer treating the offender as a brother (a member of your spiritual Ohana), but as an enemy.  

You see, we got things backwards. We think, “Oh, we need to embrace them and their sin, show love and forgiveness, and do all we can not to make them feel shame and not part of our group.” According to Paul, that is treating him like an ENEMY!  However, to treat such a person like a brother, you exercise tough love which embraces the truth and stop associating with him so as to put him to shame (make him feel rotten!).  God will use such things as the means to bring conviction and restoration.

In other words, we often times thwart the work of God in the lives of sinning saints by getting in the way. For heaven sake, get your feelings and yourself out of the way of God doing what He does best. Do you think that you know more than God knows? Do you think you have a better handle on how to bring about restoration to a sinning saint more than God is able? Do you think that God needs your help? You are often times simply in the way and by being the way, you are making matters worse! Your feelings are dictating what you consider to be right rather than the knowledge of God’s word that clearly spells out what we ought to do.

Third, in 1 Corinthians 5 we have excommunication.  Paul says to remove the person from your midst (v. 13) and consider him to be a “so-called brother” (v. 11).  This is another way of saying, “possibly a Christian, but one whose salvation is in doubt.”  This person who is engaged in a immoral sin is to be removed.

But with the Thessalonians, all we have is person who is lazy.  Don’t kick him out of the fellowship.  Just point him out and his sin, disassociate with him, and put him to shame. 

“But what if he leaves?”  Then let him leave. He is in everyone else’s poi.  Leaving may be a good thing in order to accomplish a bigger blessing – His restoration. The primary thing is to follow the Bible and get out of the way.

End of Part 2

“I’m Sorry, You Are No Longer Welcome Here,” Part 1

Remove the wicked person from among yourselves – 1 Cor. 5:13. 

One of the least practiced commands in the Bible that Christians often turn away from is the discipline of other believers. The church has gotten so far removed from this command we find in the Bible that when it is suggested that such a practiced ought to be implemented, there is shock, surprise, and utter disdained over such a thought.

The Bible is filled with this teaching and it is unavoidable.  But the church has managed to avoid it because she seeks to approval of man over the approval of God.

There are many passages we’re going to examine, but let’s go to the one we find in 1 Corinthians first.

Here is the context the Corinthians were facing. Someone in the church was sleeping with his stepmother (5:1).  To make matters worse, nothing was being done about it. The church decided to simply leave it alone. It was apparently too hot to touch.  Paul called this mindset, “arrogance,” because the church ought to be weeping over such a sin, not embracing it by having a do-nothing-attitude (v. 2). 

Now in the following verses, Paul exhorts this church to basically say, “I’m sorry, you are not welcome here.” 

Notice these passages:

5:2 – “the one who has done this deed might be removed from your midst”

5:5 – “deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh”

5:7 – “clean out the old leaven”

5:11 – “do not associate with any so-called brother if he should be immoral”

5:13 – “remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”

It is as if Paul is telling this church, “Listen just in case you do not get it the first time when I tell you to remove the wicked person, let me tell you four more times for a total of five times so that there can be no question as to what I am commanding you to do!”

Most church leaders run from doing this. Why do you think this is so? Well, here are some reasons Paul mentioned:

First, arrogance (5:2).  Rather than mourning and seeking repentance, the church thought it would be better just to keep quiet, show love and hope it will all go away.   This is not love, Paul states, but arrogance. 

Second, a severe lack of spiritual backbone (5:3-5; 6:2-5).  The Corinthians had leaders, but not the kind with spiritual backbone. So Paul had to tell them, “Is there not among you one wise man who is able to decide such matters” (6:5).

Third, their practice of tolerance.  They had become proud of their tolerance in not disciplining the sinning member (5:2).  In such cases, by not doing anything about, it was being “reported” (see 5:1). Others were saying, “Wow, this kind of tolerance of sin is not even permitted among the heathen” (Gentiles, i.e. unbelievers).  

Fourth, perhaps they were more interested in numbers than in holiness.  This sinning person may have been someone in the church with great influence. To kick him out would upset a lot of people who may just jettison the church.  Maybe there would be a church split over this issue.  Whatever the case may be, tolerating this kind of evil is never in the best interest of the flock, nor is it in keeping with the glory of God and His honor.

Now often times, we hear this: “We are not to judge!”  This is so silly, and may I also add, “stupid!”

Read the text with me:

5:3:  “For I, on my part, though absent in the body but present in the spirit, have already JUDGED HIM who has so committed this.”  Paul says, “Even though I am not with you, I have already judged such a man to be wrong and I am more than willing to deliver him unto Satan. . .” (v. 5).

5:12:  “For what have I to do with judging outsiders?”  Answer:  Nothing, God judges those outside the church (v. 13).

