Dealing with Problem People Biblically: 2 Thess Lesson 13

CTW – Titus 2:11-3:11

2 Thessalonians 3:6

Dealing with Problem People Biblically

 Read 2 Thessalonians 3

It is inevitable that there will come a time in every Bible-believing, Bible practicing church when the church will be required to deal with those whose lives are out of step with orthodox Christian living. By orthodox, I mean beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors or conduct that is consistent with sound biblical teaching. There will be someone who will demonstrate by their words, attitudes, or actions that they are out of line with either their doctrine or their manner of living. They are out of step with the truth of God’s word. When this becomes evident, it is incumbent upon the church to take the steps necessary to protect the integrity, purity, and unity of the fellowship. The goal is not the removal of such people. The goal is always to seek repentance and restoration.

I’ve spent the last few weeks laying the foundation for verse 6 and what comes after verse 6. Paul prepared the church for verse 6 with what he wrote in verses 1-5. It was important for the church to know that he was depending upon the Lord as he gives the command of verse 6. Paul asks for prayer because he knows God must do the work in the heart. He asks for the word of God to spread rapidly and be glorified because the word of God is the authoritative source for doctrine and duty. He was dependent upon the Lord to rescue them from perverse and evil men who do not have faith. Paul established his credibility as a concerned spiritual leader by the way he had lived among the Thessalonians. Here he is summarizing his commitment to trusting in the Lord as a spiritual leader. He was going to command them to take drastic steps to protect the purity of the fellowship so they needed to know he was trusting in the Lord completely as he commands them to take this action.

He also established his confidence in them. As we saw last week in verses 3-5, it was really the confidence in the work of the Lord in them. Paul was assured of their commitment to do what he commands because he was sure of the Lord’s faithfulness. The Lord will strength and protection from the evil one. If the evil one had no ability to destroy their purity and unity, an unruly brother would not pose nearly so powerful a threat. Paul was confident of the Lord’s work in making them an obedient group of followers of Christ. They were doing what Paul had commanded. He had already commanded hard things and they were obeying. He was sure they would continue to do what he commanded.

Paul was also confident in the Lord that He would direct their hearts into the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ. When dealing with problem people in the church our hearts need to be directed into the love of God. We don’t take these steps to protect the unity and purity of the church because we are angry at the unruly brother. We take these actions because we love them and are concerned for their spiritual well-being. We also need to stand steadfast in Christ. Those who are rebuked biblically will sometimes push back, get defensive, or even belligerent. The Lord must direct our hearts into the steadfastness of Christ so we will stand firm for the Lord’s truth.

So having established his own commitment to trust God completely, and having confirmed his confidence in the Lord’s work among them, Paul has laid the foundation necessary for them to be ready to receive this command. So Paul writes in verse 6, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the traditions which you received from us.” This is a clear command. This is not something which the church has an option to do. Admittedly, this is something very few churches have the conviction or the courage to do, but this is a command to do what we must do to protect the integrity, the purity, and the unity of the church.

In the previous messages I have stressed at least a couple times that the church is the bride of Christ. We don’t get to decide what kind of a bride He desires. We don’t have the option of allowing His bride to become something less than He desires or deserves. He wants to present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing. He wants her to be holy and blameless. Therefore, when there are obvious compromises and unsightly blemishes among His bride, there is a responsibility to take the steps necessary to protect, preserve, and maintain the purity of our Lord’s bride.

Probably the best place to start with this verse is to begin by understanding the meaning of the word “unruly.” The KJV translates this word “disorderly.” Many of the newer translations render it “idleness.” The Greek word does not require us to translate it as “idle” or “idleness.” It can include the idea of idleness. These translators have translated it as such because the context of this chapter leads us to believe that the primary problem was that of people who refused to work. The word translated “unruly life” in verse 6 is of the same Greek root as the word translated “undisciplined” in verse 7, and again in verse 11. 

The main Greek word is “atakteo.” It was used to describe a soldier who breaks the ranks and behaves in a disorderly or irregular manner. It was used of someone who neglected his duties. This is one whose life is out of step. The military does not tolerate a soldier who breaks rank and acts in a disorderly manner. Employers don’t tolerate employees who break ranks and walk out of step with the culture of the business. The church should deal with the one whose life is not according to the truth of Scripture.

Paul goes on to qualify this kind of lifestyle by saying that it is, “not according to the traditions which you received from us.” The word translated “traditions” is “paradosis.” This is a tradition or a doctrine or an injunction delivered or communicated from one to another. The traditions delivered by Paul were the teachings of God’s word. Back in 1 Thess. 2:13 Paul was thanking God because when the Thessalonians heard the word of God from him they accepted if as exactly that, the word of God. To live according to the traditions is to live according to the instruction from the word of God. Back in 2 Thess. 2:15 Paul called the brethren (those who were beloved by the Lord, chosen by God from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth) to stand firm and hold to the traditions which they had been taught.

