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PASTOR GENERAL'S
REPORT
TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
VOL.3, N0.16
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
CAN WE FELLOWSHIP THE DISFELLOWSHIPPED?
by
Herbert W. Armstrong
APRIL 17, 1981
Are some of us trying to be more kind, merciful, and considerate
even than GOD? Are we actually disobeying God in our soft, fence-strad
dling approach toward certain others?
To those disfellowshipped from the Church, Christ will say, "Depart
from me..." (Matt. 7:23). There have been those disfellwoshipped for
cause who have tended to want to "hang around" the Ambassador College
campus and God's Church--attend basketball games, fraternize with members,
enjoy what is here to be enjoyed. They seem never to cease wanting to
"GET" all they can from the Church. Yet they usually will spread false
rumors against the Church, or in other ways speak against it.
One thing characteristic, it has been noticed, concerning many dis
fellowshipped, they continue to have MORE INTEREST IN THE CHURCH than even
many members. They_seek diligently every bit of news or information about
Church activities. They seek every method to obtain our literature--to
know "what's going on." WHY? They seek every bit of information to twist
and turn against God's Church, God's people, and God's Work. They seek
it because in their hearts they know they are wrong, and they seek self
justification by finding grounds by misrepresenting facts to falsely
ACCUSE and CONDEMN the Church of GOD! Instead of seeking justification
of their sinning past by the blood of Christ, they seek SELF-justifica
tion by persecution against, and false ACCUSATION of the Body of CHRIST!
Some time ago, without my knowledge and without any authority, some
one started a category called "inactive members." It now appears this
was done to benefit some who had been DISfellowshipped for cause. There
never has been any official or recognized category called "inactive mem
bers." An announcement was made in this Report on that recently [April 3,
1981]. Such nonexistent category is officially declared nonexistent.
Those who prior to that were DISfellowshipped are STILL DISFELLOWSHIPPED.
Now what does the Word of God teach God's Church in this regard?
Those who had become baptized and received as members, but who, for of
fenses, had been disfellowshipped, we are to "AVOID THEM" (Rom. 16:17).
Again, "Now we COMMAND YOU, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh dis
orderly," and, "if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that
man, and have no company with him..." (II Thes. 3:6, 14).
We may have reason to have conversation or to eat with those of the
world, but NOT with Church members or disfellowshipped ones who "walk dis
orderly."