Do we withdraw from those who have admitted their sin?
Question:
Good day Jeffery,
A few months ago, in my old congregation, the preacher, a married man, was having affairs with some sisters. One became jealous and reported to the father of another sister that she was having an affair. This other sister's father was a preacher in another congregation. He brought the matter to the eldership, and his daughter was disfellowshipped in her congregation.
The next Sunday, the unfaithful preacher confessed to his congregation, but he was also disfellowshipped. He was restored the next week after submitting a letter. I personally do not think his apology was sincere, but the Lord said we should forgive brethren who ask.
Today, a brother was made to confess in front of my congregation. He had been stealing from the collection during the counting. The treasurer had first noticed it but did not know how to confront the thief, so he informed the financial secretary. Witnesses testified, and the thief was reported to the preacher. He was rebuked and called to confess today. The preacher cited I Timothy 5:20 as a reason for open confession, after which he was forgiven by the church. Some brethren felt he should only have been brought to the church if he had refused to repent after a private confrontation. The disgrace may cause him to withdraw.
This prompted me to research both cases. I am of the opinion that he needed to confess before the church because it was a crime against the church, but I can't find biblical support for that; all I find is asking for forgiveness for offending a brother. I see nothing about the church. Regarding the public rebuke in I Timothy 5:20, I believe it refers to rebuking elders and members who confess.
This has been long, so I will itemize my questions.
- If we can't verify repentance, aren't we just performing a ritual by disfellowshipping and restoring the next Sunday?
- In the case of the adulterous preacher, if he had not been disfellowshipped, what other thing should the church do for discipline? And would these disciplinary acts be valid if he were not a preacher?
- In the case of the stealing brother, is there anything like a sin against the church?
- Do you think a sister who becomes pregnant from fornication needs to confess before the congregation to set the record straight about her repentance and confession?
- If not, would it not lead brethren to get the wrong idea, and the leaven leavens the lump?
- Does "so that others will learn" only apply to elders in I Timothy 5:20?
Answer:
Withdrawing (disfellowship) is what a church does when a member refuses to give up his sin. See "Withdraw Yourselves." Withdrawing from someone who has already confessed his sin doesn't make sense. Withdrawing from a sinner doesn't save the sinner. "Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him" (II Corinthians 2:6-8). I don't know of any passage that indicates that men are to judge whether a person's repentance is adequate. Nor is there a requirement that someone publicly confess his sins or write a letter confessing his sins. See
- "Does sin require a public confession before a congregation?"
- "What Kind of People Confess Their Sins?"
- "Shouldn't a public sin be publicly confessed?"
When you know that a brother or sister has a weakness in some area, you seek to help the person not to sin by not putting him in situations where he will be tempted. The brother who was counting the money would be removed from that duty. The congregation may decide that they don't want a man who committed adultery working as a preacher for them.
The brother who stole the money stole from God (Acts 5:3-4).
I would expect that most people in a congregation would know both about her pregnancy and her repentance. If not, a gentle question would settle the matter. If she wants it generally announced that she has repented of her fornication so she isn't asked so often, then that would be her choice. The passage in I Corinthians 5:6-8 addresses a situation in which a church allows sin to go unchecked. A former sinner doesn't fit the situation. Knowledge of a former sin doesn't cause sin to spread in a church.
I Timothy 5:19-20 deals with an elder who continues in sin. If the elder refuses to repent of his sin, he is to be publicly rebuked so that everyone knows that sin is not accepted in the church, and even leaders are not immune.
