What do you think of shunning?

Tigger45

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When I was ten years old my family moved back to Utah where I was formally introduced to Mormonism. I wanted to fit in with the other kids but couldn’t bring myself to getting baptized into Mormonism. So I was quickly ostracized by the other kids, which was a good thing because it sealed the deal on ever wanting to explore it again in the future for me.
 
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GingerBeer

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The one that began in Acts 2, that belongs to Christ and has no earthly headquarters (Matthew 16:18) but has Christ as its Head, (Eph 5:23) that teaches for one to be saved he must believe (John 8:24) repent (Luke 13:3) confess (Matthew 10:32-33) be water baptized (Acts 2:38) live faithfully unto death (Revelation 2:10), that follows the doctrines of Christ and the Apostles (Acts 2:42, 2 John 1:9); that has the Divinely appointed mission to take the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16), that worships according to spirit and truth (the word of God), (John 17:17, John 4:24) which includes singing acapella (Ephesians 5:18-21), taking the Lord's Supper upon the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), giving upon the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:2)….

Various places in the Bible the institution of marriage is used to describe Christ's relationship to His one body with the church being the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32), Paul espoused those in Corinth to "one husband" (2 Corinthians 11:2). The Bible's teaching on marriage is one husband married to one wife. Denominationalism has Christ married to many wives making Christ a spiritual polygamist, spiritual adulterer.
That is an interesting combination of doctrines - is this one church a restorationist group?
 
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GingerBeer

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When I was ten years old my family moved back to Utah where I was formally introduced to Mormonism. I wanted to fit in with the other kids but couldn’t bring myself to getting baptized into Mormonism. So I was quickly ostracized by the other kids, which was a good thing because it sealed the deal on ever wanting to explore it again in the future for me.
I see what you mean. Mormon doctrine never appealed to me.
 
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Remember that the Amish practice adult baptism (about age 16). If an Amish youth chooses to leave the community before that time they are not shunned. However, those who leave the Amish community after that point are shunned because they have broken their baptismal vow. I have a friend who grew up Amish but left before being baptized; I'm sure his parents were disappointed he left but he remains close to his family and Amish friends.
 
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ViaCrucis

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Shunning isn't an acceptable Christian practice. Not allowing toxic people to be able to be abusive and harmful to the community, especially the very vulnerable, is what Scripture speaks of; shunning, on the other hand, is manipulative, toxic, and abusive itself.

The Church is to be a hospital for sinners, a place of sanctuary for the vulnerable--not a violent behemoth beating its chest to intimidate others.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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Maria Billingsley

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I see why you draw that conclusion but some Calvinist groups such as the Protestant Reformed Church practise similar shunning and it is likely that some Baptists and some independent churches do too. Are those all cults?
These are an anomaly most likely within that particular groups current authority.
 
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In the Amish community, the Amish will still converse with an individual being shunned, and will offer assistance if needed. However, they will usually eating separately from the person, not do business with them, not accept gifts or rides from them, and generally exclude them from community activities.
 
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Josheb

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Some religions that call themselves christian shun ex-members. Shunning can go as far as cutting off family, friends, and every other associate. What do you think of that as a Christian response to someone leaving the faith or moving to another?
Scripturally it is incorrect, psychologically it is usually ineffective.

In the spectrum from fighting to flighting shunning behaviors fall on the flighting end. The "healthy middle" is engagement. The Biblical goal is always restoration. Even when Paul admonishes a congregation to abandon the wayward believer to satan he writes that "for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Even Hymenaeus and Alexander were "handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme."

Remember: sound doctrine sets sound practice and neither is established by the extremes. Extreme examples in scripture do not set sop.
 
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dqhall

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Some religions that call themselves christian shun ex-members. Shunning can go as far as cutting off family, friends, and every other associate. What do you think of that as a Christian response to someone leaving the faith or moving to another?
In Jesus' day they shunned tax collectors and sinners. Jesus was invited to dinner at Matthew the tax collector's house. Jesus' disciples were asked why their rabbi ate with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11). Jesus answered them that it was not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Jesus taught, Matthew 5:43-48 (World English Bible - Public Domain):
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
 
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Some religions that call themselves christian shun ex-members. Shunning can go as far as cutting off family, friends, and every other associate. What do you think of that as a Christian response to someone leaving the faith or moving to another?
The sects that practice it are not the true faith, so I don't agree with shunning.
 
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GingerBeer

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Scripturally it is incorrect, psychologically it is usually ineffective.

In the spectrum from fighting to flighting shunning behaviors fall on the flighting end. The "healthy middle" is engagement. The Biblical goal is always restoration. Even when Paul admonishes a congregation to abandon the wayward believer to satan he writes that "for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Even Hymenaeus and Alexander were "handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme."

Remember: sound doctrine sets sound practice and neither is established by the extremes. Extreme examples in scripture do not set sop.
Shunning is part of a high control oriented religion. It is a way to keep members out of fear rather than because doctrine and practise are good and godly.
 
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GingerBeer

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In Jesus' day they shunned tax collectors and sinners. Jesus was invited to dinner at Matthew the tax collector's house. Jesus' disciples were asked why their rabbi ate with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11). Jesus answered them that it was not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Jesus taught, Matthew 5:43-48 (World English Bible - Public Domain):
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Does your reply mean that you think Jesus did not shun nor advocate shunning?
 
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98cwitr

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Some religions that call themselves christian shun ex-members. Shunning can go as far as cutting off family, friends, and every other associate. What do you think of that as a Christian response to someone leaving the faith or moving to another?

Lost practice but one that had benefits. I think temporary shunning is perfectly responsible for severe grievance. If it doesn't result in an arrest and jail time from the state, then I think the church is required to reconsider admission. As far as relationships outside the church, I don't think they should be applied to the practice. The church only has authority for those within it.
 
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GingerBeer

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Lost practice but one that had benefits. I think temporary shunning is perfectly responsible for severe grievance. If it doesn't result in an arrest and jail time from the state, then I think the church is required to reconsider admission. As far as relationships outside the church, I don't think they should be applied to the practice. The church only has authority for those within it.
The original post is not about crimes it is about changing one's religion or abandoning it.
 
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98cwitr

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The original post is not about crimes it is about changing one's religion or abandoning it.

Under that context, the person is no longer within that church and therefore the church has no authority over them.
 
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