"Walking Disorderly"
By Kenneth E. Thomas

Walking disorderly as used in the context of 2 Thessalonians 3 when given general application, has caused more problems than several lifetimes can erase in local congregations of the Lord's people over the years!  While I would not pretend to know all of the answers to this or any other problem, I do know that we must always consider the context of any passages as the first  priority in ascertaining its meaning. Some teaching is limited to the very situation under consideration. It may, under like circumstances, be applicable to a wider audience of course.  The fact that it was better for Christians not to marry  "under the present distress" 1 Cor. 7:26-30 , must not be taken to rule out the sanctity of the marriage relationship, because God saw in the very beginning that it was not good that the man should be alone.  Too, marriage is honorable and the marriage bed is undefiled according to Hebrews 13:4. 

Imagine what can happen if one lifts 2 Thessalonians 3:6 out of its context and calls anything that the person so using the passage considers as being a disorderly walk!  One could well draw one's own circle, step inside, and exclude everyone who doesn't have his same scruples on any given matter as being engaged in a "disorderly walk" and worthy of  being "withdrawn from."

I suggest also that this passage should never be used to apply to those who are not "among you," but only of folks who seek association with others of like precious faith in the local congregation while living sinful lifestyles. Those who aren't still "among you" and who have little or no interest in being considered members in a particular congregation could care less if the local church takes some kind of action which they call "withdrawing of fellowship" from them.  In the fist place, any sinful actions on their part that they persist in, have probably already severed their fellowship with the Godhead. Any action taken should be an attempt to "restore such an one" to the proper spiritual state (Galatians 6:1-4).  It is literally impossible to "withdraw" (fellowship or anything else) from those who have already "withdrawn" from  fellowship with the Lord and from association with the membership of a local congregation.   In the biblical cases where "withdrawal" was to be carried out, it was from those who were still seeking to be associated and who wanted to be considered as faithful brethren in Christ while engaged in sinful practices which had the capacity to be an evil influence on others, hence Paul said "..a little leaven leavens the whole lump" and admonished them to "deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus"  (1 Corinthians 5:1-13).  Fellowship was already broken and these brethren were not acknowledging this fact.

Let's look at what a general application of 2 Thessalonians 3:6 can promote if carried to its logical conclusions as used by many brethren today.   The usual idea is that anything that is considered as a habitual sinful action or activity or a failure to conduct  themselves as such folks understand others should conduct  themselves, constitutes a "disorderly walking" and they are fair game for this, the last step of  "church discipline," namely withdrawing.  Let's see now: What all would some say is a "disorderly walk" Some would say.  (1). Attending a movie.  (2). A woman not wearing an artificial covering in the assembly. (3). Smoking cigarettes, cigars, a pipe or  dipping snuff. (4). Using euphemisms. (5). Missing a certain number of assemblies including Wed. eve. or the Lord's day evening. (6). Playing cards. (7). Putting up a Christmas tree or decorating the house. (8). Women wearing pant suits. (9) Boys whose hair style is too long to suit some. (10). Women speaking up in a Bible class. (11). Working at a job that requires one to wear a gun. (12). Being in the military where one may  be called on to defend one's country from outside aggression. (13). Not wearing one's seat belts while driving a vehicle and getting caught which demands a public confessing before the local assembly along with slipping up and going a mile or two over the posted speed limit.  If such an one fails to make these infractions right by a public confession of guilt they are to be withdrawn  from.  (14). Above all, if one quits the Lord an no longer has any interest in spiritual matters, the local church must send a letter stating that they are "withdrawing fellowship" (a misnomer of course) which only drives the person farther away from the Lord and from His people, especially when no steps were taken while such  folks were "among them" and began showing signs of attitudes and actions which would if persisted in, lead to their departure from the faith.  Where in the world the idea of sending a "letter of withdrawal of fellowship" from one who isn't in fellowship ever came from, is beyond me to understand! Yet this persists as a general practice among some local churches of Christ to this good day.

As you are aware, I could lengthen the list of things, many of which I do not condone nor could I personally be guilty of with a clear conscience, that would have to be given the same treatment if indeed 2 Thessalonians 3:6 is to be employed as it is concerning "forsaking the assembling" of the saints (Hebrews 10:23-31).  I believe each Christian should in fact be at every possible assembly of the local congregation. We should all be "team players" or  maybe a better word would be "team workers" in the kingdom. But one's stewardship to the Lord, who is the only lawgiver James 4:12, must not be dictated by those of us who are fellow citizens in the kingdom of Christ. "To his own Master he stands or falls" Romans 14:4, the apostle Paul stated. Romans chapter fourteen and fifteen may properly be applied to such matters of personal growth , development, and stewardship. Therefore I can't tell you how much time to spend in prayer, bible reading, visiting others, etc. Nor can I dictate concerning one's strength or weakness in those things I listed above. How thankful I am that the Lord and my brethren were longsuffering with me while I was addicted to nicotine and did not assembly as faithfully as I could have and should have at one point in my life! If, however then had of "written me off" as it were, as some are fond of doing nowadays by sending a cold formal letter from the membership informing me that I had been excommunicated "withdrawn from," in all likelihood, I would not be serving the Lord in faithfulness today. I thank the Lord and my brethren for their prayers, admonition, rebuking and patience with me during those days when I was so spiritually weak.

 I do not wish anything written here to suggest the idea that doctrinal infractions nor moral imperfections should be overlooked and fellowship maintained with those in religious error  based on Romans chapters fourteen and fifteen, but only that we conduct ourselves as inspiration admonishes us to do in "becoming all things to all men so that we may gain the more" (1 Corinthians  9:18-23; 1 Corinthians 12:14- 27; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-21).

 Error must be opposed and not condoned whether moral or doctrinal, (Ephesians 5:11; 2 John 9-11; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; Galatians 1:6-11; Titus 3:8-10). Still, there's a right way and a wrong way to engage in such.  Let us be among those seeking to do all things to the glory of the Lord and to the salvation of precious souls for whom Christ died (Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11).
 
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