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Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 10:32:14 +0200
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: Catechism, 33
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Q. May those be admitted to the Lord's supper, who teach false
doctrines, or lead offensive lives?
A. No; lest the covenant of God be profaned, and his wrath kindled
against the whole church.
When such people are admitted to the Lord's supper, who show through
their words or in their lives, that they forsake the LORD; when such are
admitted, God's covenant is profaned. Such people, with their ungodly
lives, profane all what they touch, and all places where they are. When
God's covenant is profaned through the congregation, then God's wrath is
kindled against them. This is, what Paul taught us. He said: "For he
that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to
himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak
and sickly among you, and many sleep." (1 Corinthians 11:29,30) Let's
explain these words. He that eats and drinks unworthily, that is he, who
is not worthy to come to the Lord's table. He has made himself unworthy
by his ungodly life. What result would it have, if he came to the
supper? "He eats and drinks damnation to himself", says the apostle.
That is, while eating and drinking, he aggravates his present and future
damnation. Such a person, who heedlessly comes to the Lord's supper, is
"not discerning the Lord's body". What does this mean? Not discerning
the Lord's body means, that he does not discern the holy matters from
his profane life. He does not see, how holy that table is, and thinks
that even sin can be tolerated there. But, who is discerning the Lord's
body, considers the worthiness of the Lord's death, and comes to the
table with great reverence. Paul has warned the people, not to admit the
ungodly to the Lord's table. After they listened not, and admitted the
unworthy, he continues with: "For this cause many are weak and sickly
among you, and many sleep". This is God's wrath, which is kindled
against that congregation, and became visible in many who were weak,
sickly, and asleep. God deprives the congregation of the spirit of
soundness, and of judgement, and many fall spiritually asleep. When the
congregation is in such a state, matters become very dangerous. When the
watchmen are asleep, together with the rest of the people, the enemies
may invade. Nobody will stop them, since many or all are weak, sickly,
or asleep. Satan enters the congregation, and carries out there his
destroying work. And the cause? Because the people admitted the ungodly
to the Lord's table. And then God took His Spirit away, so that the
congregation was deprived of the necessary gifts to stand in this
ungodly world, and to resist the enemies. And then, the end of the
congregation was there. Through too much passing over of sins, they put
into effect their own destruction.
Let us now return to the question and its answer. Question: May
those be admitted to the Lord's supper, who teach false doctrines, or
lead offensive lives? Answer: No, lest God's covenant be profaned, His
wrath kindled against the whole church, His Spirit taken away together
with the gifts, and the enemies destroys the church.
Let then the watchmen stand on the walls, and keep out the enemies.
And let they also pay attention to the inside, for many future enemies
come forth from the congregation itself. This is what Paul foresaid us.
He said that from outside and from inside, the enemies would arise: "For
I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
(Acts 20:29,30) Let we then stand guard at the Lord's supper, lest we be
destroyed.
Having spoken about such people, who teach false doctrines, or lead
offensive lives, the next question asks:
Q. How must we then deal with such persons?
A. According to the appointment given us by Christ, Matt. 18:15,16,17:
"If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault
between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, you have gained thy
brother but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established; and if he still neglects to hear them, tell it unto the
church; but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a
heathen man and a publican."
How must we deal with the ungodly? We must deal with them according to
the appointment given us by Christ. So, not according to our own
pleasure, nor to any other's will, but according to Christ's
appointment. In Matthew 18, we read, how He wills that we deal with the
ungodly in the congregation. First, let one go to the offender, and
speak with him. Perhaps, when he accepts admonition, he might be brought
back from his sins. Thus, when one speaks with him, the rest of the
congregation will not know the sin, and the matter may be settled
without much offence. But in the case the offender continues in his
wicked life, let then a second person, or a third, together with the
first, go to him, and let them speak with him. His sin is then become
somewhat more public. Also, those persons might function as witnesses;
for there is written, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every
word may be established. Let these persons be witnesses against the
sinner. Let them also talk with the sinner. And, if he returns from his
evil ways, then the brother is gained again. He is brought back to the
right way. However, if he, in spite of several admonitions and warnings,
obstinately refuses to obey God, let then these two or three witnesses
tell it to the church. The whole congregation will know it then. The
sinner is become public, and will be warned in public. If he also
resists this, let him then be cut off from the congregation. He must be
regarded as a heathen man, and as a publican.
Some people, of too tender character, say: "Let the sinner at least
be connected to the congregation. Let we not throw him out. For, when he
is still with us, he at least hears the Word; and who knows what God
might do?" So speak the tender-minded, but God speaks totally different.
"Let him be as the heathen man", cut him off. Let not the rotten member
be in the body, lest the whole body becomes sick. Let we then not listen
to the hypersensitive people, who allow all evil, to destroy also the
rest. Let we keep the body of the church healthy, and weed out the
weeds. Listen to our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who said that God takes away
every branch that bears not fruit. "I am the true vine, and my Father is
the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh
away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may
bring forth more fruit." (John 15:1,2)
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Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Listowner of chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
Web: http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/cate: cat-033.txt
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