And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed“
And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle,
The second thing that those who walk orderly should do is to “note that person.” Do not avoid conflict. Single out people who leech off others.
note that person
Paul says, “Mark that person. Single them out.” These people need to be singled out. Do not hope that the problem will go away. Identify them and deal with them.
and do not keep company with him,
“Keep company with” literally means to mix up with (1 Corinthians 5:9). Don’t do joint things together. Break close fellowship with this person. Do not show approval of their sin by your friendly fellowship with them.
that he may be ashamed
The third thing that the church should do about a person with a recalcitrant attitude toward work is to make these people feel ashamed about themselves. Literally, “may be ashamed” means to turn in, that is, to turn one upon himself and produce a feeling of shame. This is an objective shame that changes conduct (1 Corinthians 4:14; Titus 2:8). Idlers thus feel shunned by godly people.
Principle:
Breaking fellowship is sometimes necessary for the sake of the church.
Application:
Separation from certain believers under certain conditions is a biblical principle. God separates the sheep and the goats. He even separates the ox and the ass (Deuteronomy 22:10).
In a day when unity becomes the all-encompassing principle that governs all Christian thought, this sounds very strange. Ecumenism always carries the danger of syncretism and distortion of the truth. It does not allow for God’s distinctions. People want to reduce God’s truth down to something more simple. God’s Word is too big and too diverse for that.
The church should warn the disobedient members twice (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 5:14). If they still do not respond, they should be singled him out as troublemakers and cut from fellowship (Matthew 18:15-17).
Shame is an effective means of correcting aberrant behavior in the local church.
