Times When You Must Excommunicate or Shun a Believer

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. 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, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

(1Co 5:1-5)

 

If you go to church today, you rarely hear of anyone being excommunicated or shunned; you only seem to hear that amongst the Amish or fundamentalist churches.  Now, I'm not defending them, I'm only defending a feature of such churches that many modern churches don't appear to have, and that is the feature of excommunication or shunning.

Years ago, I compiled a list of reasons to stay away from a believer (and in one instance, some non-believers).  Here are those reasons:

1. If A Brother Sins Against You, and Will Not Listen To The Rebuke Of The Church (Matthew 18:17)

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. 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. 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.

(Mat 18:15-17)

In this context, Jesus is telling the disciples to excommunicate believers that sin against another brother, and will not listen after a private rebuke (v. 15), a rebuke of 2-3 people (v. 16), and a rebuke of the church (v. 17).  But it MUST be done in that order in order for the excommunication to be righteous.

2. Causing Divisions and Offenses (Snares, Traps), Contrary to Taught Doctrine (Romans 16:17-18)

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

(Rom 16:17-18)

This is an example of shunning.  Those who divide the church and, as the ESV says, "create obstacles", all contrary to the doctrine that was taught (of which Paul was teaching true doctrine), were to be shunned, because they don't serve Christ, but their own stomachs.  It goes on to say that such people deceive the simple-hearted with flattery.

3. Those Who Are Called Brothers Yet Live In Sin (I Corinthians 5:9-13)

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 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. 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.

(1Co 5:9-13)

In I Corinthians 5, Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for tolerating a grossly sinful person, one who had an affair with his father's wife, such a sin not even tolerated amongst pagans! (v. 1-2)  Paul then went on to clarify that he wasn't talking about shunning those outside the church camp, but rather those inside the church camp who were living in sin.  We are commanded NOT TO EVEN EAT with such people.

4. Those Who Walk Disorderly, and Contrary To Apostolic Tradition (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

2Th 3:6  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 

Now, a couple of things here.  First, the context of 2 Thessalonians 3:6 refers to the tradition of the apostles, one such tradition being working for your food, and not taking any food (and by context, anything else) for free.  As it is written:

2Th 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 

Secondly, when I refer to Apostolic Tradition, I am only referring to the traditions of the apostles up until John.  Not Linus, not Anacletus, not Clement, not even Francis.  Yes, a Linus is mentioned in Scripture (2 Timothy 4:21), but I have doubts that anyone beyond John is a legitimate apostle of Christ.  If any post-John apostles are in the Truth, their words WILL align with Scripture.

So, what counts as Apostolic Tradition?  Anything written in Scripture, given by an apostle of Christ.  2 Thessalonians 3:10 is not only part of the Word of God, but it is also a part of the Apostolic Tradition, since Paul mentions this command as such a tradition.

5. False Teachers That Do Not Consent To Wholesome Words (I Timothy 6:3-5)

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

(1Ti 6:3-5)

Any teacher that teaches anything contrary to righteous and good teaching is a false teacher, period.  How can you tell whether such a teacher is a false teacher?  Check the Scriptures, and make sure their teaching aligns with them.  (Acts 17:11, I Thessalonians 5:21)  If not, if someone teaches anything else, that's a sure sign they are teaching lies.  Stay away form such people, especially those who are in it for the money.  The Joel Osteens, Creflo Dollars, Jesse Duplantises, Kenneth Copelands, Mike Murdocks of the world, those are the obvious ones.

6. Reprobates Described in 2 Timothy 3:1-9

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

(2Ti 3:1-9)

This is why I mentioned the possible instance of non-believers.  Read this passage, and if anyone matches this description, turn away from them.

7. Those Who Bring To Your House Any Religious Doctrine Other Than That of Christ (2 John 9-11)

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

(2Jn 1:9-11)

v. 10 mentions not bidding anyone God speed.  This means that if anyone comes with a religious teaching, and that teaching is not of Christ, don't even greet them.  Acknowledging their presence is allowed, but greeting them (as in, "Hey brother", or anything like that) is not.  The Bible says that if you do this, you are sharing in their evil deeds.

And that's about it for now.  If you know of anyone else that Scripture says must be shunned or excommunicated, comment on this post.

What Is Revelry?

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

(1Pe 4:1-3)

Please bear with me, because I'll probably speak much about The Ninth Cloud in the next few posts.  It's been over two years since the events in that book, and ever since I've published the book, I've had second thoughts about my attitude towards the Culture Festival (called Planet Comicon).

