The Command to Withdraw

By apostolic authority, Paul wrote, “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 Thess. 3:6). How many congregations today take this command seriously? How many actually practice it consistently? In this series of articles, let us look at the application of this command.

While the command to withdraw must be obeyed by all congregations of the Lord regardless of their culture and place in history, the anticipated effectiveness of this policy at Thessalonica is interesting to notice. In first-century Thessalonica, a distinctive feature of Christianity was its radical sense of community. Today’s church should strive to have this same sense of community. Disorderly members at Thessalonica from whom fellowship was withdrawn would sense an immediate threat to their own sense of belonging. They exchanged the loyalty to their own flesh and blood for a commitment to this spiritual family, the church. They would think twice about turning their back on their church family for it was the only sort of family they had. Sadly, the church in America in our day frequently does not possess this sort of close-knit fellowship. A lack of fellowship does not render withdrawal inappropriate, but it may make it ineffective. Perfect fellowship is not a prerequisite for carrying out the command of 2 Thessalonians 3:6. Fellowship was not perfect at Thessalonica, but withdrawal was still commanded. However, the better the fellowship, the more likely an erring individual will be swayed by withdrawal. The blessings of a strong sense of community are manifold, one of which is the desperation felt by him from whom the Christian community withdraws, a desperation that will hopefully drive him back to the Lord’s way and the Lord’s people.

Church discipline is rarely convenient, but it is the Lord’s directive. Withdrawal of fellowship is the last step of church discipline. In his prev

ious epistle, Paul commanded the Thessalonians to work (1 Thess. 4:11) and to warn the unruly who were not working (1 Thess. 5:14). Apparently, some continued to be unruly, that is, to walk disorderly and sponge off others for their necessities even after they had been reprimanded. So, in this second letter, he gives more attention to this problem. When verbal discipline will not turn one to the right way, a final step of withdrawal is then commanded by the Lord (Mt. 18:17). Paul, with apostolic authority, commanded Christians to do this “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 3:6-12).

This command is sometimes called “the forgotten command” among churches of Christ. While it might have been abused in bygone years, it is rarely practiced today. Some elders are afraid to implement it because they have seen withdrawal letters posted to social media and the backlash that has followed when other congregations have attempted to practice it. Another concern that has gripped the church is the legal ramifications that may come from implementing this divine injunction. Yet, fear of backlash does not give grounds for disregarding this command. The bottom line is, when it comes to carrying out this command, (or any of our Lord’s commands for that matter), we should look up to God, rather than looking around to see which way the wind is blowing. Next week, we will consider how carrying out this command is a salvation issue.