The issue is with those people whose lives are not according to the truth of God’s word. Their lifestyle shows they are breaking the ranks and behaving in a disorderly manner. They are neglecting the duties and responsibilities of the Christian’s walk. They are disobedient to the word of God.

What is Paul commanding the Thessalonians to do? He is commanding them to “keep away” from every brother who leads an unruly life. The word translated “keep away” means to avoid, to withdraw oneself from someone. There are steps to be taken and a biblical process to be followed in carrying this out, and we will take a look at this process in a moment. But we should not miss the weight of this command. When we are dealing with a person whose life is out of line with what is normally considered consistent Christian lifestyle, we are told to keep away from that brother. We withdraw ourselves from them.

In fact, we are told to keep away from “every brother” who leads an unruly life. It doesn’t matter how much money they give, or how influential they are, or how charismatic they may be, or how much status they may have in the community, if their life is unruly, we are to keep away from them. It is noteworthy that Paul calls this one a “brother.” They may have been a part of the fellowship of the church for a long time. They may have demonstrated a track record of faithfulness for a time. But when the unruliness of their lives becomes evident, this separation is to take place.

Paul is not going to leave this issue alone. This isn’t the only place he tells this church to do this. Look ahead to verse 14. “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.” The Greek word in verse 14 means “don’t mix together, don’t mingle with, or fellowship, or keep company” with such a one.

This is not the only place in Paul’s writings where he calls the church to take these steps. This isn’t some obscure teaching. Let me show you a few more examples. Turn to Romans 16:17-18. “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.” Notice the instruction here. It is to the “brethren.” This isn’t just for the elder. This is for all the brethren. This is a call to be diligent and watchful. The shepherd is constantly watching for the threats to the flock, but the sheep have eyes too. If you see or hear something that is inconsistent with that which is taught in the word of God, you are responsible to turn away from those who are the source of this error.

Why? Verse 18 goes on to describe that these men are slaves of their own appetites, and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. They are a threat to the spiritual well-being of the church. Those who are a threat to the spiritual well-being of the church must be identified and dealt with the way the Bible tells us to deal with them.

Turn to 1 Cor. 5 for the next example. 

Titus 3:10

So Paul commands the church of Thessalonica to keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life. It is a command. It is not optional. The validity of this command isn’t up for debate. The relevance of this command to the church today should not be up for debate. This command isn’t to be ignored because it might upset some people or hurt someone’s feelings. Neither is it to be done in anger or with animus.  

Details matter. Paul says, “We command you, brethren…” Who is commanded to take this action? It is the brethren. Paul does not say, “We command you elders.” This is an imperative command to all the church. It is necessary for the church to be unified with this is happening. And, it is necessary to protect all of our reputations as followers of Christ. This is a call to all the brethren to address problems with every brother because we are all in this together. If Caleb turned out to be a crook of an attorney, and his reputation was destroyed in the legal community, and he was publically humiliated and disbarred because of unethical or unlawful practices as an attorney, we would all pay the price for that. My own reputation as a Christian pastor would be damaged in the eyes of those who know he goes to church here and plays an important role in our services.

An unruly life impacts the testimony of the whole body. That is one of the reasons Paul told the Corinthians that a little leaven permeates the whole lump of dough. Clean out the leaven. The unruly life of one will negatively impact the reputation of the whole.

As a church, we don’t offer a lot that the world is looking for. Most people looking for a church are looking for programs that will entertain their kids, and upbeat music that will create an emotional atmosphere that creates the illusion of an experience with God. They want to have their felt needs met. They don’t want to be confronted with their sin. They want to be made to feel good about what they are. They don’t have much of an appetite for the in-depth, accurate, exhaustive exposition of the Scriptures. So really, all we have to offer is truth, and the lives of those who have been transformed by that truth. If they find truth and transformed lives they will find something they will not find in many other places. 

The Thessalonian church was a good church. We know this because of what Paul wrote in the first chapter of the first letter to them. Turn there for a moment. Read this chapter. The Thessalonians were so influenced by what they heard and saw in Paul and the others with him that they were transformed. So great was this transformation that they had become imitators of Paul, and had themselves become an example for all the believers in Macedonia. So faithful was their lifestyles that their faith toward God had spread all over. Their lives were the indisputable evidence that they had turned to God from idols and were serving the living and true God.

But now, a few “brothers” were among them leading unruly lives. None of what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 1 will long remain true unless they are willing to obey the command of 2 Thessalonians 3:6. Those who lead unruly lives, if allowed to continue in the fellowship of the church, will destroy the credibility of the church and the cause of Christ suffers.

We must obey this command. When we do, we must do it correctly. This is not something about which the Scriptures have remained silent. Turn to Matthew 18:15-19. Read the passage.

