Expert: Phillip Senn - 11/6/2006

Question
Hi Phillip,
I was at Church on Sunday night and the young minister (Pastors son)spoke on "Whatever you bind shall be bound" etc, and stated that the church had the power to throw people out if they don't turn from sin when confronted - effectively throwing them out of the kingdom. This sparked some interesting conversation among my friends. Who exactly has the power to deliver someone to Satan for the destruction of the flesh? What sins are so bad to call for this action? If you throw someone out of your church do they lose their salvation? Why couldn't they just go to the church up the road like as if nothing ever happened?
look forward to hearing from you.

Answer
Matt,

Your Pastor's son was correct in saying that the church has the authority to dismiss someone from fellowship with the church for gross immorality. Unfortunately, that seems to be the direction that many churches are wanting to go. The ultimate goal in dismissing a member should never be to "get rid of the sinner". The goal should be, as is demonstrated by the Apostle Paul's writings in 1 Corinthians and elsewhere, to work to bring reconcilliation to that brother or sister that has chosen to live a life of sin.

The church is not the Kingdom of God. Rather the church operates in the Kingdom (Reign) of God. Those that seek to be faithful to the Lord are operating in that Kingdom. If a person is removed from membership and fellowship from the local body, that doesn't make them "lost". Rather, the Apostle Paul made it clear that the purpose was to "deliver such a one unto satan for the destruction of the flesh, that their soul may be saved.

A believer cannot lose Eternal Life...It is Everlasting. There is nothing that can seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Even the one that was guilty of sleeping with his father's wife was still considered to be worthy of being dealt with as a brother in the Lord.

Unfortunately, many believers have done exactly what you have suggested that this one could do.. they simply go up the street to another "church." A Biblically sound church would seek to know that person's needs prior to placing them on their "church roll."

The church has the authority to kick them out, and that would be binding upon them. It would also be binding upon the congregation to seek reconcilliation of that fallen brother. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye   which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted".

We have been given the ministry of reconcilliation. Let us be faithful in carrying out the work of the ministry that we have been called to perform.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn