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.
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