Writings posted to the OLPB forum'Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.' |
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Writings posted to the OLPB forum 'Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.' |
12/1/2006
Posted to the OLPB forum by Brother Blaine Owen and Claude McKee
Concerning the rejection of a heretic and marking disorderly brethren
Brother Blaine Owen wrote: (referring to Titus 3:10)
"It is my understanding that the first and second admonition is speaking of an official act of a
local church. Whether the official act is by the home church of the offending party or a sister church I don't think
makes any difference in regard to their affiliation with one another is concerned. On the other
hand, in my understanding of the scripture one member telling another member that in their individual opinion something they did
was wrong does not constitute an admonition in the scriptural sense given the context in which the scripture was inspired to be recorded"
Brother Blaine I agree with your statement!
I might add that a Church does not have to wait until a minister's home church or sister church has officially admonished him before they have a right to stop using him. Many times a heretic has the support of his home church. Seems to me if a church has reliable reports of a church/minister promoting unsound doctrine and practices that would be enough for a church to stop using a minister who may come among them. "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed" (2 John verse 10) Since you are not to mingle with those that come unto you bringing unsound doctrine (and practices) Would it not be logical to assume that you should not, without the blessings of your home church and the support of orderly brethren, visit among those that promote or countenance unsound doctrine/practices either?
The Church is instructed to mark and withdraw from disorderly brethren. "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them." (Roman 16:17) Also II Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." Many try to use Matthew Chapter 18 to indicate that we are not taking correct gospel steps if we don't go personally and talk to the heretic, the disorderly walkers or those which cause divisions. However Matthew Chapter 18 is giving steps of Gospel labor for a member of a church to follow when a member has trespassed against them. I don't believe we are required to follow those steps outside that setting. A trespass is different from other serious offences such as heresy and disorderly walk. That is why we are given these other scriptures to admonish, reject, mark and withdraw from. (Titus 3:10, Roman 16:17, II Thessalonians 3:6 among others). As already stated, with sufficient evidence a church can require their ministers and encourage others to not preach where it is known there is disorderly practices.
The reporting of disorder among us is not pleasant but necessary. If we do it in love with no personal attacks it is not sowing discord among brethren. Paul in the inspired word of God did so "But shun profane and vain babblings; for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some." (II Timothy 2;16-17) The beloved Apostle John also in a letter to Gaius mentions by name one who opposed the church and his ministry: "I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not." (3 John verse 9)
I agree with those that have indicated that the forum should be mainly about exchanging good news about the Lord's mercy and Love we have experienced but with the great falling away among the Primitive Baptists it becomes necessary to not only keep the forum members but also members of our churches informed whereby they may stand.
Claude McKee