Looking for a bit of Information

[Amisk Dolcy]

When Anabaptists speak of "shunning"... can you define "shunning" to me? Where would I locate it in the Bible?

Thank you

 

[Bretherngirl94]

2 Thessalonians 3:14 (“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed&#8221.

That's just one of the verses they use. In the old order mennonite communities here, if you are shunned you are no longer allowed to come into the church. You can't attend social events with the people of the church. Some families will even choose to not talk to you all together, but that is up to the family itself. I know a few people who were shunned from the church but the family still allows them to come over and visit when no other vistors are there. That's all I really know about it though, my church does not practice shunning, atleast not that I've ever heard about.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

According to Scripture, this putting away the evil from amongst yourselves, is required by Yhwh(God), for the sake of the GOOD NEWS (GOSPEL) and for the LIFE OF THE BODY. The practice of institutional groups to allow greedy, or liars, or immoral, persons on-going un-interrupted attendance/fellowship/association with the group indicates it is not alive in Christ. It is an order from God, a 'commandment', an instruction, to put away the wicked person. The body is not effective if it does not do this - like a persons' body overrun with cancer cannot function. And, if the person repents, they may be re-fellowshipped accordingly. This is best for the sinner as well as for the body, and obedient to God's Word. Very few fellowships practice according to God's Word. They are at best a mixture of believers and unbelievers, and cannot be trusted nor relied upon nor listened to (as it is written "take care what you listen to") ... ... ..

 

[gfellowships]

When Anabaptists speak of "shunning"... can you define "shunning" to me? Where would I locate it in the Bible?

As the other person replied with the 2 thessalonians verse. here is another:

2 John 1:10

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,



Essentially anyone who is persistenant in sin where there are 2-3 witnesses Elders of a church can ask them not to attend for a period of time to ask them to seek repentance with the Lord over that sin.

 

[miracle66]

Shunning may seem to outsiders to be extreme. But it is necessary for the benefit of the Brethren as well as the sinner. I think it is really a kindness sometimes, sinners become disruptive and prideful and need to humbled... it shakes them and opens their eyes and hearts. Even the Lords patience comes to an end... "God loves the sinner but not the sin."

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Shunning may seem to outsiders to be extreme. But it is necessary for the benefit of the Brethren as well as the sinner. I think it is really a kindness sometimes, sinners become disruptive and prideful and need to humbled... it shakes them and opens their eyes and hearts. Even the Lords patience comes to an end... "God loves the sinner but not the sin."

Even to "insiders" , so to speak, it may seem extreme,
but
just like when someone is quarantined for medical reasons, it is necessary to protect others, both members and visitors and those 'watching'.
If people can keep doing whatever they want to do that is destructive and wicked,
the purity is lost, and the life drains away (from the assembly) , as for example actually happened after the toronto debacle spread in assemblies worldwide that fell for it or 'received' someone 'carrying' that horrendous deceptive error. Places as far away as South Africa that had had good fellowship and good testimony, lost it all when the infection spread throughout the members....