Posts Tagged ‘withdrawal’
Should I leave a church that is not withdrawing from sinful members?
Question: Dear Sir, I belong to a church of Christ that is sound in its teaching. I enjoy worshiping God there and the people are loving and kind. The problem I have is that we have leaders who are too kind to take a real stand to correct people who are in error to the…
Read MoreWas it right to suspend me from church activities after confessing that I was involved in fornication last year?
Question: I confided in my pastor that I was involved in fornication last year. He decided to suspend me from any activity in the church. I want to know this is right. Answer: Assuming that you repented of your sins, then not accepting a repentant brother back is also a sin. In speaking of the…
Read MoreDo we withdraw from sinners if they are only here a few months each year?
Question: Enjoy your site very much and has helped me more than you will ever know. What do you suggest if you have a couple up in years and have been married 4-5 times each, but they are summer visitors who are members of another congregation but are here four months out the year? Who…
Read MoreCan someone be withdrawn from for not moving his seat during worship?
Question: This question is in a scenario form: A member of the Lord’s church was asked to move his seating in the church building during worship on several different occasions. This member refused to do so after several requests. This member was consequently brought before the congregation with the charge listed above as sowing discord…
Read MoreIf a spouse broke a breach of promise to marry someone else, does that mean our marriage isn’t valid?
Question: I have another question for you about marriage. While my wife has never been legally married, she was engaged in the state of South Carolina. I recently discovered a law in South Carolina called breach of promise. Are you familiar with this law? From what I understood from the law was that if a…
Read MoreWhat do we do if a withdrawn-from relative comes to a family gathering?
Question: I was just reading your answer to a young man about his brother in regard to I Corinthians 5:11. My husband’s family has a similar situation with his older brother. His brother claims to still be a believer but left the fellowship at the church my father-in-law planted due to doctrinal differences. His brother is…
Read MoreHow do I treat my brother who has rejected being a Christian?
Question: I have a brother who became a Christian at a young age and when he was a teenager he turned rebellious. He is still rebelling over a decade later. He does not profess to be a Christian, he does not attend any church body or even desire to be a part of the Christian…
Read MoreDo I go to my brother’s birthday party? He fell away from Christ years ago
Question: My fiancee and I were having a discussion that got kind of heated. I let it go too far, and I realized I had issues in certain areas of my life with my oldest brother, who has turned away from God for the past 15 or so years. It was more that I was…
Read MoreHow do I treat a roommate who has been withdrawn from?
Question: Hi, I’m wondering if you can please help me with a difficult situation I’m living with. There is a brother in the church I’m part of that has been living in sin. He had been living in adultery for a while, but then he came back to the church seeking help and his wife…
Read MoreWhere do you draw the line with sinful relatives?
Question: My husband has a relative that is a practicing Wiccan doing witchcraft and ‘spells’ and always wears her ‘Wiccan necklace’ that she’s proud of. She was raised to know about Jesus and God. But in her early teens, she got caught up in witchcraft. My husband’s question is: is it wrong for all his…
Read MoreHow can a church accept an improperly divorced couple?
Question: Your Bible answers make so much sense and I have been wanting to ask this question. It might be long, but I need to be detailed. OK, here goes. This is the truth as I know it. You can answer it as though you believe what I am telling you as the truth, please. There is a married…
Read MoreIf someone refuses to repent, are they still considered brethren?
Question: We had a couple who were members until we learned that their marriage was unscriptural. They refused to repent. Are they considered “brethren?” Answer: “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as…
Read MoreCross Congregational Fellowship
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Christians do travel. This is an obvious statement, but it needs to be pointed out because it raises issues we don’t often consider. A Christian drops in on a congregation while in town for business. It is common for brethren to invite him over for a meal so they can get…
Read MoreDo I need to be withdrawn from because my girlfriend gave me a handjob?
Question: My girlfriend and I are both virgins, but last month she gave me a handjob. We know it is bad. We asked for forgiveness and have decided we will stop sexually touching each other. My question is do I need to be taken out of the church? Like the brother in I Corinthians chapter…
Read MoreHow do I get my parents to see that they are enabling my sister to be a drug user?
Question: This question is about addiction and enabling and how it relates to the Bible. My sister got pregnant in high school and gave birth to my niece when she was 17 years old. My parents raised the child and formally adopted her. So, legally my niece became my sister. My parents spoiled her growing…
Read MoreHow do I relate with my mother who was withdrawn from years ago?
Question: My mom was withdrawn from about 30 years ago when I was around 5 years old. She was withdrawn from because she got remarried after an unscriptural divorce. I am a faithful member of the church and I have two young children. What kind of relationship should I or can I have with her?…
Read MoreWhat should I do for an ex-Christian who is trying to care for a grandchild?
Question: I am helping an elderly lady financially, who has taken on her granddaughter. Her granddaughter’s dad was killed and her mom lost custody due to drugs. I suppose she is considered an orphan. I discussed with grandmom the need to become a Christian. She said she was baptized into the Lord’s church years ago…
Read MoreAm I sinning if I enjoy vacations and meals with a man who left the Lord’s church for a denomination?