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 of the book.  Let's examine it (as I Thessalonians 5:21 recommends):

28 In due course, the stark refusal to attend the Culture Festival became a relic of yore. I was wholly committed. 
29 Not solely as a guardian of watchfulness, but for a cause anew: the jubilation of mine emancipation from debt. 
30 It dawned upon me that this venture might well serve as the ideal occasion for what some of the devout term a “Rumspringa”. 
31 For me, it presented a chance to revel and exult in mine newfound liberty. 
32 No longer was I to restrain my mirth. For there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

v. 31 of the chapter uses the word "revel", as translated by the AI.  As I'm writing this, this concerns me.
What sort of revelry was I talking about?

Chapter 2, verses 18-19 gives a clue:
18 Throughout the entirety of our voyage, my spirit was alight with mirth.
19 The recollection of my triumph remained vivid within my thoughts. Verily, this was to be a time of great rejoicing!
It was all in my head.  All I could think about was being debt-free.  So far, nothing outward.  In v. 38, I mentioned giving the "V" sign imitating Winston Churchill, that is, a "V" for "Victory".  No revelry there.

Then there is this passage from the same chapter:
64 Advancing, I cast mine eyes upward and beheld the disciples aloft, gazing down upon us. 
65 These were they who had procured special admittance to partake of certain revelries betimes.
66 A vision then struck me: as champions of sport are oft celebrated with a procession in their native land, so did I perceive the scene. 
67 Though I knew full well no disciple heralded me, the semblance was such that my mind’s humours discerned no difference. 
68 I surrendered to the sensation. Was it conceit? Was it boastfulness? 
69 I cannot say, but the yearning to feel it was overpowering. 
70 Have I not merited some measure of festivity, though but a semblance, for my endeavors?

The "disciples" were the fans who were cosplaying.  The "vision" was one of many imaginations in my head.  You couldn't tell outwardly, but inwardly, I was so drunk with joy, again, simply by the very fact that I was debt-free.  This very fact alone, alone with what the scene "looked like", turned into mental novacaine.  

Come to think of it, the only outward sign of my ecstasy didn't come until Chapter 4, when I met Medis Stella, and the tears didn't come because of seeing her, but because of the acknowledgement and validation of paying off my debts.  The fact that Ms. Stella was a celebrity further cemented another of my mental "images", as if she was Meredith Viera on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.  I extracted from that moment the feeling of complete victory, as if I answered the $1 million question, and the lights went crazy, and the music went crazy, and confetti fell from the ceiling, all to indicate, as our current President would say, that this was a "big f***in deal". 
That was it.  I believed in my heart that becoming debt-free was a huge deal, and the outward appearances matched what I was feeling.  That was the very source of my high emotion.  Not the fact that I interacted with no fewer than three celebrities, but that the acknowledgement of being debt-free matched how I truly felt.  They understood.  They got it.  One person once commented to me that it was because actors live on "feast or famine", so of course they would understand my jubilance.
Yet, was my attitude sinful revelry, according to the Scriptures?  What is revelry?
The Greek word in question in I Peter 4:1-13 is "komos", meaning "a carousal (as if letting loose): revelling, rioting."  Looking up the definition of "carousal", it suggests that it is more akin to going outwardly wild, often with alcohol involved.  All I did was just play with my brain chemicals.  I certainly didn't riot, I know what that looks like.
I guess what really happened on that day is that I was allowed to confess my joy, I was allowed to not hide it anymore.  Medis Stella offered more of a soapbox.
And as for celebration, under the appropriate circumstances, it is no sin:
Ecc 3:1  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 
Ecc 3:4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 
One biblical example follows:
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
(Luk 15:22-25)

And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
(Luk 15:29-32)

Now, could have there been a more appropriate place to let it out?  Perhaps.  Yet I'm glad God set this up (as he sets up everything says Colossians 1:17, among other places), because at least I could rejoice in a way I felt it worth rejoicing.

So I guess it was rejoicing, not revelry.  If there was any revelry, or any sense of idolatry and worldliness, I do repent.

Scripture and Doctrinal References In "The Ninth Cloud"

2Co 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 

I wrote a book.  As of this writing, the publishing is pending.  While the book itself doesn't teach religion, It contains many references to the Bible and Christianity (the book is translated into King James language, and the very style of the book is in chapter and verse format), so I wanted to post the religious content on this blog for free, so no one can accuse me of peddling the Word of God for profit. 