This is perhaps the most neglected instruction in the Bible. The church will not do this, not because they don’t know they are supposed to, but because they don’t actually believe the word of God. Listen to me. The test of belief is not what we say, it is what we do. If a church will not do what these verses tell us to do, they don’t believe the word of God. Why won’t they do it? They won’t do it because their priority isn’t the integrity, purity and unity of the church. Their priority is growing the church. They believe that confronting sin and growing the church are mutually exclusive. If you confront sinful lifestyles you will run people off.

How far has the church strayed from the truth! Let’s go to Acts 5 very quickly. Read verses 1-6. Here a man in the church lied about the price of a piece of property he had sold. He wasn’t required to sell it. He wasn’t required to give any of the proceeds to the church. This he did of his own free will. What he did was to lie about the sale price. He was trying to impress the people by telling them he gave the entire amount to support the church when he really gave a portion. Not a big deal right? Wrong. God killed him right in the middle of the offering. Then, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened to her husband, and the same thing happened to her. 

This is a sure-fire plan to stop church growth in its tracks. If you want to stop a church from growing, just deal with the sin by killing a couple of liars. No one will want to come to a church like that! Really? Look at verse 14. “And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.” There is a right way and a wrong way to build a church. The right way is not by making seeking sinners comfortable.

Back to Matthew 18. I want to point out that this is the first time in the New Testament that the word “church” appears. This is our Lord’s first mention of the church. I would suggest that this is important. If this is His first mention of the church, then what He tells us regarding the church first, might be of first importance. It may not be more important than everything else, but it must be accepted as at least as important as everything else. If it is mentioned first by the Lord of the church, the church should probably give it more attention and consideration than it is currently given by most of the so-called church.

In these verses Jesus tells us the steps to follow when it comes time to keep away from an unruly, undisciplined, problem person in the church. Those who live in obvious sin are the problem people. Sin in the church isn’t to be ignored, overlooked, or hidden. It is to be exposed. It is to be dealt with. It is to be confronted. Sin isn’t to be tolerated among a people who are called to be a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, who are to proclaim the excellencies of the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. His light exposes sin.

It is the responsibility of the church members to initiate this process. Paul said, “We command you brethren…to keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life.” Jesus said, “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private.” Don’t call your friends at church to ask them if they have noticed what is going on, or if they have heard the news. Don’t call the pastor and tell him about the issue. Go to the sinning brother and show him his fault in private.

Why is this important? The goal is restoration. In the passage just before this Jesus tells a parable about a hundred sheep. One of them goes astray and the man leaves the 99 to go find the one and he rejoices that the one is found and restored to the flock. The goal of the church discipline process is restoration. The best way to facilitate restoration is to keep the scope of the sin within the scope of the offense. If I sin against you, or you know of something sinful in my life, come to me. If you come to me and tell me that you know I have sinned and you have told everyone else about it, you have sinned against me by gossiping to everyone else.

If the sinning brother is confronted in private and he listens you have won your brother. If this process is not followed as outlined by our Lord, you have offended your sinning brother and it complicates the process. If he does not listen to you, then you take one or two more with you. This is to confirm the facts. This is to verify what is happening. This is to make sure this isn’t something where we have two sinning brothers just arguing over some inconsequential matter. If the sinning brother’s sin is confirmed, then he is confronted by the two or three together. If he repents, the matter is over.

If the sinning brother is confronted by the two or three witnesses, and the facts have been confirmed, then the issue is brought before the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, then he is to be to the church as a Gentile and a tax collector. He isn’t to be hated. The goal is his repentance and restoration. He is to be removed from the fellowship because of his detrimental impact on the church. The church is to keep away from the brother who leads an unruly life.

I have no question that Paul had these words of our Lord in mind when he wrote 2 Thess. 3:6. We will see this again when we get to verses 14-15. Our Lord made the integrity, purity, and unity of His church a top priority. Paul makes the integrity, purity and unity of our Lord’s church a top priority.

We can’t claim to care about people whom we allow to fellowship in the church while living in open sin. Their sin will have consequences for them. They are in danger of the judgment of God. Sin has consequences.

We can’t claim to care about the people in the church who are living the genuine Christian life if we don’t address those who are leading an unruly life. If you know of sin in the life of someone within the church, and you won’t address that sin, you can’t claim to really love that person. You also can’t claim to love others in this church.

There are some immature children of God in this church. There are some who are easily influenced. This influence has the potential to be either good or bad. Sinful influences by those leading unruly lives must not be tolerated because of the potential to cause others to stumble. I’m going to close this morning by going back to Matthew 18. Let’s read verses 1-10.

The real solution to an unruly life begins with each one of us. If there is sin in your life, listen carefully and consider seriously the words of our Lord regarding the serious nature of causing someone else to stumble. A life lived with spiritual integrity and purity is a life that can be lived in unity with other true believers. A life lacking in spiritual integrity and purity is a life that is a threat to the church because it might cause others to stumble. Jesus said, “Woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!”

If we know that the one who causes others to stumble is facing a judgment that makes our Lord say “Woe!” We know they will face serious judgment. If we love them we will confront the sin that makes them a stumbling block to others.