Question: I have been studying your sermon outline “Withdraw Yourselves.” I have a friend who was once a member of the Lord’s church. He is now a member of a denomination. Your outline says that you cannot withdraw from a non-Christian. II John 10-11 says, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this…
Read MoreA friend has left Christ. How should I handle this?
Question: I have a childhood friend who was raised in the Buddhist religion. Through the years I had made small presentations of the gospel to him here and there. At some point during our friendship, I had begun sharing my knowledge about the church Christ established and why it would be beneficial to become a…
Read MoreWhy did Paul say he handed over Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan?
Question: I just read your online article about Hymenaeus and Alexander shipwrecking their faith (I Timothy 1:20). Good thoughts. What’s your opinion of Paul’s statement that he had turned these guys “over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme”? Answer: “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning…
Read MoreWhat should our relationship be with our daughter who has just moved in with her boyfriend?
Question: Based on the article you wrote regarding cohabitation, what then should our relationship with our daughter be now that she has had her boyfriend move into her home in spite of hours of biblical counsel by her father? She had already made her decision and went ahead with her plans. We do not want to compromise our…
Read MoreIs withdrawing removing someone from a church’s membership role?
Question: I read your previous answer on a divorce and remarriage in a congregation involving an elder’s son. I have read through I Corinthians 5. I have never been in a situation where a particular member was withdrawn from. Whenever you withdraw from someone in a congregation, does that mean that you dismiss them from the membership…
Read MoreHow do you deal with sin in the church when the elders disagree?
Question: I am writing this on behalf of several individuals involved in this particular situation. We are having a very difficult time deciding how to deal with these problems and would appreciate your thoughts on the matter. A member of our congregation is living in an adulterous marriage. He was approached by two elders and…
Read MoreWhat should be done when there are couples in the church living together without being married?
Question: I have to address a subject with the missionary society for whom I am working. There are three couples in the church where I am at living together and not married. One couple has been together for over 15 years. Both of their spouses cheated on them so they left their spouses, met each…
Read MoreDoes the Bible talk about members withdrawing from the church?
Question: Does the Bible mention anywhere about a member withdrawing from the church? I know that they can quit attending. Answer: Withdraw means to avoid or to depart, depending on the Greek word being used. So when someone leaves the church they have withdrawn. For example, Demas forsook or left Paul (II Timothy 4:10). Fellowship between…
Read MoreShould a member be disciplined for divorcing his wife?
Question: A member of our congregation has been separated from his wife for over a year. His wife just called to inform me that he has filed for a divorce. She says that the papers she has been served with a statement that the reason for the divorce is “for the betterment of the family”.…
Read MoreWithdraw Yourselves
I. The concept of withdrawing comes from II Thessalonians 3:6 and I Timothy 6:5 (KJV) A. In II Thessalonians 3:6, Stellomai means avoiding – see II Corinthains 8:20 (avoiding trouble) B. I Timothy 6:5 (KJV and NKJV only) – aphistemi means a departure, a falling away, or a withdrawing 1. Luke 2:37 – She never left the temple 2. Luke…
Read MoreCan a preacher kick members out of a church?
Question: Can a preacher kick members out of the church? Answer: The primary job of a preacher, as described in the Bible, is to be a herald of God’s good news. He teaches those outside the church how to become a part of the church. He teaches those inside and outside the church how to…
Read MoreReasons to Discipline
by Bryan Matthew Dockens God commands Christians to discipline their brethren (Romans 16:17; II Thessalonians 3:6), yet many neglect to do so. Revealing the proper reasons for discipline may motivate the reluctant. We Discipline for Love Love is always the correct motive for fulfilling the Lord’s will (John 14:15), and so it is with discipline…
Read MoreWhat is my responsibility when I know that a person is sinning within the church?
Question: What is my responsibility when I know that a person is sinning within the church? The church that I attend has been hit with past and present members being charged by the law for pedophilia: one member has received a seven-year jail sentence; there is a woman who once worked in the church’s children…
Read MoreAre there exceptions to withdrawal?
Question: I have been studying the issue of fellowship within the family. In other words, I have family who are erring brethren and walk not as God has commanded. In accordance with I Corinthians 5 and other verses which say “not even to eat,” are there guidelines or principles for us to follow? I want to…
Read MoreHow does a disfellowshiped Christian worship God?
Question: If a person is disfellowshiped at a congregation, then how can that person biblically worship God? How does a person know that they have been disfellowshiped? Today’s churches seem to practice no visible discipline, but many are treated as if they have been disfellowshiped. It seems the decision is made in secret among the…
Read MoreCan fellowship be denied?
Question: Where is the Bible passage that authorizes you to deny me fellowship as a member of the church when I acknowledge Christ and have been baptized? is there an ugly little secret that only those whose baptismal outlook is baptismal regenerationist are recognized? Apparently, my belief that my sins had been cleansed is not…
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