IS SHUNNING STILL A VALID PRACTICE?

 

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

 

IS SHUNNING STILL A VALID PRACTICE?

 

Rom 16:16-17

16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

 

Eph 5:11

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 

          We tend to think of groups like The Amish when we think of shunning. The practice is designed to keep unruly members within the strict boundaries of acceptable practice. But is this Biblical and valid for our more enlightened congregations?

 

          Well, shunning is a human practice. We all do it. We avoid people who make us feel uncomfortable. Our conversations with them are short and stilted. They have become birds of another feather. But this has no spiritual or Christian purpose. It is not corrective nor redemptive.

 

          Commenting on Romans 16, Adam Clarke’s older English is still understandable. He says: “look sharply after them; let them have no kiss of charity nor peace, because they strive to make divisions, and thus set the flock of Christ at variance among themselves; and from these divisions, offences (skandala, scandals) are produced; and this is contrary to that doctrine of peace, unity, and brotherly love which you have learned. Look sharply after such that they do you no evil, and avoid them-i.e., give them no countenance, and have no religious fellowship with them.”

 

          Correction and redemption are the goals and a return to fellowship is the desire of both the offender and the offended. It is the offense that blocks the smooth flow and seeks to change the definition of what is right. Paul wrote to the Corinthians regarding a scandalous relationship. In his first letter he decries the church’s blanket tolerance and prescribes corrective action. In his second letter he applies redemption after repentance. You can read it in 2 Corinthians 7:11-12.

 

          Breaking fellowship is not about my wounded feelings, although they may exist, it is about purifying the church.

 

Rom 12:18

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

 

Dear Lord, let repentance bring redemption and the sweet fellowship that partners with it. AMEN