Disfellowshipping and Attendance

Sometimes in congregations the question comes up… “what should we do about members who have quit attending?”

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Some would recommend disfellowshipping them in accordance with what is taught in 1 Corinthians 5.

In my opinion our scenario would not fit 1 Corinthians 5. The fellow was actively involved in a sin that everyone knew about and continued to attend. Paul instructed the congregation to not associate with him in any form or fashion. Taking away that association would cause the fellow to lament what he had lost due to his willful sin.

See the difference? The one who has left the congregation doesn’t care about his association with other Christians so taking that away when he has already disposed of it won’t have the desired affect.

Some would recommend sending a letter to the fellow alerting him that he is no longer a member of the congregation. I’m not sure what the purpose of that would be because he has already given that up by walking away from it.

For these sorts of issues I think about the father and the Prodigal son. The Prodigal son gave up on his family to live a life style that he knew his family would not approve of.

Did the father send him a letter stating… “you are no longer my son”? of course not he continually thought of his lost son and looked earnestly for a change of heart.

Did the father “disfellowship” him? no, again, because the son had already removed his fellowship.

Those weak sheep who stray away need to be searched for and encouraged and not treated in such a way as to drive them away even further.

There’s a difference between a weak sheep and a rebellious sheep.