Reject a divisive man

Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. – Titus 3v10-11

Paul writes a lot about peace, love, compassion, forgiveness, not speaking evil, and things like there. It is obvious that this should be the norm amongst believers.

The word ‘reject’ therefore is a strong word for Paul to use. It seems like it must certainly apply to some type of wicked, vile, horrible, reprehensible sin. For believers to reject someone is for them to step out of character.

So what kind of person are we called on to reject here? The King James used the word ‘heretic’ here, but to our modern ears the word ‘divisive man’ better describes the person.

The heretic, the schismatic, the divisive man; how do we deal with that. We have the pattern set back in Matthew – we admonish him once, we admonish him again, and if he still refuses to repent we reject him, totally and absolutely.

We are all going to have differences. We are going to have opinions and ideas. That is normal, but when we let those ideas and opinions cause divisions we must expect rejection.

The body must be unified. We must be one. There is no room for causing divisions. I must be very aware and careful that my own actions or words ever cause divisions amongst believers.