II Thessalonians 3:14,15
“If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
This is a description of church discipline. Most experiences include churches attempting to get people in their doors. This is that unfortunate necessity that distances those that are contrary to the faith.
This is similar to parents telling a child not to play with a particular youngster. They fear a bad influence. Galatians 5:9 says, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.” The same thing happens in a church. Attitudes and actions are contagious. If sinful behavior is tolerated, then others will adopt it. Instead of giving up on the individual, there is a distancing.
God through Paul is trying to protect us. Errant teaching leads away from God and His protection and presence. Many churches have embraced worldly philosophies that are against the bible. This is leading many astray. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 18:6, “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
How does this church discipline work? An explanation comes first. If the person still ignores the teaching, then comes the distancing. We are social creatures. The loneliness is painful, so the person returns with a repentance attitude.
There was an extreme case in I Corinthians, in which someone was sleeping with his stepmother. That church didn’t correct him. They should have, along with distancing. That also didn’t work, so here’s what Paul says in that epistle, “I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
Today’s passage has an individual ignoring the pastor’s teaching and/or the bible. We are to not associate with that believer. This doesn’t mean we stay away all who don’t adhere to the bible, only believers. Paul addresses this in I Corinthians 5:9,10, “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.”
Lord, protect us from those who would corrupt us. Give us wisdom as to when we are to distance ourselves.