"Ineffectual Shepherds"
The Apostle Paul warned of "grievous wolves" who would "enter in, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29). What does a faithful shepherd do when wolves attack the sheep? He drives the wolves away from the sheep, in order that the sheep may be preserved. While the shepherds show their ineffectiveness, the sheep are being torn to pieces!Are the shepherds of the Central flock driving out the wolves? The plain answer is, "No, they are not!" And while the shepherds show their ineffectiveness, the sheep are being torn to pieces!
We are told in Eph 5:7, 11 & 12, "Be not ye therefore partakers with them... And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." In verse 7 the word partaker is from the Greek summetokos meaning a joint holder. In verse 11 the word fellowship is from the Greek sugkoinoneo meaning to be a joint partaker with. If we fellowship "the unfruitful works of darkness" we become joint partakers with those who practice them.
It is absolutely vital that we have no fellowship with such. That is why we read in 2 Thess 3:6, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves Withdrawal of fellowship is a command of the Holy Spirit, not only to ecclesias, but also to individual brethren and sisters!from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." Withdrawal of fellowship is a command of the Holy Spirit, not only to ecclesias, but also to individual brethren and sisters! If an ecclesia is unwilling to withdraw fellowship from a brother who is walking "disorderly", it is the duty of the individual members to withdraw their fellowship, both from the offending brother, and also from those who still fellowship him. 2 Thess 3:14 is also relevant, "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." Again, in 1 Tim 6:3 & 5, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness.... from such withdraw thyself." This is not a command to ecclesias, but to individuals - from such "WITHDRAW THYSELF". Though this phrase in 1 Tim 6:5 is disputed it is in perfect agreement with the phrase "withdraw yourselves" in 2 Thess 3:6, and is included in the Received Text. Just as the man who came into contact with a bone or a dead body became unclean, so we are contaminated if we fellowship those who serve the flesh. We must "withdraw ourselves from such!" The "words of our Lord Jesus Christ" include the words "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt 19:6). It is absolutely clear that this is part of the doctrine which must be upheld, both in our individual lives, and also in our ecclesia.
So John in his 2 Epistle, verses 9-11, states, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine (teaching), receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds". This is obviously an instruction to individuals not to have anything to do with those who deny any part of scripture teaching, for if we do we shall become defiled by contact - we become a "partaker" of their evil deeds! Can we break bread with those who blaspheme? The question is too obvious to require an answer!It is clear that if we fellowship those who are walking disorderly we become defiled by that association, by failing to separate ourselves from error. Thus, Titus, in 3:10 & 11, says "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." The word subverted is from the Greek ekstrepho meaning turned out of the way. To change or deny the teaching of the scriptures is blasphemy, for Paul says in 1 Tim 1:19 & 20, "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." Can we break bread with those who blaspheme? The question is too obvious to require an answer!