Was 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 In speaking of the man withdrawn from for fornication, Paul said, "But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent -- not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him" (II Corinthians 2:5-8). Unless you gave people a reason to think that your weakness in this area would be a temptation to sin again by activities in the church, the decision was wrong.

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