Christians! Do you think that people who break God's law should be shunned or removed from the church?

Question

If so, on what grounds? What if they repent? Do you know of any churches that do this? Do you agree or disagree with this practice? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Yes, I know of churches that do that. They did it to a friend of mine recently. I also knew some neighborhood kids while I was growing up whose mother got excommunicated, and the church members subsequently avoided those children like the plague and wouldn't allow other "good" children to speak to them (what an act of Christian love). I feel that a church is as good a place for a sinner as any, and that no one should ever be barred from its doors.

Answer 2

We all break God's law in some way every day, if we shunned people for that, there'd be no one left. Very few churches I've ever been to really do anything in the way of dealing with sin. They just ignore it.

But, the church that I call my home does deal with it. We are all free to and encouraged to confront one another if we see something of concern. If someone is caught in perpetual sin, stuff like affairs, they are confronted and if they don't repent, the church family is told that they have chosen to remove themself from our midst. If they do repent, they do it in front of the congregation. We had an NFL player once, and you gotta know that the temptations on the road are tremendous, and he fell. He came and spoke to the church and repented and asked for our help and prayers. There is freedom in the light, and if a person really wants to stop sinning, they'll come into the light with their sin. If not, they aren't welcome to be a part of the family.

We use Matthew 18 as a guide.

Answer 3

there is justification in the new testament for removing someone from a church. this is done very rarely, and usually the person who is removed from the church is doing something public and harmful to others. usually the person is confronted and given an opportunity to repent. if the person repents and renounces their sin they are not kicked out. if they refuse to repent they can be disciplined by the church by being kicked out. this may sound extreme but most of the time churches do this when someone is doing something that is physically or emotionally harming other people. would you want to go to a church that allows someone to be a member who goes around seducing other mens wives (for example)? how would you feel about a church that allowed that sort of thing to go on? what if someone were preaching some sort of heretical idea to other members- or attempting to get people to join a cult? there is a formal process of church discipline that can be used in these types of extreme circumstances.

Answer 4

I do not believe that if people sin against God that they should be sinned or removed from the church. I only know of one or two sin's that if the person does not ask for forgivness of then most likely they will not want to have anything to do with the church anyways.

But the reason why I do not think they should be removed from the church is because of scripture: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". and "For there is no one righteous, not even one." and "He who is with out sin, cast the first stone."These are the grounds I think on.

most of the time in Christian (not catholic) churches if people sin, they choose on their own to not come back to church at all and want nothing to do with the church. So its not that the church doesn't forgive them. Its that they don't want to be forgiven by the church. Or they do not think they are worthy of being forgiven.

Answer 5

Christian church realizes that all are sinners. They encourage repentance and want people to turn from their sins.

But the church does not want someone to sit in church and have gay sex with your gay lover. see what I mean? The church would ask you to leave and take it to a hotel or something. You don't sit and disrespect people who are trying to do Gods will and worship him.

Answer 6

I don't think so. I'm a Deist, but I used to be a Christian, and if I remember correctly, the Bible says that all people are sinners and it's up to them to repent and ask for God's forgiveness. Also, the Bible also says that it's not for us to judge others. After all, Jesus said, "He who has not sinned shall cast the first stone."

Answer 7

Humans are emotional creatures, and therefore take too many things to extremes. The Word teaches us to understand and deal with our nature as humans. And not be self-righteous and hypocritical toward others. But give them the break we would want.
We are supposed to correct others, but in a manner of kindness. Nevertheless, after two or three attempts to help on, it says. And they don't tighten up! Bye, Bye!
Of course what the problem is would matter too. Like if they have a drinking problem. Or if they are a sexual predator. I think that makes the differnce on how it would be handled. Don't you?

Answer 8

That's great that they remove unclean and unrepented persons from the mist of them. Keep the congregation of God clean. As to other religions, some have ways to deal with their rebels.

Answer 9

The Amish believe in shunning, and they are great in number.If a person were to sin he has to repent and make a confession before the congregation. In the old testament if a person sinned he was stoned to death,but Jesus forgave us of our sins when he died on the cross.If you are a true believer you will confess of all your sins so you can live in Heaven for eternity.

Answer 10

I know someone who was not only excommunicated from the church but the church leaders and heads of the government supported by many people took this man and killed him. His name was Jesus Christ, God Almighty. Though it was the fathers purpose that he should give his life as a ransom for many it still didn't change the fact of his murder.