Would Jesus Approve of Excommunication
By pastorkayte
@pastorkayte (2255)
United States
March 10, 2010 2:39pm CST
This question is one where I have a strong problem with. Jesus would have never excommunicated anyone, nor did he give anyone the right to do that. Excommunication is a form of judgement, which means that it does not have a place in the church. If you excommunicate anyone, that means you have judged them to be unfit to be a part of Gods church and his congregation because of some sin you judged to be wrong. God chooses for himself whether a person has sinned, not you or me. I have no right to tell someone that because of thier sin they can give their life to Christ. Christ forgives sin, he does not tell people that you cant come in the church, be a part of its family, or any of those other things that churches offer because we didnt like what you did, and neither should man do this. If on judgement day Jesus decides that you are not worthy for eternal life that is his perogative, but today, you have a chance to ask for and gain forgiveness, without being excommunicated. Besides who gave anyone the authority to kick someone out of the church.
2 responses
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
10 Mar 10
For one to be excommunicated, a baptized Catholic must knowingly place oneself outside of full communion with the Church, according to canon law.
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=31123
Those Catholics who do not accept the church's teachings or work against the church are excommunicated. I know the story of two great persons that shaped the catholic church in one way or another. The first one was Luther king who challenged the Pope about the indulgence teachings. He was right but the way he approached things by attacking the church from outside did more harm to the church than good.
On the other hand St. Francis of Assisi was a great man who lived in poverty. He challenged the Church with his example and God brought a change in the life of the Church thanks to him by the help of the Holy Spirit.
I think that Christians should support and help other Christians who have gone astray rather than judging them or excommunicating them.
@pastorkayte (2255)
• United States
11 Mar 10
I agree that instead of sticking by those Christians to excommunicate them would drive them further away from the religion instead of bringing them closer to Christ, who himself came to die for sinners.
1 person likes this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
31 Mar 10
Thanks for the best response award. I do appreciate in taking time to read your discussions and awarding the best response.
@blummus (451)
• United States
11 Mar 10
Excommunication is a sore topic, but one that has some Biblical background. For instance, Jesus does in fact call for excommunication when all else fails in Matthew 18:15-18. Too often the process has been abused to put down those who would question ecclesiastical authority, but there are times when a person is clearly behaving in an immoral or disruptive manner to the point he or she cannot be tolerated within a congregation or even within a denomination until such time as their behavior is brought under control.
