How To Deal With The Disorderly

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: II Thessalonians 3:6,11,14,15
Psalters: 299, 72, 386, 271
  1. Who they are.
    1. Who are the “disorderly” (6,7,11).
      1. This speaks of one who is out of step while in a marching rank (soldiers or band).
      2. Specifically, Paul speak of those who did not do the things commanded of them (3:4,6,12).
    2. The disorderliness was that they did not obey (disobedience, 14) God’s command to work.
      1. Some in Thessalonika were not orderly, preferring to walk out of sync with all the other professing saved ones.
      2. Specifically, the disorderly walk was not working (11), having quit their jobs/callings and were doing no work.
      3. In addition their disorderliness was that they became “busybodies” (11; I Thess. 4:11).
      4. Further their disobedience is aggravated by the fact that they remained unrepentant after being admonished.
    3. Such disorderliness is easily possible given our human natures.
  2. The faithful and orderly are given a calling.
    1. Paul is addressing the church as a whole, not just the elders.
    2. Specifically, fellow-believers are to “withdraw” themselves (6) and “have no company with him” (14).
      1. First, they are to “note” those walking out of sync in the formation, i.e., identify that such are out of step.
      2. “Withdraw” is to set in order by withdrawing oneself, so do not go along with them in their disorderly marching.
      3. This command to withdraw fits with the revelation of our Lord Jesus.
    3. And we are to “admonish” or warn them as a brother, not as an enemy.
      1. This shows that the withdrawal is not shunning or a complete ignoring and avoiding.
      2. Continued contact is accompanied with conversations which show them that they are being disorderly to the Lord.
    4. As a “brother.”
  3. The purposes.
    1. The ultimate purpose for the brother/sister is that they might be “ashamed” of their folly.
      1. Treating them in a way that they realize they are doing something wrong, that they are out of formation.
      2. The goal is that they repent, turn from the wrong way in order to march in the right order.
    2. Other purposes are:
      1. For the preservation of the purity and integrity of the truth, of the church, and of her witness in the world.
      2. For the protection of the faithful believers from errors of doctrine and practice.
    3. Let us determine to carry out this calling to gain and to restore as we wait our Lord’s return.