The practice of shunning, also known as social exclusion or ostracism, involves deliberately avoiding association with or actively excluding an individual or group. In a biblical context, shunning often refers to avoiding fellowship with a church member who is under church discipline. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about shunning:
The Purpose of Church Discipline
The Bible teaches that one purpose of church discipline is to keep sin from spreading in the church. Passages such as 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 use the metaphor of yeast spreading through dough to illustrate how sin can permeate the church. The goal of disciplining an unrepentant church member through exclusion is to prompt them to repent and return to fellowship.
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 instructs believers to “have nothing to do with” a brother who refuses to work, so that he may be ashamed. The hope is that he will repent so the church can welcome him back. Likewise, Jesus teaches in Matthew 18:15-17 to first confront a brother privately regarding sin. If he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be treated as “a Gentile and a tax collector” until he repents.
Treating the Person as an Unbeliever
To be treated as “a Gentile and a tax collector” essentially means to be considered outside the fellowship of believers. While Gentiles and tax collectors were not necessarily shunned entirely in Jesus’ day, His followers were expected to primarily associate with other disciples. This exclusion from the privileges of church fellowship is intended to impress upon an unrepentant member the seriousness of their sin.
1 Corinthians 5:11 specifically instructs believers not to associate with a so-called brother who continues in sin such as sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness or swindling. Christians are only to have close relationships with fellow believers who are living obediently. The hope is that shunning will motivate the wayward person to repent and return to the fold.
The Guidelines for Excommunication
Scripture gives specific criteria for when shunning or excommunication is warranted. First, the sin must be outwardly evident and serious enough to disrupt the church (1 Corinthians 5:1). Second, the person has been confronted but remains unrepentant (Matthew 18:15-17). Their refusal to turn from sin reveals a heart dangerously lacking humility (Matthew 18:3-4).
The intention behind excommunication should always be restoration. If the excluded person repents, the church is commanded to wholeheartedly forgive them and welcome them back into fellowship (2 Corinthians 2:5-8). But as long as they remain obstinate, lack of repentance necessitates separation for the health of the church.
The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves
Though excommunication seems severe, Scripture compares it to the loving discipline a father gives his children. Hebrews 12:5-11 explains that hardship is often an instrument of God’s loving correction in the lives of His children. When church leaders rebuke members who are in sin, they act as representatives of God’s loving but firm fatherly discipline.
Just as parents must avoid provoking resentment in their children when disciplining them, churches should take great care to enact excommunication gently and carefully, with the hope of restoration always in view. But Scripture makes it clear that, when all else fails, exclusion protects the church from corruption and can be used by God to bring repentance and restoration.
Examples of Shunning in the New Testament
The New Testament records several occasions where shunning was practiced in the early church:
- Paul excommunicates an unnamed person from the Corinthian church for sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).
- Paul urges the Thessalonian church to shun persistently idle members (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15).
- Paul pronounces a solemn curse on any who preach a false gospel and says to “let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9).
- John writes that false teachers should not be welcomed or even greeted, so as not to participate in their “wicked work” (2 John 1:10-11).
In 3 John 1:9-11, John condemns Diotrephes for his prideful excommunication of other believers over disagreements. This serves as a warning that the practice can be abused when exercised over non-essential issues or personal disputes rather than willful, unrepentant sin.
Cautions Regarding Shunning
While Scripture shows that excommunication has a place in preserving the church’s purity, believers must be careful in how this is applied:
- It should only be enacted after much prayer, care, and confirmation by church leaders.
- Accusations should be verified according to biblical guidelines.
- The goal should always be restoration, not punishment or revenge.
- Gentleness and sadness, not pride or gloating, should characterize the attitude of the church.
- Exceptions may be warranted in cases of physical danger or abuse.
Overall, excommunication serves the dual purpose of driving out impurity from the church while also serving as God’s instrument to bring a wayward sheep back into the fold. When exercised properly, it expresses both God’s holiness and His heart of love.
How Shunning Should Be Practiced
The Bible does not explicitly define to what degree a church should avoid contact with an excommunicated individual. However, some principles can be drawn from related scriptural commands regarding relationships with unrepentant sinners:
- Do not associate or eat with them (1 Corinthians 5:11).
- Warn them as a brother (2 Thessalonians 3:15).
- Do not greet them (2 John 1:10).
- Spur them to repentance (2 Corinthians 2:7).
- Count them as a mission field (Matthew 18:17).
Based on these ideas, many churches practice differentiated levels of restricted fellowship. Close relationships are severed, but courteous greetings and necessary family contact may be maintained. The focus is limiting voluntary fellowship while avoiding unnecessary hostility or pretense of “not knowing” the person.
Shunning Non-believers
Scripture does not endorse shunning non-believers simply because of their lack of faith or sinful lifestyles. While Christians are called to be in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-18), this refers to avoiding the influence of sin, not avoiding non-Christians themselves. Evangelism necessitates contact with unbelievers, though proper boundaries with them should be maintained.
Romans 16:17-18 does warn against those who deliberately cause divisions among believers. But even in those cases, relationship rather than shunning is the aim. Scripture offers guidelines for interacting with people who are pursuing sexually immoral lifestyles in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11, but does not forbid ethical association with sinners.
Should Family Members Be Shunned?
Excommunication does not negate biological family ties, though it will likely strain familial relationships. Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 to avoid immoral so-called brothers imply contact is permissible as necessary between family members. But close association should be restricted.
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 specifically tells believers not to regard an excommunicated person as an “enemy” but rather to “warn him as a brother.” This principle implies a degree of care and communication for family members is appropriate, even if voluntary fellowship is limited. Elders may provide wisdom to families navigating these difficult situations.
