Dismissing Members From the Church by T. E. BOWEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 27, 1911

Dismissing Members From the Church

By T. E. BOWEN

This is an important matter. It is, or should be, only after careful labor and prayerful examination that members are taken into church fellowship. Therefore, before withdrawing the hand of fellowship, labor should be put forth to rescue from sin every member before the final action is taken expelling him from the church. But there come times when this last painful duty is the only one left for a church to do. While on the one hand a matter of this kind should not be allowed to run on and on with nothing being done to clear the church of the stain of open sin, on the other hand no rash, hasty moves should be made.

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Tim. 5:20. It is sin the church is arrayed against. When a church is organized, the members covenant together to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. If it comes to a place where a member is known to violate a commandment of God, the church has a responsibility in correcting it. Members who are spiritual should in the love of Christ labor for this individual in an effort to get him to see his sin, and heartily repent of it, thus separating from himself the wicked thing. But if he justifies himself, and will not humbly repent and be converted, there remains but one thing for the church to do, and that is to remove his name from the church-book.

In Corinth, where Paul had labored long and faithfully, it was reported to him, some time after he had gone on to other cities, that a member had violated the seventh commandment—committed fornication of a heinous character. This man was so utterly depraved that he even exulted in the vile deed; and the church apparently looked on, and did not know what to do. When Paul heard of it, he wrote them thus:—

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you. . . . And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh. . . . Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump. . . . 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. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Cor. 5:1-13.

Here is instruction plain and simple. Notice, the individual who persists in sin virtually expels himself. He chooses the abominable things in the world, to rescue him from which Jesus died. He voluntarily chooses those things that are without the church, from which he separated himself to join the body of Christ—the church. Without judging him, only so far as to decide that the wicked practises he has chosen belong to those who are without, and not within the church, he not being willing to separate himself from these sins of the world without, the church acts, and puts the wicked person out with the company he himself has chosen. Paul says that the church has power “to judge them that are within;” that is, within the church.

In matters of open violation of one of God's plain commandments, the foregoing Bible instruction is plainly the duty of any church concerning any one of its members. Thus others shall know that the church does not in any degree wink at sin. Only by this course can the church be kept pure, unleavened by sin.

T. E. BOWEN.