Have you ever had anybody shunned/kicked-out/ex-communicated from your church? If so, what happened? Why was this person released from the church? Did the church now deem this person as unsaved?
I ask these questions because I’ve been talking about the subject of shunning over the last few weeks on the blog posts here and here. I realize the Amish, Mennonites, Jehovah’s Witnesses and some other religious groups shun. Yet, there are other Christian-based religions who ex-communicate. I’m just trying to reconcile this practice with scripture. I’ve heard that, at times, those who have been shunned are more likely to commit suicide since they are now separated and ignored by family members and loved ones from their home church.
While I was involved with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I did see some people shunned. It just didn’t seem right to me, but, the Jehovah’s Witnesses always provided scriptures to back up their actions. Even when they did this, it still didn’t seem right. I mean, if someone is truly hurting, or, if said person is asking lots of questions, maybe even questioning the church leaders about church doctrine, then such a person should not be shunned if all they’re doing is seeking truth. Also, I don’t feel that the Lord would want to drive a person to suicide – but, if person has been shunned, then, perhaps, the shunners feel that the shunned person is more susceptible to Satan, therefore making him more vulnerable to hurting him/herself?
What are your thoughts about shunning/excommunicating? Should it be done? Or, should there be a method in place so that the shunned/ex-communicated member still has contact of some sort with their family? Leave a comment!
Below are some scriptures that tell about this thought-provoking subject:
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15: “Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.”
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 “It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’ “
Galatians 6:1 “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”
I love your blog, Cecelia. Glad I stopped by.
I’m glad that you stopped by, Hattie! If you have a moment, be sure to stop by often and read some of the other articles on the blog, and leave a comment if you wish!
I hope you have a blessed day!
Thought provoking…. Thanks for the biblical references for dis-fellow shipping someone. But until I am convinced that a man can properly say his sin is lesser than another’s, I can justify, in my mind, one telling another to leave… No matter the authorities position.
Hi, Kevin
Yes, sin is sin. We’re all sinners. It’s quite hard for one man to be the “leader” and shun another church member, kicking them out of the organization, when said “leader” is also a sinner. I don’t hear about this too often except for the religious groups that I mentioned in my blog post.
Oh, another group that practiced this was the now-practically-extinct religious sect called the Shakers. I know they kicked people out if they didn’t “follow their man-made rules.”
Nice post. Truly a thought-provoking subject for many, regardless of whether they ‘officially’ shun or not.
Hi, Ann
Yes, it is an extremely thought-provoking subject. I’m glad you dropped by and left a comment.
I was shunned because I learned about Christ and believed. All the friends and all my life as I knew it then was finished. My spouse, chief among those who hated me, stayed with me so that “I wouldn’t talk ‘Jesus’ to the kids” This was a decade and a half ago. My kids felt betrayed and did not want to hear the reasons why I left everything.
The Church I go to now only stops people when they are speading heresy actively. There is a sweet spirit there. Gossipers and trouble makers do not stay there, since no one follows up or plays games.
So, I think that someone who is doubting should go to church as we go to a hospital when ill. But the questions are for the pastor or teaching staff in private. And the pastor should publicly state if he was proven wrong in scripture.
Just my two cents. A shunning hurts more than the one who is shunned, and if she should feel unconditional love. This is different if she goes public with heresy.
Jesus said not to judge and ‘may he without sin caste the first stone’. From experience a person who is actively engaging in a sinful life usually separates himself from the church and family, due to shame. If that same person choses to come into the church, or to a family function, if they are not actively flaunting their sin (like coming to occassion drunk)… if they are looking for the love Jesus gave us as sinners, I give it. Shunning is not love, it is not kind, it was not practised by Jesus, he hung with and loved active sinners (not even repentant ones)
Hi, Terri
Yes, I agree with you.
Hi,Barbara
Thanks for commenting. I believe that those who actively try to start trouble in the church should be shunned/asked to leave. If they are actively doing such things, disrupting the church, by doing things like gossiping and spreading untruths, then those people obviously don’t want to be a part of that church family.
I’m hoping that you were able to eventually restore your relationship with your children and eventually tell them about Jesus.
