Dropping Names by A. S. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 21, 1874

Dropping Names.

By A. S. Hutchins

Is it proper for a church to drop the name of any from her records on the strength simply of a request to do so? To me, the following would seem sufficient reasons against this practice.

1. A member might make this request, known to be a very worthy brother or sister in Christ; one who should receive sympathy and words of comfort from all the church, but who, from peculiar temptations and trials, and from a deep sense of their own unworthiness before the Lord, has been led to conclude it would be better for the church to strike their name from the church book.

A compliance with this request, in such a case, might send dear, conscientious ones away from the bosom of the church into greater darkness and discouragement, strengthened by the reflection that the brethren had no confidence in them, or care for them.

“To him that is afflicted, pity should be showed from his friends.” Jesus does not forsake and cast us off, nor withdraw the Comforter from us because we have temptations. Indeed, he says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

2. A request of this kind might come from one unworthy of the fellowship of the church; it might be made to forestall an action in his case which circumstances justly demand; or it might be to break away from the restraint and watch-care of the church, to give more free course to the impulses of an unsanctified heart.

Now, if patient labor in the case of such an one should result in the restoration and salvation of the erring, what an unspeakable blessing the church would confer upon them. But if they cannot be helped, if they cannot be restored to the confidence and fellowship of the church, the hand of fellowship should be withdrawn. This step certainly seems necessary for the good of the erring, for the honor of the church, and to guard others against being imposed upon.

For if the life and character of one is such where he is best known, that he cannot be acknowledged as a Christian, he should not receive license from the church to pass himself as such where he is unknown. To allow such to leave the church clothed with the honorable pretenses that he could have retained his membership with his former brethren, is to put an advantage into his hands to be used to the injury of others.

Designing persons of this class can secure confidence among the unsuspecting and make trouble everywhere. Sharpers, who had rather trade and traffic than work for a living, can travel through the country under the cloak of professed piety and honesty, and speedily make themselves rich from the hard-earned possessions of the unwary, pruning them from their homes, lands, and valuable property, as with pruning shears; leaving their unfortunate victims seated in patent air-castles to reflect upon their rights, worthless territory, and blasted hopes, to learn from bitter experience what others may escape from a hint mixed with due caution.

Says the apostle, “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” Is this injunction in any way complied with when the unworthy are allowed to pass out from the church without labor or action, further than to drop their names? A. S. HUTCHINS.

Tuscola Co., Mich.