Church Discipline for Scandalous Offenders
“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one, no not to eat.” “How grievous is it that those crimes should sometimes be notoriously committed by professors of the gospel, which heathens would be ashamed of! ‘Woe be to the world because of offenses!’ and ‘woe be to them by whom the offenses come!’ yea, to those also by whom they are connived at! Spiritual pride, ambition, and false doctrines and teachers, directly tend to introduce and perpetuate these scandals; for men’s gifts, influence, notions, and connections are, in such circumstances, more regarded than their conduct. So that, religious societies, as well as individuals, are generally most ‘puffed up’ when they have most need to be ashamed, and to mourn; and sometimes those men are gloried in, especially when eminent in gifts and influence, who must be taken away, as mortified limbs, before the church can prosper in vital godliness. When a man has wisdom, zeal, and love, he can have but one judgment in cases of this kind; and if he possesses authority or influence, he will use it, whether present or absent, in exciting those who are immediately concerned to prefer the honor of the gospel to every personal or party interest; to venture all consequences in bearing testimony against scandalous crimes; and to separate from among them those who have done such deeds. * * * * * When individuals who mourn over those who have done evil, cannot prevail to have them put away from among them, they should refuse to associate with them, and protest against their scandals by withdrawing from them; and though we ought not to be severe on their infirmities, or even the occasional falls of such as are humbled for them; yet when any one who professes the gospel, is a fornicator, or covetous, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, charity itself, the love of men, and the best, the eternal interests even of the offender himself, require of us to avoid all fellowship with him, even more than we do with persons guilty of similar crimes, who make no profession of religion; lest we should appear to allow of his sins, because he is of our party and sentiments. But how grievous it is that we must needs still go out of the world (though called Christians) if we should resolutely refuse all intercourse with such characters as are here described! so prevalent is vice on every side. We must, however, leave those that are without, and who are strangers or enemies to the doctrines of grace, to the judgment of God. We should first judge ourselves, and take heed to give no offense to others; then we should shun such professors of the gospel as would be an offense to us and a reproach to the cause; and thus attending to our own duty in this respect, we should wait and pray for times of greater purity.”—Scott’s Practical Observations.