The words “downsizing,” “cutting back,” “reducing workforce,” “trimming budget,” “scaling down,” etc., etc. are increasingly common in our nation today and are hitting too close to home for many of us.  Whether we’ve been directly impacted by such workforce “adjustments,” each of us has certainly felt the instability in the economy and the inflation in costs of goods and services. All of…

As you have read this series of articles on withdrawing fellowship and considered this practice, you may be among those who view this action as cruel and unloving.  “Deliver to Satan?  Put away?  Not eat with such?” Is it unfair?  Is it heartless?  Here’s a good rule of thumb: when something in the Bible bothers you or seems nonsensical to you in…

I stand amazed at how men respond when confronted about doing right. Some think they have the right to ignore what the Lord said and just rely on His grace to take care of them. Others seek to minimize obedience by saying that devotion to keeping His commandments is legalism and seeking salvation by works. In spite of such efforts to turn…

It had to be one of the most trying times in the history of mankind. For decades, Jesus and the apostles had lived and worked among those in the first century. The ascension of Jesus and the martyrdom of almost every apostle must have created a great void in the early church. Its future lay in the balance. What would happen now…

Let us continue to prayerfully search the Scriptures on this subject of withdrawing fellowship and allow the Word of God to do the teaching and to answer our questions. Who gave the church the right to do this? Some have asked, “Who gave the elders the right to judge someone else?  Who gave you authority to withdraw your fellowship from another Christian?”…

This series of articles on withdrawing fellowship is designed to examine briefly the teaching of Scripture on this soul-important matter.  We have already noticed that withdrawing of fellowship is a command of God and looked at what actions are involved in this practice.  Let us continue to prayerfully search the Scriptures. Who are the ones from whom the church is to withdraw…

The other day I was talking to my wife, Judie, about how I miss those days when I could just pick up the phone and call older preachers, especially Franklin Camp, just to get their wise counsel about problems. She got that special look on her face I have seen over the years and then she said, “Dan, you need to face…

This is a continuation of a series of articles on the practice within the Lord’s church of withdrawing fellowship.  The purpose is to examine briefly the teaching of Scripture on this matter and to allow the New Testament to give the answers.  We have already noticed that withdrawing of fellowship is a command of God.  Let us continue to prayerfully search the…