Today, topics include discipline, divine order, judging others, sacred rule, and sanctification within the church. A little poison does not kill only a spot on a person’s tongue, or in their stomach; the life of the entire body becomes at risk. The church of Jesus Christ is a very sensitive and sophisticated sacred body. Sinners are to receive and respond to divine spirit substances that encourage permanent changes in their character, makeup, and personhood that will allow them to function as the new creation through Jesus Christ. Once born again, developing believers must remain vigilant against threats that arise within their own local congregation as well as those that come from outside the body through diverse agents and institutions. The dangers are not so much having to repel personal attacks, emotional conflicts, quarrels and physical violence as the damage by errors in sacred doctrine and practice along with spiritual confusion. All have sinned and are in a sacred process of discovery, gradual growth, regeneration, and renewal that places members on different levels of duty, knowledge, opportunity, maturity, readiness, skill, and understanding. Occasionally, rededication and revival must be encouraged for selected members by separation to eliminate worldly distractions (we say, shunning). Thereby, their heartfelt works of cleansing, fasting, learning, meditation, and prayer may go to new levels of concentration and self-will directed by GOD. One of the many fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum who use the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:
How does God feel about shunning and why do you think it is right or wrong?
Update: Jay-- thank you for comment that shows the love of Jesus.
As for first comment it is sad and please do not disrespect the faith of others and if you choose to live a life without faith then mostly sadness is what many get who doubt.
Update 2: There are many reasons some shun and would like to hear some more answers please.
Update 3: There are some family members I would like to dedicate this question to and wonder if they even know what Godly love is?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. (2nd Corinthians 7: 8-12, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Diversity Within The Body (04/13/2018); Divine Law Is Demanding (04/10/2018); Christianity Is A Relationship (04/05/2018); The Meaning of “Faith” (03/28/2018); Must GOD Hate Sinners? (09/01/2016); Judgment Focused On Content? (08/30/2016); Oneness, Not Equality or Rank? 07/16/2015); How To Renew The Mind (11/22/2013); Repentance Must Come Before Resurrection (04/27/2013); Destroyed in Noah’s Flood? (04/28/2013)
“Anonymous”, the church founded by Jesus Christ as the new creation serves a GOD who is Creator, Deliverer, Redeemer, Savior, a GOD of Love, and a GOD of Judgment. The process of divine tribunal has already begun for those who are a habitation of GOD through the Spirit, and will continue to the Advent (we say, the harvest, the Rapture, the Second Coming). Many developing believers are being examined and sealed at this very hour. In my understanding as a Christian, shunning comes into view not as an act of GOD; it is a collective act by the church as a full body to admonish, censure, and reprimand (yet not disgrace, dishonor, excommunicate, or punish) those members who are not upholding their duties, their pledges, and their obligations as part of the full assembly. When children in the home neglect the chores they have been assigned by their parents, action must be taken to correct their understanding of why the task is necessary, and its importance and value to the household as well as how to correctly and more quickly complete the task along with whatever cleanup it may involve. The sacred and prophetic works that come into view are edification and exhortation. There should be communication that includes correction, demonstration, instruction, and “walk-through”. While there is a focus on behavior modification and change, the primary goal for all members of the body is spiritual growth that is gradual, and that occurs in the most lasting way through discovery, fellowship, and sacred practice.
The church exists as a divinely provided mechanism to guide sinners to becoming Christ-like. Yet, many request membership within the church as a means to self-development, self-expression, and self-promotion (some say, freedom; expressing free-will) that expands or extends aspects of their own inborn character and nature, not the endowments and gifts imparted at baptism and rebirth from the makeup of GOD (e.g., faith, holiness, humility, longsuffering, lovingkindness, purity, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin).
Both for the church to exist and for the church to “bear fruit” as a planting of GOD, the multiple differences and variations that appear among believers must become manifest as oneness without sameness. Saying this another way, in addition to showing respect and speaking the truth throughout the body and at every level, there must be demonstrating accountability, listening, performing assigned duty, sacrifice, and unselfish service. Shunning may appear within congregations as an acknowledgement of apostolic authority and counsel recorded within the Scriptures. With that in view, shunning is not to be dismissed as merely arbitrary, hurtful, secular, and social. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) 2nd Timothy 3: 1-5, King James Version (KJV): 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
(2.) 1st Corinthians 5: 1-13, KJV: 1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 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, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 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 idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
(3.) Matthew 18: 15-20, KJV: 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Revelation 22: 10-17, KJV: 10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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