Then Paul adds, “do you not judge those who are WITHIN the church?”  The answer:  Yes, you should, especially those within the church.

Serious sins carry serious consequences. It is funny, yet at the same time, not so funny how the word gets around concerning such matters. Others on the outside seem to know about it.  If others on the outside know about such things, how much more we need to be both careful and concern that we show the outsiders how God uses His people to handle such matters in a proper biblical and loving approach.

Remember, the goal of church discipline is to “restore” the sinner, not to punish him. But remember this, “punishment is a means toward the end” (which is restoration).  Punishment is only the means and never the goal. The absolute goal is to bring the sinning saint back into fellowship with God and with those whom he or she have offended and hurt.

“But Pastor Rich, we need to be forgiving.”  No we do not need to be forgiving.  Who came up with that idea? 

Tell God how He needs to be forgiving to all those whom He has already sent to hell!  Forgiveness apart from repentance is wishful thinking.  No one, with no exception has ever been forgiven by God apart from having repented of their sin. And there is no person who is of the exception.

Jesus said this, “unless you forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you” (Matt. 6:15).  When a person repents, we ought to forgive him or her. If we don’t, God will not forgive us.

“But Pastor Rich, Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing?’” (Luke 23:34). Jesus prays for their forgiveness, He Himself is not forgiving them. 

You want to make sure you are spot on when it comes to offering forgiveness?  Then remember Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”  How has God through Christ forgiven you?  When you first repented from your sin and sought His forgiveness.  Then do likewise to others – but ONLY when repentance is first offered by the offender. If the offender does not repent you are not obligated to forgive him or her, otherwise you would be doing something that God Himself does not do. Remember the last phrase in verse 32:  “ just as God in Christ forgave you.”

You know another reason why church discipline – the ministry of putting people out of the fellowship is not practiced in the church?  Because we too often have a man-centered approach.  We begin with man rather than beginning with God.

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians about their sin, he told them “not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Eph. 4:30).  We don’t ask how can we please God and make Him happy? Instead, we ask, “What pleases us and makes us happy?” Whenever we approach church discipline with a man-centered approach, rather than a God-centered one, it will always lead us down the wrong path making wrong decisions.

Finally, what about the protection of the rest of the flock? Paul said, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?” (1 Cor. 5:6).  Just a little leaven makes the loaf grow bigger. Leaven is a symbol of sin.  Just a little toleration of sin, not doing anything about it, closing one’s eyes hoping that it will go away, will affect everyone else in a negative sense.

So what is the solution?  Paul states, “Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump” (5:7). In other words, the way to keep yourselves clean and pure is to purge the leaven from among you.  “I’m sorry, but you are no longer welcome here!”

You say, “Pastor Rich, that is so unkind!”

Who would you consider to be the most loving and kind person to ever step foot on this planet?  “Jesus!”  Yes, I agree.

One day, Jesus was talking to a rich young man (Mark 10:17-23).  The rich young man said to Jesus, “Lord, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Keep the commandments” (knowing it was impossible for man to do so).  The young man said, “I have kept them.” 

Jesus replied, “Great! Only one thing you lack.  Sell all that you possess, and give it to the poor.”

The bible says that the man owned much property.  With sadness, he walked away sad and grieved. 

Do you know what Jesus did?  Nothing!  He never ran after the man. He never said, “Hey, wait a minute.  Maybe I was a little too harsh and strong by telling you such things.  Why not start by giving away ten percent of all you have and let’s start there?”

Nope. The tender-loving all compassionate Jesus did not compromise one bit. The text says he LOVED this man (v. 21) and love always tells the truth, no matter how much it may hurt (his face fell and he was grieved – v. 22), and no matter what the consequences are (he walked away).

By holding back church discipline on a sinning saint, we are not showing love to him or her, but to ourselves. 

End of Part 1

Where did evil come from?

This is a question that has plagued the minds of many throughout the centuries. Every effect has a cause. Since evil is an effect, what is its cause? Some will say it is Satan.  This is a good place to camp. The Bible attributes him to being the first evil there was. When Eve was in the Garden, the serpent that Satan had inhabited was already evil (Gen. 3).  So evil existed before the creation of Adam and Eve.  Evil was therefore passed onto Adam and Eve. They received evil by being tempted by the devil through the serpent and obeying his voice rather than the voice of God.

But where did Satan get his evil?  Can Satan be both the cause and effect of evil? Here is something to think about.  Before Satan fell, he was commonly known as Lucifer. 

But here is something to think about. The bible does not really come out and call Lucifer, Satan.  The name, “Lucifer” literally means, “morning star” and is often translated from Isaiah 14:12:  “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn!” Bible translators have taken the phrase, “star of the morning” and interpreted that as being the name, “Lucifer.”   But the word, “Lucifer” is not actually a name but a translation of the Hebrew word for “morning star.”

