Nowhere in scripture does God say to refuse fellowship to anyone who has a different understanding of scripture than you do.
Nowhere.
Ephesians 5:11 says: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
To see what some of the unfruitful works of darkness are, go up a few verses to the beginning of the chapter.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Those trespasses are a world away from disagreeing about what man says that scripture says. When we disagree about that, aren't we using truly vain words? That, somehow, I know that this or that scripture means more than it says?
In fact, if we say that we have all the answers and are doing all the right things in the right ways and that anyone who disagrees with us is forever damned ... how exactly is that different from what is said in 1 John 1 ...?
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
In fact, doesn't Paul in Romans 16:17-18 counsel us to be wise about people who draw complicated lines and cause divisions and to avoid - but not "disfellowship" - them?
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly."
Just asking.
I'm asking because the word "disfellowship" occurs nowhere in scripture; it is coined by man with his own belly in view.
Because I think we have too often been eager to sacrifice brothers and sisters in Christ over the burning pit of hell as fellowship offerings to the god of our own arrogance.
And because that god would be Satan.
1 comment:
Brother Keith,
You have described this blog to me before as a "semi-secret nook where few dare to tread." I don't know whether or not that means that you don't want me reading it or commenting on it...
But since I did read it...and I am here, I thought I would go ahead and share my thoughts, for what little they're worth.
It was the title of this post that first caught my attention, simply: "Fellowship". That's such a strong word for me right now...I think because it plays such a MAJOR role in my life these days...more than it has ever before.
When I think of that word, the passages from Acts 2 and Acts 4 come to mind...as we get to see the early church acting like the real family of God that it is. Like all families, they spend a significant amount of time together, they enjoy meals together, they worship together, they're willing to sacrifice for one another...they love each other.
The reason those passages and the idea of fellowship are so important to me is because there is this community of folks that I'm privileged to worship with. We spend a significant amount of time together...we enjoy meals together...we're willing to sacrifice for one another...we love one another.
But I have to tell you, brother Keith...one of the most beautiful things about this fellowship is that there are a couple of people in this group--who are very quickly becoming a couple of my favorite people. Neither of them is a member at PV. They both go to a Nazarene church. So, true, I don't get to worship with them on Sundays. But they're around all the rest of the time. For the meals, the spending time together, the praying together, the loving each other. They're not any less a part of our group than they would be, were their membership at PV and their beliefs exactly like our own.
I've even been privileged to chat w/one of them about this...about his experiences in a Church of Christ. He was familiar w/us before...because although he grew up Nazarene, he went to school at Harding (go figure?). I've been able to ask him about his experiences there...being very much out of place. I was just curious...because, like you, I've seen people be willing to make that "sacrifice...to the god of our own arrogance," being just downright hateful to those who believed differently. I feared this might've been the case for him when he was in school.
His response to me when we were speaking about this was that his experience was, overall, a pleasant one. He said it was a challenge for him to examine his beliefs and why he believes what he does. But he grew spiritually from that, and was glad that he'd had his experiences at Harding.
I'm not sure exactly where I'm going with this, Keith. I guess I just write this to show the other side of the coin, if you will...to show what it's like when we accept those whose understanding of scripture is different.
This group of people is my family here in Little Rock.
And I can't help but think that when we ARE willing to accept others, that we are part of the answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17. And that we begin to look a little bit more like the family of God that He called us to be.
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