Being excommunicated...

Being excommunicated.... I read an article by a non-denominational church about the doctrine of excommunicating individuals that have known sin or purposely defy this churches general doctinal statement...

I must say it made sense to me. And does have an impact on a congregation.

The article gave an example of a man who openly commited sin, enjoyed it, and tried to draw a number of folks in his church into it as well. He was confronted, he refused to repent on three seperate occasions... and he was written out of the membership of this church.


The main reason stated by the church council for ecxommunicating this man was so that anyone without the church would know he was not a memeber in good standing while he went his own way.

In affect it cut off his association with that church so that no body could blame the church for his error and sin.

It dawned on me that, as harsh as excommunication seems, its a protective measure to limit the harm to a churches/denominations reputation.

Im sure this might open up some conversation... hopefully not argument, but good discussion.

[minks]

Originally Posted by Far Rider

Being excommunicated.... I read an article by a non-denominational church about the doctrine of excommunicating individuals that have known sin or purposely defy this churches general doctinal statement...

I must say it made sense to me. And does have an impact on a congregation.

The article gave an example of a man who openly commited sin, enjoyed it, and tried to draw a number of folks in his church into it as well. He was confronted, he refused to repent on three seperate occasions... and he was written out of the membership of this church.


The main reason stated by the church council for ecxommunicating this man was so that anyone without the church would know he was not a memeber in good standing while he went his own way.

In affect it cut off his association with that church so that no body could blame the church for his error and sin.

It dawned on me that, as harsh as excommunication seems, its a protective measure to limit the harm to a churches/denominations reputation.

Im sure this might open up some conversation... hopefully not argument, but good discussion.

If you wanna belong you had better set a good example and display what the church stands for.
Much like being a sales person, you cant sell a product if ya don't believe in it.

[gmc]

Times change, in olden days it was a vicious method of social control as it used also to mean that those still in the church could not associate with him or her. It also condemned them to hell-assuming you believed in such a thing in the first place. In a secular society it is no big deal.

Originally Posted by gmc

Times change, in olden days it was a vicious method of social control as it used also to mean that those still in the church could not associate with him or her. It also condemned them to hell-assuming you believed in such a thing in the first place. In a secular society it is no big deal.

Yep I think youre right, it has lost a bit of its power. Less people worry about it. But I also see many folks say they are of a certain faith, yet dont follow the basic tenents of that faith only to lead some astray... That faith then has the right to say "he's not of us".

[SOJOURNER]

Originally Posted by Far Rider

Being excommunicated.... I read an article by a non-denominational church about the doctrine of excommunicating individuals that have known sin or purposely defy this churches general doctinal statement...

I must say it made sense to me. And does have an impact on a congregation.

The article gave an example of a man who openly commited sin, enjoyed it, and tried to draw a number of folks in his church into it as well. He was confronted, he refused to repent on three seperate occasions... and he was written out of the membership of this church.


The main reason stated by the church council for ecxommunicating this man was so that anyone without the church would know he was not a memeber in good standing while he went his own way.

In affect it cut off his association with that church so that no body could blame the church for his error and sin.

It dawned on me that, as harsh as excommunication seems, its a protective measure to limit the harm to a churches/denominations reputation.

Im sure this might open up some conversation... hopefully not argument, but good discussion.

That's an interesting interpretation.

I have always looked at excommunication like "shunning" in the Amish way of life. It's a way of control. If you are shut out of the life of all the people you know, you will want to return to it, toe the line and, hopefully, not get kicked out again.

Point to Ponder: If excommunication is to keep harm from a denomination's reputation, why aren't a lot more priest excommunicated?

Originally Posted by SOJOURNER

That's an interesting interpretation.

I have always looked at excommunication like "shunning" in the Amish way of life. It's a way of control. If you are shut out of the life of all the people you know, you will want to return to it, toe the line and, hopefully, not get kicked out again.

Point to Ponder: If excommunication is to keep harm from a denomination's reputation, why aren't a lot more priest excommunicated?

Well, as far as your point to ponder. It would make sense to excommunicate priests who commit crimes against their flocks... it would send a clear messsage to the flock that the church proper does not tolerate the sin of its leadership.

I suppose I have a reputation like my fathers of being harsh, but honestly I'd have no problem kicking out a preist that did not represent the church.

I do also agree with you as far as the power of excommunication that you mentioned.

I do believe the idea of church discipline is to restore a wayward soul, but at some point you can't infect a weaker member of the church to a known unrepentant, unwilling to conform sinner.

Originally Posted by SOJOURNER

Point to Ponder: If excommunication is to keep harm from a denomination's reputation, why aren't a lot more priest excommunicated?

Valid point. I think though that the Catholic Church reserves excommunication to those who willfully and publicly defy official church doctrine and teachings. Even then, it takes a long involved process before they start proceedings in order to give the 'sinner' a chance to repent and redeem themselves.

DC is the home of Catholic University. A few months ago, there was a story in the paper about how a Professor was barred from teaching anything pertaining to religious doctrine because some of the views he held and shared in class were contradictory to the official Church stance. This individual could still teach other courses like mathematics or chemistry but was not allowed to teach religious courses unless he agreed to toe the line.

Originally Posted by JAB

Valid point. I think though that the Catholic Church reserves excommunication to those who willfully and publicly defy official church doctrine and teachings. Even then, it takes a long involved process before they start proceedings in order to give the 'sinner' a chance to repent and redeem themselves.

DC is the home of Catholic University. A few months ago, there was a story in the paper about how a Professor was barred from teaching anything pertaining to religious doctrine because some of the views he held and shared in class were contradictory to the official Church stance. This individual could still teach other courses like mathematics or chemistry but was not allowed to teach religious courses unless he agreed to toe the line.

Interesting.

My wife attended a very, very conservative christian college and there were different views on the way in which the bible is historically studied, both views are taught at the school ,even though only one is written into the doctrinal statement of the school. It's my personal view not to agree with whats taught at this college because of this issue, I think it causes confusion. But from what you discribe about the CU issue it makes perfect sense. Wish they would take that stance at this school. I might send my daughter there then.

[chonsigirl]

Originally Posted by JAB

Valid point. I think though that the Catholic Church reserves excommunication to those who willfully and publicly defy official church doctrine and teachings. Even then, it takes a long involved process before they start proceedings in order to give the 'sinner' a chance to repent and redeem themselves.

DC is the home of Catholic University. A few months ago, there was a story in the paper about how a Professor was barred from teaching anything pertaining to religious doctrine because some of the views he held and shared in class were contradictory to the official Church stance. This individual could still teach other courses like mathematics or chemistry but was not allowed to teach religious courses unless he agreed to toe the line.

Boy, that's good to know JAB! I put in an application to that University, and I don't think they would like my more evangelical beliefs.

[BabyRider]

I don't have a lot of tolerance for organized religion of any sort, but this point here:

Point to Ponder: If excommunication is to keep harm from a denomination's reputation, why aren't a lot more priest excommunicated?

makes LOADS of sense to me. The way you put it, Far, a member is excommunicated to protect the church, and not allow blame to lie with the church, correct? So how is it that more priests aren't excommunicated at the least, and prosecuted at worst? Sounds to me like this practice, and a few others are designed to protect the church, and the "flock" is left to fend for itself. The total opposite of what a church is supposed to be for, as far as I've been led to believe.