FOREWORD

I conclude with the following message. 

Whether it shows me a hypocrite or not, this message is universal to all: 

“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolary.”

CHAPTER ONE

6 Yet, to grace the Culture Festival with mine presence? Verily, as a stripling, I harbored dreams of such festivities, arrayed in the raiment of intrepid celestial marshals. 

7 But on that day, I recoiled at the thought. I recall a demonstration at a grander culture festival by a band of zealous religionists, decrying such gatherings as dens of carnality and false worship. 

8 “Super Men and Winged Knights, let them be thy salvation!” they would cry in jest.

9 Now, I disavow their congregation, for they proclaim that The Messiah died but for a chosen few. 

10 In truth, The Messiah yielded His life for all, albeit the efficacious redemption is for but a select number. 

11 Whilst I cleave unto this latter belief steadfast as a rock, what weigheth more upon my mind regarding mine attendance at the Culture Festival is thus: Super Men and Winged Knights are verily idols, an abomination indeed unto The Messiah. In this matter, the fundamentalists speak aright.

19 And what declareth The Book? To sup within the temple of an idol is no transgression. Moreover, The Hamster is my kinsman, to watch over him and his kin is an act of charity.

32 No longer was I to restrain my mirth. For there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

CHAPTER TWO

20 Yet, there is another matter to recount: Within the bounds of the festival, there existed a realm deemed verboten in my contemplation, known as Celebrity Row.

21 'Tis a place where devotees of divers notables might capture their visage alongside them and obtain their marks of autograph.

22 I deemed it proscribed, for such personages can readily ascend to the stature of deities in the eyes of men. 

29 'Twas not out of malice towards the Stellas, but rather, a fondness for them, and a desire not to exalt them as idols within my heart.

MIDLOGUE

28 Dear Reader, I do acknowledge that there is suffering in life. 

29 It is written: “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.”

CHAPTER FOUR

3 Whilst I did procure the garment, my zeal for further acquisitions was tempered. I desired not to return laden with trinkets of regret. 

4 Verily, the Saviour hath spoken, “A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

41 She counselled that I gather my coin. I do now, yet not for mine own sake. Such is contrary to The Book.

EPILOGUE

18 The edict of The Scripture endures: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

Well, That Was Stupid.

 “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” (Proverbs 23:4, KJV)

In my last post, I decided to separate my Christian content from my non-Christian content in order to monetize the non-Christian content so as to not peddle the Word of God for profit (violating 2 Corinthians 2:17).

I then (seeing as I was on an extended vacation), proceeded to try to work more on my content, both religious and secular, and based on my personality, when I set out to do something, I am super bent on getting it done.

One problem:  I'm exhausted.  Thus, unintentionally, I have sinned.  Of grinding so hard at my web content (even though I just wanted to grind to see if I could even make money), I repent.  

I should have seen this coming:  I was at a game night with some friends yesterday, and that was the best experience I've had in weeks.  Everything just seemed right for once.  Beside the point yes, but even the dice rolls were satisfyingly odds-defying.

I tried to justify my hustle.  Yes, I should be content with what I have (Hebrews 13:5), and I thought I was, I just wanted the satisfaction of doing something.  The problem is, the metric was money, which was the sinful part.  That is, the combination of hustling to exhaustion, and money.

Besides, practically, my main bread and butter is about to make me even more bread.  By the way, if you're looking for night time part time work, USD 290 is definitely hiring.  Go to usd290.org and look for custodial positions available.  The aforementioned position?  Yeah, definitely available.

So what caused all this economic activity?

Andrew Tate.

Yes, I know, he's a terrible influence on kids because of his stances toward women and getting rich, but all I cared about was the hustle.  He teaches, "Speed!  Speed!  Speed!" in order to make tons of money.   Again, I just extracted the work ethic part of his philosophy. 

Yet, there is also a time for respite (Ecclesiastes 3:1).  Like I said, my main bread and butter, combined with my low living expenses, make for comfortable living.

So yeah, for now, as far as The Sweeping Developer content, I'm done.  Call back when I'm actually motivated to work on my secular stuff.  The discipline to hustle at USD 290 is already there (It's no sin to hustle if your pay is based on time, the hustle is for my good name).

