"You Mean I Really Need to Do What The Word Says?"

Hey guys...i've been doing my personal devos thru and finished 2Thessalonians and "wow!"...what an ending!

One thing Paul tells those in Thessolonica is that they are to,  by command, "withdraw" from "every brother" who "walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us."

This is a really bold command of Paul to those believers...but why does Paul "command" this?  The word used by Paul is 'Atakteo' which means " Disorderly, out of ranks (ie soldiers), Irregular, inordinate, immoderate pleasures, deviating from the prescribed order of rule"

Paul commands them to "withdraw" which also means to "diminish, check, cause to cease, to remove one's self, withdraw one's self, to abstain from "fellowship" with such one.   

This command was not only very plain...but also made in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul said there are those who do not walk according to the 'tradition,' which in context Paul means...the pattern and teaching and living of those in Christ Jesus. Paul isn't saying, stay away from those who are different or not conforming to "man's" ways...but only to the standard of God. 

Earlier in 1 Thessalonians, Paul had warned them against the "unruly" (1Thess. 5:14), But the problem still remained to a degree...so Paul now tells them to discipline the "unruly" ones. 

This may sound kind of "tough" or "not loving" or like "where's the Grace?"...but thru this Paul is exhibiting love and grace!   By doing this, the "grace" is in the discipline.  Grace is never to be confused with enabling someone in their disobedience. If one is 'put out of the church'....(into the world), it is only done in hope that they might miss the love and fellowship of the body of Christ, and then they would repent of their disobedience. 

Paul did this also in 1 Corinthians 5:4-5. The purpose was to bring about repentance and salvation in those who were disobedient...not to condemn or "damn" them.  

Many times those of us in leadership or who are pastors have to at times face such issues in the church, are they pleasant?  No way!  But is it needful?  Absolutely Yes!  

You see...Paul shows us that church is to be a place of Love and Comfort.  For those who are outside...we pray their deprivation should be such that they will repent!

I believe today in "modern American church", this practice is lost, not in all, but in many.  I believe as long as those who are pastors or in church leadership follow the Word....then we (they) will be guided not by what is "thought" to be right, but do what is right by the Word of God!

be blessed!