IT’S A FAMILY; NOT A SOCIAL CLUB

Victor M. Eskew

 

          Jesus taught Nicodemus that he had to be born again when the Jewish leader came to him one night.  “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven” (John 3:3).  These words confused Nicodemus, so he asked:  “How can a man be born when he is old?  can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (John 3:4).  In answer to his question, Jesus went a little further explaining this spiritual birth to this ruler of the Jews.  “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

          The Spirit of God is an absolute essential in the new birth.  His role is not mystical or miraculous.  It is the Holy Spirit who revealed the gospel wherein the righteousness of God is revealed (2 Pet. 1:19-21; Rom. 1:16-17).  Therefore, the Holy Spirit is the one teaching the lost person what needs to be done to obtain the salvation which is in Jesus Christ.  The culminating act in man’s initial obedience is baptism in water for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 8:35-39; 22:16).  When a person hears and believes the gospel and is baptized for the remission of sin, he is born again.  He is born of water and of the Spirit.  Paul refers to the individual as a new creature (Rom. 6:3-4). 

          When a baby is born into this world, he is born into a family.  In like manner, when a person experiences the new birth, he is born into the family of God.  This family is the church according to Paul.  In 1 Timothy 3:15, he mentions “the house of God.”  In that same sentence, he reveals what the house of God is.  “…which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”  The church is God’s family.  God is the Father.  Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.  Christians are children through adoption (Eph. 1:5).

          When a person is born into the family of God, he is a son of God.  “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” (1 John 3:1).  Once a person becomes a child of God, he is a child of God forever.  This, however, does not guarantee the individual’s salvation.  It is possible for one of God’s children to apostatized.  Jesus taught this very clearly in the parable of the Prodigal Son.  “And he said, A certain man had two sons.  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.  And he divided unto them his living.  And not many days after the younger son gather all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat:  and no man gave unto him” (Luke 15:11-16).  This young son, although still the son of his father was lost.  When he finally returned home, his father described him as having been “dead” and “lost” (Luke 15:24, 32).  Yes, God’s children can depart from the joy of the household of God, but they do not cease being God’s children.  They are unfaithful children.

          The house of God universal is composed of all Christians throughout the world.  This large house is divided into smaller units called local congregations.  Each local congregation is a microcosm of the universal house of God.  Each local church can be referred to as “the house of God.”  In these local congregations, the children of God carry out their functions as God’s people.  They have duties to God.  They have duties to their brothers and sisters in Christ.  They have duties to those in the world.  Local churches allow God’s children to be overseen by a group of men called elders (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-2).  These men have been commanded to watch for the souls of those entrusted to their care (Heb. 13:17).  When a member begins to stray, the shepherds should immediately begin to bring that individual back into good standing with the family of God.  Some children, however, are stubborn and rebellious.  They are like the prodigal son.  They are determined to leave home and spend their life in a sinful condition before God.  God commands that these children be discipled by withdrawing fellowship from them.  “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” (2 Thess. 3:6).  These individuals do not cease to be children of God.  They are still our brothers and sisters.  They are erring.  They are unfaithful.  Too, they are lost, but they are still children in God’s family.  “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.  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thess. 3:14-15).  Notice the last words Paul uses to describe the individual who has been withdrawn from, “a brother.”

          It is at this point that the title of this article comes into play.  The church is a family.  It is not a social club.  A social club can be quit.  If one is a member of a social club, he can withdraw his name from the role of members.  If one is a member of a social club, he can declare that he is no longer a member.   This is not the case in the church.  The church is not a social club.  It is the family of God.  When one becomes a member, he cannot just opt out.  He cannot write a letter to the church and withdraw his membership.  God expects His children to do one of two things.  Serve him faithfully in the congregation wherein he was converted.  Or, he is to find another faithful congregation and place himself under the oversight of that that church.  If a person leaves a faithful congregation and goes into the world, he is lost.  If a child of God leaves a faithful congregation and becomes a member of a man-made denomination, he, too, is lost.  The church has an obligation to these individuals.  They are to try to save their souls.  “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).  However, if these individuals cannot be brought back, the church has no other option than to withdraw fellowship from these individuals.  Remember, Paul exhorts us to “withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” (2 Thess. 3:6).

          Many new converts do not understand the things we have set forth in his article.  They think the church is like a social club that can be quit at any time.  Many in the denominational world do not understand these principles.  For them, there is no true church.  Truth is relative.  And, as long as one declares his faith in Jesus as the Son of God, he is saved.  Thus, if one leaves their fellowship, they are not concerned about it.  Too, there are some in the church who are ignorant of Bible teaching on these concepts.  They see church discipline as mean and cruel.  If not mean, they do not really believe it works.  Thus, they are not happy when it is carried out. 

          Those who become prodigal sons in the family of God are lost.  They are not to be let go without anything begin said or done.  God authorizes the faithful members of the church to rescue these lost souls.  “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1).  Those who continue to manifest a stubborn and rebellious attitude toward their heavenly Father and His commands must be disciplined.  When this is done, it is hoped they are shamed into returning to God’s house.  If not, God is obeyed.   The church is warned about such actions.  And, the church remains pure from the practice of sin.