Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our 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
A problem developed as the squadron of air cadets prepared for the upcoming review, when they would be examined by a senior military officer. Day by day, as the cadets marched up and down in the parade square, their precision improved and they took on the appearance of a well prepared corps, all except for one cadet. This one lad seemed to be possessed of two left feet and he appeared to be unable to grasp the rudiments of marching in time with the commands of the drill sergeant. He was forever out of step, and often stumbled and veered about as he tried to march. No practice or one-on-one training seemed to help; he simply did not improve. As the day for the review neared, the squadron leaders decided that they had no choice but to ask the offending cadet to withdraw. And to his credit, the cadet did so with good grace, and the review went well for the squadron. That cadet would have made the entire squadron look bad if he had remained in the ranks. So do disorderly Christians who seek to remain in the ranks of God’s Assembly. But we don’t discipline people for being merely clumsy and incompetent.
First of all, withdrawing from disorderly brethren is not an option. Paul declares it as a commandment from the Lord Jesus Christ. Such a brother will be set aside for as long as he is disorderly, because of the negative impact on the rest of the Assembly if he were to remain. This is a very serious matter. This reflects not only on the rest of the Christians, but on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. So it is important that we identify those who are walking disorderly.
Those who mind earthly things are disorderly. ‘For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things’ (Philippians 3:18-19). Some of these people were probably never saved and are surely dangerous to be in the company. Also disorderly are those who teach and practice things contrary to the Word of God. ‘Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them’ (Romans 16:17). The disorderly also include those who reject what they have been taught. ‘If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness. He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself’ (1 Timothy 6:3-5). Similarly, disorderly include those who refuse to give up their false doctrines. ‘A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject, knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself’ (Titus 3:10-11).
We don’t have an option when it comes to withdrawing from disorderly brethren. It is for our good and for their restoration. -Jim MacIntosh