The word “admonish” is
translated from the Greek noutheteô,
and whenever this word is used elsewhere in the NT, except once when it was
done in writing (1 Cor. 4:14), it applies to something done in person (Acts
20:31; Rom. 15:14; Col. 1:28; 3:16; 1 Thess. 5:12, 14). What, then, does
“withdraw from” (2 Thess. 3:6) entail? What is meant by “do not keep company
with” (2 Thess. 3:14)?
The only times the
phrase mê sunanameignumi (“do
not keep company with”) is used in the NT is in 1 Cor. 5:9, 11 and 2 Thess.
3:14, but in the latter verse the idea of total segregation is not enjoined --
the faithful are still to “admonish him as a brother” (v. 15). This raises some
questions that probably cannot be answered with certainty. Does 2 Thess. 3:15
amend the general principle of 1 Cor. 5:11, i.e., is it permissible to eat with
an erring Christian as long as some type of admonishing is done? Does 1 Cor.
5:11 amend the injunction of 2 Thess. 3:15, i.e., may one have some degree of
contact with an erring Christian as long as a meal is not shared? Do these two
passages suggest that the level of association is determined by the nature of
the sin involved, i.e., total disassociation for sins such as sexual
immorality, covetousness, idolatry, reviling, drunkenness, and extortion (1
Cor. 5:11), while some form of association is permissible when the error
involves matters such as laziness, meddling, and freeloading (2 Thess.
3:10-12)?
Another factor to consider is the difference
between incidental and intentional interaction. For example, an unintentional
encounter at the supermarket is much different than purposefully going to
someone’s home or arranging a meeting with that person. If contact with a
disciplined member is intentional, there ought to be some form of brotherly
admonition. If, however, the contact is not intentional, the situation may or
may not be conducive to a word of admonition, but whatever might be said or
done, there is no place for being rude or unkind (cf. Gal. 6:1; 2 Tim.
2:23-26). If the NT provides a blueprint or pattern for church discipline,
these passages must be harmonized and judgment calls will have to be made on a
case-by-case basis. But obviously regular admonishing can be done without
continuous association.
--Kevin L. Moore
Related
Posts: Church Discipline, When a Family Member is Disciplined by the Church
No comments:
Post a Comment