424
Gospel Workers 1915
“But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a
heathen man and a publican.” If he will not heed the voice of the
church, if he refuses all the efforts made to reclaim him, upon the
church rests the responsibility of separating him from fellowship. His
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name should then be stricken from the books.
No church officer should advise, no committee should recommend,
nor should any church vote, that the name of a wrong-doer shall be
removed from the church books, until the instruction given by Christ
has been faithfully followed. When this has been done, the church has
cleared herself before God. The evil must then be made to appear as
it is, and must be removed, that it may not become more and more
widespread. The health and purity of the church must be preserved,
that she may stand before God unsullied, clad in the robes of Christ’s
righteousness.
If the erring one repents and submits to Christ’s discipline, he
is to be given another trial. And even if he does not repent, even if
he stands outside the church, God’s servants still have a work to do
for him. They are to seek earnestly to win him to repentance. And
however aggravated may have been his offense, if he yields to the
striving of the Holy Spirit, and by confessing and forsaking his sin
gives evidence of repentance, he is to be forgiven and welcomed to
the fold again. His brethren are to encourage him in the right way,
treating him as they would wish to be treated were they in his place,
considering themselves, lest they also be tempted.
“Verily I say unto you,” Christ continued, “Whatsoever ye shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose
on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
This statement holds its force in all ages. On the church has been
conferred the power to act in Christ’s stead. It is God’s instrumentality
for the preservation of order and discipline among His people. To
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it the Lord has delegated the power to settle all questions respecting
its prosperity, purity, and order. Upon it rests the responsibility of
excluding from its fellowship those who are unworthy, who by their
unchristlike conduct would bring dishonor on the truth. Whatever the
church does that is in accordance with the directions given in God’s
word, will be ratified in heaven.
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