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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 6, NUMBER 13, APRIL 2, 2006 BUT
HE IS ALREADY GONE! True bible students recognize that the scriptures teach the need for discipline in the church. Discipline itself is a somewhat generic word with a much wider meaning than folks are normally inclined to give it. Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary gives the following definitions: “1. Training to act in accordance with rules; drill: 2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: 3. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training. 4. the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc: 5. behavior in accord with rules of conduct: 6. a set or system of rules and regulations: 7. Eccles. The system of government regulating the practice of a church as distinguished from its doctrine. 8. an instrument of punishment, esp. a whip or scourge, used in the practice of self-mortification or as an instrument of chastisement in certain religious communities. 9. a branch of instruction or learning: 10. to train by instruction and exercise; drill. 11. to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control. 12. to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.” Obviously, not all of those definitions are germane to the biblical concept of discipline, but many of them are. The Hebrew word equivalent to our word “discipline” is “musar.” It comes from “yasar.” Yasar means “to bind, to tame; hence to correct, chastise, instruct, admonish.” The words are used in the Old Testament concerning the disciplinary action of a parent toward his child and of the disciplinary action of God toward His people. The Greek equivalent of “discipline” is “paideia,” which means “To bring up, rear a child; to train and teach, educate; to chasten, discipline.” This word is used to refer to bringing a child up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord in Eph. 6:4. Forms of this word are used eight times in Hebrews 12:5-11 where the necessity of discipline by both earthly parents and God is discussed. Discipline involves all of the training done up to and including withdraw. In 2 Thessalonians 3:6, we read, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly (leads an unruly life NAS), and not after the tradition which he received of us.” Here we see one type of individual Christian that is to be withdrawn from, those who walk disorderly. The bible also teaches us to exercise this final step of discipline with those who refuse to correct personal offenses against brethren in Matt. 18:15-17. Those who cause divisions contrary to the gospel are subject to being marked according to Romans 16:17-18. Also to be withdrawn from are those who are factious, teaching heresy. This involves those teaching error and seeking to influence others to follow their same false teaching. Consider Titus 3:10. There are others as well who should have such steps taken toward them, but this gets the idea across. If there were no other scriptural reason to do this than the fact that it is commanded, that would be more than sufficient. A passage like 2 Thess. 3:6 is as clear and as explicit as Acts 2:38. However, failure to do such shows lack of love and concern for the erring brother or sister. In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul was writing about a brother who was caught up in a sin of immorality and was not repenting. He wrote in verse 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.” The primary purpose of such a step is to save the individual from eternal damnation. Now I want to go back to 2 Thess. 3:6 and examine a few of the words used in that passage a bit more closely. First we note the word “command.” This is an injunction; not a suggestion or an option. We note the phrase, “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This simply means by His authority, by the authority of Jesus Christ. Note, “withdraw yourselves.” This is actually a nautical term, denoting “to shorten the sails;” metaphorically to keep out of the way, withdraw from, to avoid intercourse and fellowship with. Focus now on “walketh disorderly.” The proper idea of this word is that of soldiers who do not keep the ranks, who are irregular in any way. Finally, note “after the tradition which he received of us.” That is the doctrine of Christ that Paul delivered unto them. When it comes to taking this sort of action in this sort of case, we have a choice. We can either obey the Lord or not obey Him. That truly is what it boils down to. The statement, or something similar to it, is often made that “You can’t withdraw from someone who has already left the congregation.” That sounds reasonable, but such should never be said or believed if it cannot be backed up with book, chapter, and verse. Where does the New Testament speak of one “quitting” or walking away from a faithful congregation of the Lord’s people to engage in unauthorized activities and their actions removing the responsibility toward them of the last faithful congregation they were a part of? How much more “disorderly” and “out of rank” can a person get than to walk away from the Lord’s church to participate in man-made traditions and practices in religion? Since it is a military term, all you veterans in the congregation, what would have happened to you if you had walked away, went AWOL, from your legitimate military service? Can a person who wants to continue in fornication simply say that they are leaving the congregation and consequently not be subject to withdraw? Should we just let them go, or should we do what the Lord commands? Such reasoning says that all a person has to do is say “I’m leaving” and all of our responsibility toward them is ended. That is not true! Love demands that we take the final step in an effort to save their soul, and, quite frankly, ours as well. I have searched for 30 years now and have not found the passage that says a person can just walk away and our responsibility toward them is ended? Have you found it?
Greg Litmer |