Correct me if I'm wrong in any of this. (Proverbs 6:23)

Big Changes Coming To My Web Content

 As some of you know, I run a YouTube Channel and a website called "The Sweeping Developer".  Some of you have found this blog from that website.  

Let me share with you the message I sent to viewers and subscribers to The Sweeping Developer (Scripture references bolded here):

Hello everyone! Some big changes are about to take place at The Sweeping Developer, and the main one is this: This YouTube channel will no longer be the central hub of my Christian videos. Why is this, you ask? Well, I've had a lot of time on my hands, and I've decided to try to monetize my non-Christian web content. Trouble is, is that any monetization might accidentally spill onto my Christian content, thus violating 2 Corinthians 2:17, which reads in the ESV: "For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ." So, I am moving my Christian videos to a new channel, called Adapanos Ministries, which will NOT be monetized. In fact, the word "Adapanos" comes from I Corinthians 9:18, in which Paul says (now back to KJV): "What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. " The "without charge" is the "adapanos" in question. In fact, the logo, which is a negated price tag, drives home the point: I AM MAKING NO MONEY FROM MY MINISTRY. In addition, NO DONATIONS WILL BE SOLICITED AT ALL IN THE NAME OF THIS MINISTRY. Don't send me any money for this. That's what all the other stuff is for. Now, this may take a while, but stay tuned, and if you wish, go ahead and subscribe and click the bell on the new channel. Thanks!

So, I have added some new pages to my blog in order to also separate The Sweeping Developer from my Christian ministry.  Again, not because I'm ashamed of Christ, far from it, but that I don't make money off of Christ.

"It Is An Evil Time", or Why I Didn't Post During Pride Month (and Digressions About July)

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

(Amo 5:10-13)

Before I get into why I didn't post during Pride Month, let me tell you about a YouTube video I watched from a guy named GradeAUnderA.  I'm not going to post it here, because he's a potty mouth.  Still, he made a video about what he calls a really wild Bible story, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 (he didn't mention the Scripture chapter).  He points out the "wild" facts of:

• The people of Sodom wanting to have sex with the angels (v. 5)
• Lot offering his two virgin daughters for the people of Sodom to have sex with (v. 8)
• The angels blinding the Sodomites (v. 11)
• Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt (v. 26)
• Lot's family living in a cave (v. 30)
• Lot's daughters getting Lot drink and having sex with him in order to be pregnant (v. 33-35)

I mention this because it is ironic:  Many people during Pride Month indeed commit lots of sodomy, the sin named after the city that was destroyed.

I also wanted to point out that the fact that the world (of whom GradeAUnderA is) would obviously think of such things happening as wild:

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

But I digress.  Why didn't I post during Pride Month?

It's because mainly of Amos 5:13, mentioned in the beginning of this post:

Amo 5:13  Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

Pride Month is definitely an evil time, a time in which homosexuality and other sexual deviations are celebrated.  Now, I may or may not be correct in my interpretation of that Scripture, but just in case Amos 5:13 means that I should keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during evil times, I keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during evil times.  Correct me if I'm wrong!  (Proverbs 6:23)

Which gets me to thinking:  What act of pride goes on in JULY?

Now of this I'm not sure whether I should keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during the 4th of July.  Yes, there are some who are "proud to be an American", yet, and this is my opinion, I may be totally off base by calling those who celebrate American Independence Day "proud".  Honestly, I really don't think most Americans display "pride" when celebrating their independence from Great Britain.  If you ask the average American, it's just a day off to eat grilled food and shoot off fireworks.  Again, correct me if I'm wrong. (Proverbs 6:23)

Now, one day in particular at this time of year warms my heart greatly: July 2.  Why?  On July 2, 2021, I made my final car payment and became debt-free for the first time in my adult life. (Romans 13:8) It also just so happens to coincide with what John Adams considers the REAL Independence Day (since the actual vote to become independent from Great Britain happened on that day):

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

Now, replace "Independence from Great Britain" with "Independence from Debt" and Mr. Adams has captured my sentiment towards that day quite well (other than the "You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not", I am quite enthused, sir).  It's not pride I display.  It's glee.  It's jubilation.  I'm not proud to be debt-free.  I'm happy to be debt-free.  It's a freakin' miracle, as if I was cured of cancer.  Praise be to God.

“A Quote by John Adams.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/quotes/7168127-the-second-day-of-july-1776-will-be-the-most. Accessed 30 June 2024. (Yes, I looked this up during Pride Month, but the actual posting of it wasn't until the next day)