Do you agree with dis-fellowshiping someone?

Question

I do not. My church, and I would think most churches(atleast the other's I've been to in my life) believe in dis-fellowshiping people. Aka excommunication.

I don't think it's right to just throw someone out of their church, without reason.

When I was growing up, a guy in my church was a "fire and brimstone" kind of person, and the church I was attending then dis-fellowshiped him because of it.

I don't think it's right they did that. Do you think that's wrong?

freefromcircuitry...

wow, you REALLY need to talk to your priest about what excommunication is.

Answer 1

There is a difference between excommunication and dis-fellowshipping. Both have their place. Excommunication is usually used when someone openly and actively goes against what they claim to believe. The idea is "you have broken your covenants and you do not represent at all what we believe, so we are removing your name from out records. If you want to come back, change your life and we will welcome you back."

Dis-fellowshipping is less of an ultimatum. It recognizes a transgression by the church member, but they retain their membership. The member may not be allowed to participate, especially in priesthood callings, since they have done something to make them unworthy, until they repent. This is something that is very personal and is usually consensual as the member meets with their ecclesiastical leader and they decide on the best course of action.

I think if someone is teaching something contrary to the teachings of the church they profess to belong to, there is no point in them associating with it. I will not second guess the decision of priesthood leaders in such judgmental situations.

Answer 2

disfellowshipping is a part of the repentence process when grievous sin is involved. one loses their privileges within the church and must work through the repentence process with their bishop or branch president. this is necessary and good. excommunication is along the same lines - and is part of the repentence process. When a person is 'disfellowshipped' it means that he/she cannot partake of the sacrament or other ordinances - it doesn't mean they are shunned. Ideally, they are loved by the other members of the congregation and given support to fulfill the requirements of their repentence. A brother in my ward was disfellowshipped for 3 years - he came to church regularly, humbly and was an inspiration to many. The only persons who need to know about the discipline are the ecclesiastical leaders and the person involved. One cannot be thrown out of the church for no reason - there is a process [church court, in fact] that must be carried through. If you'd like more specifics about the process, ask your bishop or branch president - he can get into more specifics than I have room here.

Answer 3

Depends. There are two verses about this - one is the parable of the weeds where Jesus relates heresy, for lack of a better word, to true doctrine and says that we should not uproot the bad seed (persecute them) because in doing so we may persecute some of the good seed. The other is from Paul, but it is also echoed by Peter, John, James and Jude.... Christians are called to be sanctified from sin, and if someone lives in sin and does not fight it, they should not be associated with Christians. Christians need to be sanctified by sin, you cannot have people in the church who say, "I'm a Christian so my sin doesn't really matter".

Edit: Here's another example. A few weeks ago the Catholic Church excommunicated a group of nuns who were worshiping a Canadian woman who was claiming to be a resurrected divine form of Mary. The Catholic Church was right to kick those nuns out. I agree with them (the C.C) completely.

Answer 4

There are very specific reasons for disfellowshipping a member of the church. It is a very grave thing to do. It is also very specifically told to us how/when/why. Just because he was on fire for God is not a biblical reason. One of the reasons I have basically left my old church.Was because they would just as soon let people live in sin and compromise us all. That is wrong too. I stayed for 7 yrs., which was wrong on my part. But the Bible does say there are situations where it must be done.However, it says if they repent its to be remembered no more. Just like sin wiped away w/ us by God, same principle.

Answer 5

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].
Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

1Co 5:11 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.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,

ETC. ETC. SHEESH dude, do you ever read the thing???

Answer 6

In ANY society composed of two or more people there will be conventions created.
If these conventions are seen to be transgressed, censure --often through participation exclusion -- shall be applied.
Punitive exclusion may include dis-fellowship, excommunication, ostracism, ridicule -- or jailing.

Whether the exclusion is appropriate censure generally depends on the majority feeling of the society involved -- regardless of the Censured's feelings.

Answer 7

Absolutely not, it's not Christian like to do that. But if he was a Fire and brimstone kind of guy he could've taught the rest of church the same. For goodness sakes maybe the Lord sent him there to stir up the sleeping saints.

Answer 8

Using your example, the fellow was 'dis-fellowshiped' for a reason ( being a 'fire and brimstone' kind of person.

Churches have many 'moral superior' persons.

Answer 9

No. I would think that when we are at our worst is when we need the church and prayer and uplifting the most. Casting people out would only make matters worse, as I see it.

Answer 10

I believe in dis-religioning people. Religion is a superstition, but one that is harmful to society. It's time we, as a society, got past such myths.

The whole "dis-fellowshipping" is typical of how religions work. They are more afraid of someone who is slightly out of the norm than they are of the atheist or someone of a completely different religion. That's because religion is based on emotional attachment. That attachment is threatened more by someone a little different than completely different. Therefore, religions tend to be harsher on their "flocks" than those in other religions.