Shunning in the Old Testament
Though instructions regarding church discipline are found mainly in the New Testament, the concept of shunning also appears in the Old Testament:
- Moses commands the Israelites to destroy idolaters among them (Deuteronomy 13:6-11).
- Ezra commands Jews to divorce unbelieving wives (Ezra 10:10-11).
- Jewish leaders expel blind men for claiming Jesus as Messiah (John 9:22).
These cases reveal times when God’s people practiced exclusion to maintain purity. However, examples of Old Testament shunning primarily relate to protecting national identity and preventing influence from idolatry. Most instructions about church discipline come in the epistles.
Church Discipline and Excommunication Today
Views about formal excommunication differ greatly among modern churches. Some practice it consistently, others seldom or never implement exclusion. Factors include church polity, doctrine of ecclesiology, concern over legal issues, and more. However, even when not strictly practiced, principles of restricting fellowship are often applied informally to some degree when addressing sin issues in churches today.
According to a statistical report from The Gospel Coalition, over 75% of protestant pastors said their church had practiced some form of church discipline within the past five years. About half said they believed the practice has become more common in recent years, while others saw it declining.
Whether practiced privately or corporately, most evangelical churches and leaders do view scriptural principles of church discipline as valid and important. The methods may vary but the goal of restoring wandering believers and preserving the church’s purity remains relevant in modern contexts.
Should Shunning Be Used for Heretics?
How or whether to practice shunning with professing Christians who may have unorthodox doctrine is a more complex issue. Scripture warns against false teachers but does not specifically discuss shunning them in every case.
Paul says in Titus 3:10 that a divisive person should be warned twice and then avoided, which may indicate shunning heretics. But he also writes in 1 Corinthians 5:12 that judging those outside the church is up to God. Determining who exactly is “inside” or “outside” is not always clear cut.
Generally, New Testament instructions regarding church discipline pertain to willful, sinful lifestyles rather than disputed doctrines. However, church leaders must exercise discernment when heretical teachings threaten to divide or contaminate a congregation. Shunning may occasionally be warranted, but humility and gentleness should characterize the approach.
Can Shunning Be Abused?
While scripturally sound in some circumstances, the practice of shunning or excommunication can also be misused. Caution is needed to avoid the following potential abuses:
- Being overly quick to separate, without adequate process or effort to restore
- Hypocritical shunning of others for sins we ourselves are guilty of
- Shunning based on personal disputes rather than church health
- Pride and arrogance instead of gentleness and humility
- Shunning non-Christians rather than lovingly evangelizing them
- Forbidden contact that harms family relationships
- Fostering an “us vs them” mentality toward the excluded
Church leaders must take care to enact discipline gently, fairly and only when necessary to avoid these dangers.
Does Shunning Violate Religious Freedom?
Secular society often views organized shunning as infringing upon individual liberties. However, theologically, Christian churches see the voluntary practice as an expression of their right to freedom of association. Members who join a church consent to accountability.
That said, legal analysts note several considerations that create gray area when evaluating whether shunning practices violate rights. Issues like use of intimidation, interference in family relationships, defamation, discrimination, and harm to third parties complicate religious freedom claims.
Overall, while not categorically illegal, shunning is a controversial practice churches may enact only cautiously, focusing on rehabilitation. Aggressive or coercive control employing shunning could potentially generate civil lawsuits in some cases.
How Should Shunning Be Reconciled?
When an excluded person demonstrates repentance, Scripture offers guidelines for reconciling:
- Forgive and comfort them (2 Corinthians 2:7).
- Welcome them back wholeheartedly (2 Corinthians 2:8).
- Seek diligently after lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14).
- Rejoice over their return (Luke 15:7).
- Restore gently (Galatians 6:1).
Church leaders should be quick to end shunning once evidence of godly sorrow and change appears. They must be willing to express forgiveness and acceptance. Healing broken relationships may take time but should be pursued earnestly.
How Christ’s Love Should Motivate Discipline
Scripture repeatedly connects love and discipline. Believers are called to speak truth to each other because of Christ’s love. They must care enough about each other and about Christ’s reputation to take sin seriously and call for repentance when needed.
Jesus says believers will be known by how they love each other (John 13:35). This love calls them to accountability and willingness to obey truth. Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 that God judges those outside the church, but believers are to judge those inside, because association matters.
Above all, confrontation of sin and any resulting discipline aims for restoration just as God lovingly pursues and redeems rebellious souls. Even when painful, discipline expresses Christ’s nurturing love for His church.
Objections to the Practice of Shunning
Some common objections that have been raised regarding the practice of excommunication include:
- It is overly harsh and contradictory to Christian love
- It denies individual freedom of thought and conscience
- It lacks biblical support as an ongoing church practice
- It assumes human judgment is infallible
- It fosters self-righteous and prideful attitudes
- Separation makes restoration less likely
Advocates of responsible church discipline admit abuses can occur. However, they point to scriptural precedent and the priority of maintaining holy fellowship. Accountability stems from love and aims for restoration. When exercised carefully and gently, discipline can positively nurture individual holiness and corporate witness.
Conclusion
The New Testament clearly gives guidelines for confronting ongoing, unrepentant sin in the church and shows occasions where exclusion facilitated restoration. However, shunning must be exercised judiciously and in love, with hope of redemption always in view. The purity and peace of Christ’s church should be preserved through nurturing spiritual health, not control.
Most evangelical churches continue to affirm the practice of discipline, even if implementation varies. Loving accountability belongs in communities claiming Christ’s name. Expressing patience and pursuing lost sheep should characterize the process. As Scripture repeatedly reveals, love, truth and mercy underscore faithful efforts to restore.