The world we live in is becoming increasingly godless and sinful, with standards that were once held in honor now being swept aside by the tide of liberalism. In the absence of moral standards, men feel at liberty to do whatever they want to, without restraint. As a result of this deterioration, many who now come to Christ under the preaching of the gospel have already been through the deep trauma of abuse, abandonment by unfaithful spouses, divorce, etc. Their homes have been broken, their hearts have been broken and their marriages have been irreversibly broken.
In coming to Christ, they find forgiveness, cleansing, healing and acceptance, and a Friend who will never leave them nor forsake them.
Sadly, in many cases, these casualties on the Jericho road, after receiving some “first-aid” in terms of being saved, thereafter—and no doubt to their shock and hurt—find that their benefactors turn from them, draw in their skirts, join the priest and the Levite, and abandon them on the road, because of some discovery about their past. No comforting arms take them to the Inn for nurture and care—nothing but heartless abandonment.
Worse still, one has even heard of situations where the casualty has been taken to the Inn, and is well on the way to recovery, only to be cruelly ejected, and left to fend for himself because of discoveries made about his past. The author has no wish to be controversial or disruptive, but one has a deep conviction that this cruel injustice needs to be addressed in our assemblies.
One is aware that there have been many arguments and counter-arguments on this issue by equally spiritual and biblically capable brethren. Many have dealt with the subject expositionally and technically, with conflicting conclusions being reached. One has concluded, therefore, that the fundamental answer to this question is not to be found in technical analysis, the cleverness of debate, dogmatic assertion of right, manipulation of verses, or adhering to the popular political trend.
In the final analysis, the acid test to be applied is whether this teaching leads to practice that emulates the spirit of Christ. However persuasive the arguments for or against, if it fails this test, it must be abandoned.
Pre-Conversion Sin
It is the clear teaching of the Word of God that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7). Again, the apostle writing to the Romans, said, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” (Rom. 8:1). Again “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth” (Rom. 8:33). The poet has so beautifully captured the truth of these verses:
My sin—O the bliss of this glorious thought,
My sin, not in part, but the whole—
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
In light of these clear statements, it is incongruous that pre-conversion divorce should be isolated from all other sins as the one which excludes from fellowship. If we include this sin as being prohibitive to fellowship, we must also include pre-conversion fornication; or people who have lived common-law without marriage, and who may have then separated without divorce.
The apostle Paul must surely have faced these same situations time and time again, in the licentious city of Corinth, which had temples dedicated to sexual perversion of every kind. Given the premise that divorce and like sins exclude from fellowship, Paul would have been hard-pressed to establish an assembly in that city. Yet the apostle did so, and writing to those who had been saved from such iniquities and perversions, he addresses them as “sanctified in Christ Jesus.” We conclude that it is not consistent with biblical teaching to isolate any pre-conversion sin, whatever form it might take, and to use this as a basis for denying reception into assembly fellowship.
The Principle of Biblical Balance
My aged and beloved spiritual mentor in Scotland used to say, “When one truth is exaggerated at the expense of another, that position is wrong.” He would also say, “It is important not only to observe the letter, but the spirit of the Word.” The Pharisees are a prime example that illustrate his warning. They insisted on strict legalistic observance of the Sabbath (a God-given institution under law), but at the expense of compassion that would heal a man on the Sabbath day.
They also knew that the law demanded death for the adulteress whom they dragged before the Lord, but He silenced them and said to the woman, “Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more.”
The chart below demonstrates how the spirit of Scripture is violated if pre-conversion sin of any kind (including divorce) is allowed to deny the new convert the fellowship he should enjoy,
Of course we all hate divorce as God does, but we cannot isolate this from the realm of absolute forgiveness. If such were to be denied fellowship in assemblies, one would be reluctant to preach the gospel anywhere these days—when divorce and remarriage are so prevalent—in case someone was saved and cleansed by the blood of Christ, only to be cast aside afterwards like a filthy rag. We well remember the story of the healing of the man born blind, and despite the miracle that had taken place, the Pharisees insisted on bringing up his pre-conversion status: “Thou wast altogether born in sins…and they cast him out.” It was then the Lord met Him, because He also was outside! This is the only spiritual response to the situation, unless of course we really want to side with the Pharisees.
In closing, Paul wrote to Timothy, “In the last days perilous times shall come.” The word “perilous” literally means “hard to deal with” [Vine] and of course overseers in assemblies are now facing unspeakable difficulties as the age draws to it close. We wish they never had to deal with such issues. However, they are here and elders have to face them. They need all the compassion and help they can get in dealing with such problems. We share their concerns that the purity and sanctity of the House of God should be maintained in days like these, yet this must not be done at the expense of other equally relevant truths. The important thing is to keep our balance in these disturbing times.
There are many casualties in our modern society, and we need to have all the compassion of Christ for them, both before and after conversion, and to embrace them as brothers and sisters in Christ. We can do this without sacrificing anything of truth, or the purity of the assembly, and yet maintain the true spirit of Christ.
The SCRIPTURAL POSITION of the CONVERT
Redeemed from sin’s slave market (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
All sins forgiven, and remembered no more forever (Heb. 8:12; 10:17).
Imparted spiritual life through the new birth (Jn. 3).
Baptized in the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit is now indwelling (Rom. 8:9).
A member of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
Has died to the world (Rom. 6; Col. 3).
Is free from any matter demanding church discipline, since the sin took place before conversion.
CONSEQUENCES of EXCLUSION from FELLOWSHIP for PRE-CONVERSION SIN
Placed under penal servitude and bondage for a lifetime.
Divorce before salvation is unaffected by the great salvation we have received. Upon being saved, this person receives a life sentence that can never be reversed.
Having come to the birth, this person must now be abandoned, and isolated from any nurture, support or developing of that life.
Despite the fact that the Spirit has placed this person into the Body and indwells him, he is denied access to the fellowship.
Must be forever denied the opportunity to function as a member in the Body, or to share the comfort and support of fellow members. Amputated at birth.
Neither fitted for the local church nor for the world. A spiritual nomad who must wander without home or help in the wilderness.
Dealt the most severe and irreversible of all church disciplines—excommunication for life.
Written by W. H. Burnett