Excommunication in the Bible

    As some of you may or may not be familiar with, excommunication is, according to Webster’s New Dictionary (1990, heh): “to expel from communication with the church; to exclude from fellowship.”  Maybe you heard about it in a book, or in a class, or on the news.  Maybe you heard it referring to Martin Luther and the Catholic Church; maybe something more recent. Regardless, excommunication is a real part of the church, and it is something to be taken seriously.

    All too often churches (fellowships, etc.) fall because sin is allowed to grow in the members.  We focus too much on “God is loving and forgiving and merciful” and forget that God’s love is in harmony with his justice and in harmony with truth – unconflicting, perfect, all-the-time true, truth.  He cannot turn a blind eye to sin; why do you Jesus suffered on the cross?  If sin were so easily swept aside, I assure you no such sacrifice would have been necessary, nor would have anyone completed it, sane or insane.  So, then, are we to be perfect? What is the protocol on excommunication?

    Paul addresses this in 1 Corithians 5.  Go ahead and read it. You’re online so you don’t have any excuses. ;) Paul specifically talks about sexual immorality in this chapter, but in the last verse it’s made clear that this applies to all sin found in the church.  First of all, the sin must be identified – I may not even know I’m sinning, so it must be pointed out to me for me to change it.  If the sin is repented of – Hooray! You just knocked a blow to the accuser (Satan). :) If not – “hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed” (v. 5). It is only when the sin has been identified and proven as sin, then unrepented of that excommunication must take place.  Without the protection of the church (because Satan fears us :D) the sinner will be exposed to the full measure of wrath that is a consequence of sin.  That is what we pray will open the eyes of the sinner (for is it not what opened your eyes first to Christ?) and lead them to repentance to rejoin the church.

    This is when and how excommunication should take place in the body of believers.  Jesus also spoke on this topic, and it can be found in Matthew 18:15-20.  You’ll see the reasoning behind Paul’s argument, and the basis for all spoken about here.  I pray that you may put this knowledge to good use.  Please remember, when revealing to others their sin, that you too are susceptible to it.  Do not be boastful or arrogant. Do this in love.