Should We Only Withdraw From The Fallen Away If They Are Members Of Our Congregation?

A lot of brethren say we are to withdraw from fallen away Christians only if they are members of the congregation we attend, but I don’t think they really believe that. Consider the following situations where they would do exactly what I would do …

A Christian should withdraw fellowship from any Christian they are having fellowship with (no matter where they live) who falls away and won’t repent – I Tim 1:20, etc. – for example if a Christian as an individual is financially supporting a preacher an hour away, and that preacher becomes gay, then the Christian should quit sending to that preacher. And if I am in the habit of keeping social company and eating with that preacher, that must stop too (I Cor 5:11).

A Christian should withdraw fellowship from any Congregation they are having fellowship with (no matter where it is located) which falls away and won’t repent – Rev 2:5, etc. – for example if a Christian is donating money to the first day of the week contribution of a congregation for any reason, and that congregation decides to become a gay church, the Christian should quit such donating (Rom 1:32).

A Congregation should withdraw fellowship from any Christian they are having fellowship with (no matter where they live) who falls away and won’t repent – Rom 16:17, etc. – for example if a congregation is financially supporting a preacher in a foreign field (Phil 4:15) and that preacher leaves his wife to shack up (live in adultery) with a younger woman, then the congregation should quit sending him money (I Tim 5:22b).

A Congregation should withdraw fellowship from any Congregation they are having fellowship with (no matter where it is located) which falls away and won’t repent – Rev 2:5, etc. – for example suppose the congregation I worship with is having fellowship with another congregation by regularly sending benevolence funds there (Acts 11:26-30). If they changed their assembly to include the worship of an idol through fornication, we would have to withdraw that fellowship (benevolence). Or if congregation A is in the habit of having fellowship with congregation B by announcing their gospel meetings, and congregation B decides to become a gay church, then congregation A should quit announcing congregation B’s meetings (Luke 11:47-48).

Conclusion: It is never right to bid Godspeed to those who are not abiding in the doctrine of Christ (II John 9-11), no matter where they live. In short, we should “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (in any, shape, form, or fashion, ptd), but rather reprove them” (Eph 5:11).

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