Those from whom the church is commanded to withdraw are: the fornicator, covetous, railer, idolater, drunkard, extortioner (1 Corinthians 5:11), the false teacher (Romans 16:17), factious (Titus 3:10), and the disorderly (2 Thessalonians 3:6). Included in the idea of withdrawal is: mark and avoid (Romans 16:17), no company (2 Thessalonians 3:14), rejection (Titus 3:10), and with such not to eat (1 Corinthians 5:11). Paul wrote, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6). That is not an optional course of action; it is commanded by the Lord. We must do it!
There are two stated purposes for withdrawing from unfaithful members; the first is to maintain the purity of the church (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). The Lord desires that His church be a pure church (Ephesians 5:26-27). It is unthinkable that Christ will own His bride (church) if she becomes unchaste, plays the harlot, and has her affections taken away from Him and set on things of the earth. If a congregation permits impure individuals to remain unchastened within its fellowship, it becomes a partaker of their sin and will soon drift out of the favor of the Lord and their candlestick will be removed (Revelation 2:5). “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened . . . Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7,13). The church is to be kept pure. For the sake of the other members, the ungodly are to be put away, lest others be contaminated by temptation to do the same things.
The second reason is to bring the erring brother to repentance by shaming him. When a person is taught, encouraged and admonished, and still will not repent, what more can concerned Christians do? Paul answers: “Withdraw . . . have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14). Thus, withdrawal is designed to bring him to repentance. If we continue to treat him as before, withdrawing is robbed of its purpose. We must let him know, by our actions and words, that his manner of life is not acceptable to the Lord and that we do not approve of it. “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” (1 Corinthians 5:11). If members in the church are guilty of living this way, then loyal saints are not to keep company with them! Don’t invite them to eat, visit and play games in your home! Don’t let the world see you condoning such lives in Christ’s church! You cannot eat with, play cards with, or keep company with one in the church who is guilty of such sins; this includes the family of one from whom the church has withdrawn.
In other words, the purpose of the withdrawing is to save souls. “To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5). Discipline isn’t to get rid of or to run off, but to save a soul (James 5:19-20). We are trying to help him, not leave him lost!
When members of the church sin, they are to be warned by loving brethren who are concerned for their souls. If they stubbornly refuse to listen, and persist in sin in spite of repeated warnings, the church must withdraw from them. And all of this is done to save souls: of the one who sins, and of other members of the church. Such action is taken to keep the church pure and faithful (1 Corinthians 5), and that he may be ashamed (2 Thessalonians 3:14).
Withdrawing is a difficult step to take. But eternity is long and hell is hot, and souls are hanging in the balance.