The term “Lucifer” was taken by the King James Version translators from Jerome’s Latin Vulgate (383-405 A.D.) edition of the Bible. The Hebrew word is Heylel’ which suggests the idea of “shining,” or “bearing light.” Jerome assumed the word was the name of the morning star, hence, he rendered it by the Latin title “Lucifer.”  But if you look into the more modern translations of the bible, the name “Lucifer” is not present, just the phrase, “star of the morning,” or something similar. 

When Jesus recounted the fall of Satan, here is what He said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18).  Jesus does not use the name, “Lucifer,” but calls him by what appears to be his real name – “Satan.” In fact, the name, “Lucifer” is found nowhere in the Bible except as it translated from the Hebrew word “heylel’” in Isaiah 12:14.

So this brings me back to my original question.  If every effect has a cause, what was the cause of Satan’s fall? The word, “Satan” means “accuser.” Did he have another name before given this name?  Was Satan created by a direct act of God or did he become evil?

Well, we know from reading Ezekiel 28:12, that he had a seal of perfection on him.  We are told also that he was known as the “anointed cherub” (v. 14 – a special class of power heavenly beings).  We are also told that he was “blameless in his ways from the day he was created” (v. 15). 

Then we are told that the perfection in this being that we refer to as “Satan” lasted “until unrighteousness was found in him” (v.15b). So the question is, “How did the unrighteousness that was found in Satan get there?”

Well, it could not come from within him because he had the seal of perfection (Ezek. 28:12).  It could not come from outside of him because he was in heaven, specifically “on the holy mountain of God” where no evil existed (v. 14).  So how did Satan acquire this evil?

Answer:  I don’t know.   This is one of those questions that must wait until we can ask God directly in heaven. 

How To Respond to Politics and Social Chaos as a Biblical Christian

From here on, every tragedy of epic portions will be politicalized.  The left has its agenda and the right has theirs.  This will not change. What can change is how we (Christians) are to respond to the polarization that is occurring in this country.  I like to offer a principle that helps to keep me centered in the midst of political and social chaos.

Principle: Whatever happens to America will have no direct bearing on the kingdom of God.

It is important to keep this in mind right from the beginning. If America falls tomorrow (and she will eventually fall), the kingdom of God will continue right on. 

Jesus stood before Pilate who was the political authority at the time and said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).  In other words, the growth and power of God’s kingdom is not of human origin.  It doesn’t matter what happens to the kingdoms of this world, none of them have any bearing whatsoever on the kingdom of God.   

As a Christian, I am told to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).  I am told to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10).  Though I love America and am proud to be a citizen, her existence and prosperity does not interfere with my greater love for God’s kingdom, which is where my spiritual citizenship is located (Philippians 3:20).

Think of it this way: America is a lot like the Titanic. Huge, glorious and a temporary home to a lot of people.  But then, a massive iceberg hits her and causes severe damage.  Water is gushing in. The ship is progressively sinking. Nothing and no one can save her. She is going down – that is inevitable.

On board are two kinds of people. Those who ignore that the ship is sinking and spend their times rearranging the chairs and tables on board so that everything will look the way they want it to look. Then there are those who know for certain that the ship is sinking and that there isn’t much time left. So they are busy pointing people to the life boats in order to save their lives.

The unsaved (people of this world) are content and happy to rearrange the tables and chairs. The Titanic is all they got.  Whatever they do on the surface of the ship, they think will change the gaping hole on the bottom. But it will not. Water of judgment is pouring in. The iceberg of sin has caused a massive wound in her that no man can fix or heal.  The ship is sinking and only the Christians, who are living for the kingdom of God, can point people to the life boats (Jesus) and offer them a way out.

Not all will respond. It is not our job to save all. It is only our job to point the way. Jesus Himself does the saving.

Now and then, I will jump in the political arena and try to help people to see that rearranging the chairs and tables on board of a sinking ship is not going to matter or help. America is going down and both the Republicans and Democrats don’t have the answer nor the power or means to save her. God promised Israel continual existence and blessings (Exod. 23:22; Deut. 7:15, 24; 28:7; Ps. 29:1; Isa. 65:17-25). He never promised this to any other nation, including America. She is going down like all other nations that came before her.

As a result of knowing and believing this, I fully expect to see and hear of more chaos in the social and political arena in this nation, because people are content to work diligently rearranging the chairs and tables, and mopping the floors and putting away the dishes on the Titanic – things that will not matter when she sinks.

Instead, for us Christians, point people to the life boat (Jesus) that is big enough to save as many who want to climb on board.

In the mean, stay centered on your mission.