This question is in a scenario form:<\/p>\n
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 and being disobedient to leadership. The member made known to the minister that he had no intentions of moving out of his seat. As a result, the minister publicly read a withdrawal letter dismissing him from the congregation until he repents.<\/p>\n
I guess my question is: Can a congregation withdraw from someone for refusing to move out of his seat?<\/p>\n
Note: The seating was asked to be changed due to a TV ministry allowing that the congregation looks full during worship. Also, the congregation has no deacons and elders<\/p>\n\t
Can a church do this? Clearly, someone did. Is it right? No. The one violating God’s law was the preacher. First, the reason for asking was due to pride. He wanted his congregation to appear larger than it really was. He was also trying to deceive others to boost his pride. The reason for the withdrawal was because his pride was wounded. Though he was not an elder (thankfully), he was attempting to run a congregation, for which he has no right, as a dictator instead of a leader. “And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves<\/em>” (Luke 22:25-26).<\/p>\n What should be done? The correct response would be for the congregation to withdraw from the preacher, but this isn’t likely to happen since they went along with this event. Better for the person to find a congregation faithful to the teachings of the Lord.<\/p>\n\t Sorry, I have one more concern: the police were called after the person sat in his regular seat. He was escorted out by police.<\/p>\n I want to thank you so much for your biblical response. This is truly what I thought all along. If a congregation is functioning without elders, is it then the preacher’s job to lead the congregation in all matters? Assuming from your previous answer, that would be no. However, could you give me more biblical insight?<\/p>\n\t Thus the congregation violated yet another command:<\/p>\n “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!<\/em>” (I Corinthians 6:1-8).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Preachers do not substitute for elders. A preacher and an elder have different duties. A preacher might be a preacher and an elder if he is qualified for the position, but he would be holding down two jobs.<\/p>\n In regards to the operation of a church, see:<\/p>\n Thank you so much. This has been very helpful.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[254],"class_list":["post-28602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-withdrawal"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35331,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-deal-with-a-member-who-is-in-an-adulterous-marriage\/","url_meta":{"origin":28602,"position":0},"title":"How do I deal with a member who is in an adulterous marriage?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 23, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a question that requires me to go outside of the current congregation where I am a member. If there is a member who is in an unscriptural marriage, which I do have personal knowledge of, and who is being allowed to preach and teach in worship service,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":40274,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-right-for-a-church-to-have-a-paid-minister-of-music\/","url_meta":{"origin":28602,"position":1},"title":"Is it right for a church to have a paid minister of music?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I am a member of a Church of Christ that currently doesn't have elders. The congregation is \"run\" by the minister and a few hand-picked men who basically say yes to whatever the minister wants to do. This has bothered me since this minister arrived at our congregation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":66823,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-if-a-withdrawn-from-brother-continues-to-attend-services\/","url_meta":{"origin":28602,"position":2},"title":"What if a withdrawn from brother continues to attend services?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Greetings Brother Hamilton, I am concerned about the withdrawal of membership from a brother in sin. I read through your notes on fellowship and understood them, but I want to be precise. When a brother is withdrawn from fellowship with other Christians, can he still come to worship but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42384,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-we-withdraw-from-members-who-are-attending-another-congregation-for-months\/","url_meta":{"origin":28602,"position":3},"title":"Do we withdraw from members who are attending another congregation for months?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I read brother Hamilton's article on\u00a0Cross Congregational Fellowship\u00a0with keen interest and have this question: Can fellowship be withdrawn from members who have absented themselves from their local congregation for months, but who have gone to another congregation to worship without first advising their local congregation that they will be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39947,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/was-the-church-right-to-withdraw-from-a-couple-who-lived-together-without-being-married\/","url_meta":{"origin":28602,"position":4},"title":"Was the church right to withdraw from a couple who lived together without being married?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My husband and I are faithful members of the Lord's church. We are active in a congregation in which a situation has occurred which has caused division in the congregation. The situation is this: a man and a woman who have been baptized and are members of the Lord's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15915,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-visiting-christian-lead-a-congregation-in-song\/","url_meta":{"origin":28602,"position":5},"title":"Can a visiting Christian lead a congregation in song?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 24, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been attending a local church for several months. During that time I began to stand up, come forward, and lead a song at the invitation of the congregation. Every first Wednesday of the month all men are invited to lead one song during services. 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Answer:<\/h2>\n
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Response:<\/h2>\n