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Titus 3: 10 Warn a divisive person
once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.
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Though it is unpleasant for the moment, discipline has in view the joyful outcome of the habitual practice of holiness.* |
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I like how one commentator facetiously answered the question of what to do with the divisive person: “Burn him alive?”* We in the church are “notoriously poor at confronting.”* We are
prone to extremes – from tolerating everything
to charging the castle with our torches and pitchforks. Thankfully, Paul offers
an alternative wherein we confront without bloodshed – and presents no
loopholes allowing us to avoid it.
Paul is not authorizing any random member of the
congregation to conduct church discipline; this is a public matter to be addressed
by the church leadership.* It is up to the elders to determine that
there is a heretic in their midst and to issue the prerequisite warnings. After the individual has been given an
opportunity to explain himself and to repent,* our responsibility
as church members kicks in. At this point, God has given no man – church member
or elder – “any other authority over him but to shun him.”*
What does it mean for us to have nothing to do with this
person? Well, it doesn’t give us
license to harm him – in any way – and that includes gossiping about him. It
means that we are to “hold no communion with him; but leave
him to God.”* While “shunning” is not formally practiced in the Christian church, it
is a scripturally sound and viable method of bringing about restoration. Should
we let someone divide the church just because we’re reluctant to hurt his
feelings?
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If we build our foundation on our own authority, ultimately we have no solution for resolving conflict except “might makes right.”* |
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