Cecelia,
As a believer in Christ, I and my family are shunned by our Jehovah Witness “friends”.
Shunning is a subject I put to prayer and much biblical study, I’m not a know it all but I would like to share what I have learned.
There are Scriptural reasons to shun a “brother”…
1. Sinful behaviour (1 Corinthians 5:11,13; 6:9; Revelation 21:8; 22:15).
2. Not obedient to Paul’s letter (2 Thessalonians 3:14).
3. Divisiveness (Titus 3:10).
There is a Scriptural process…
1. Sinner counseled/ restored by brother that is Spiritual man
(Matthew 18:15; Galatians 6:1).
2. If not successful bring one or two more to brother (Matthew 18:16).
3. Correct, warn two times (Titus 3:10).
4. Tell the matter to the church body (Matthew 18:17).
And the relationship with the shunned is defined…
1. Note that man (2 Thessalonians 3:14).
2. Reject (Titus 3:10; Matthew 18:17).
3. Do not keep company with (1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:14).
4. Do not eat with (1 Corinthians 5:11).
5. Do not receive [those that reject the doctrine of Christ](2 John 9-11).
6. Do not greet [ those that reject the doctrine of Christ] (2 John 9-11).
7. Do not consider as an enemy but correct and warn as a brother (2 Thessalonians 3:14).
There is a proper place for shunning, but that person should be counseled at least twice before considering disfellowshipping, they should not be considered an enemy even though shunned. JW’s teach to hate the shunned.
One problem with the Witnesses is THEY should be disfellowshipped from those that believe in Christ Jesus, they clearly reject the doctrine of Christ.
Another problem is that they shun as a means of control (John 9:22). Peoples live are upset for valid reasons such as adultery and driving under the influnce of alcohol… but also lose all their friends and family for believing that Christ is their Saviour. For putting Jesus first.
Lastly JW’s themselves are not “the body of Christ” as they have been taught therefore have valid reason I suppose for not obeying Christ, this instance in Matthew 18 where Jesus lays out the process for dealing with erring brothers (and sisters).
In this process the congregation is made aware of the persons sin and they are involved in the matter. This is not the case in JW congregations… it is a secret matter… a prerecorded message is stated…” Robert and Kathy La Fleur are no longer Jehovah Witnesses!” No one knows from the elders officially if we killed a half dozen school children or in fact what sin if any, we did commit.
Our “sin” which I will stand firmly for is a saving relationship in our King Jesus, announcing that His Holy Spirit resides in us.
Thanks for allowing me to share.
-bOBBY
Bob, thanks for sharing. I believe some of the JWs do talk about the shunned, speculating about what they’ve done to be disfellowshipped. I know I’ve heard of other witnesses talking about the sinner’s “crimes”. They gossip about it, even though I doubt that’s what they’re supposed to be doing. Also, you can be shunned for asking too many questions, too. You have to accept their doctrine, lock, stock and barrel, but, their doctrine makes no sense. If somebody were to reveal to me that they were studying with the JWs, I’d strongly advise them to look at the history of the organization using non-JW reference books. It’s important to note their false prophesies and you have to accept the Society’s teachings in full for salvation, even though those teachings could be link to dates that may change later. The terms of salvation never change, but, if you’re a JW, then the terms CAN change at some point, which goes grossly against scripture.
When I was studying with the JWs in college, when they came to the chapter where they were saying that the generation of 1914 would not pass away before this system of things came to an end, well, that’s when their whole teachings just didn’t seem right to me. Their theory was convoluted and very bothersome, made me worry about them, made me worry about my decision to study with them. That teaching made me leery with good reason. I’ve since learned that they’ve changed their definition of generation – meaning, their terms of salvation had now changed. When I was studying with them, if I didn’t accept ALL of their teachings, I would not have been “guaranteed” eternal life on paradise earth. Yet, now their teachings have changed, and you now have to accept their “new” teachings, their “new” light for salvation, rejecting their “old” light. Salvation does not work like that and makes my mind spin when I talk about it. Plus, they changed their “generation of 1914” teaching because, most of that generation was dying, they had to change it before their prophecy became totally false.