Avoid Them

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.  For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
Rom 16:17-18

Avoid them?  This attitude may be contrary to the way many think Christians should behave, but here it is in black and white.  If a person is divisive and always stirring up trouble, avoid (literally “shun”) that individual.  They say they serve God when in fact they are serving their own appetite, that is, they are self-centered instead of Christ-centered.  Preaching today so overly emphasizes communication with others for the sake of evangelism that the idea of avoiding anyone is foreign; however, this text is not the only place we’re told to leave people alone.

2 Tim 3:5 says that the latter days would be marked by a people “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”  So, we need to rescue those poor souls through continual interaction with them, right?  You’ll never believe the rest of the verse: “And from such people turn away!”  They are enemies to the kingdom of God, hypocrites that claim Christ in name but deny Him in their actions.  But, how will we know these people?  We certainly need wisdom from the Lord to recognize when we’re dealing with such a person, but He does tell us that you’ll know the tree by the fruit it bears.  Their fruit is listed in the previous verses as we read they are “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”. (2 Tim 3:2-4) What a strong contrast to the fruits of the Spirit! (Gal 5:22-23)

But isn’t it judgmental of us to pick out people we’re going to avoid?  It’s actually dangerous to not recognize such individuals!  Jesus said in Mat 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”  A wolf will eat you up if you don’t realize you’re dealing with one!  What’s the best advice for a sheep.  Run away bleating for the Shepherd to rescue you, i.e. avoid them and tell the Lord about it!  Who are these wolves?  V. 17 says they will “scourge you in their synagogues”.  In other words, the wolf is a religious person!  We find that to be true of all these people we are told to avoid.  They profess God but deny him in their actions.

Did you know that Christ turned away from people as well?  He even instructed His disciples to do the same.  After Jesus’ disciples informed Him that He had offended the Pharisees, His instruction on how to handle this delicate matter was, “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” (Mt 5:14) Christ did always those things that pleased the Father.  The Father had revealed His will in the Proverbs hundreds of years before: “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.” (Pr 14:7)

The fact is that a religionist who will not bow to God in his daily walk can be of great detriment to the church.  Such individuals bring division among a people that God has called to unity.  They will lead others astray by their sinful example which is why Paul says in 1 Cor 5:11, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.”  A lost religionist needs the shock that accompanies being shunned by believers so that he will not continue to think everything is spiritually okay!  It’s the best thing for his soul, and the hope is that the result will be that which occurred among the Corinthians–you will be able to later receive that person as a brother in Christ because he was brought to repentance!!  “This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.  Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.” (2 Cor 2:6-8)

Jamie

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