Holy Ostracism

When did we decide that exiling people was the appropriate response to handling disagreements?

At some point in human history, we figured out a form of avoiding those that disagree with us, leaving them to their own silly ideas and us to our completely "rational" ones.  At some point, we decided that we were tired of "heresy," so we set out to create a colony in our minds of the "heretics." At some point in time, we really missed the mark.

It's comical to me that Christians, the people who are supposedly fully cognizant of the grace and mercy God gives, do not exhibit either in their daily encounters.  Instead, we aid out own selfish agendas or opinions in an attempt to better ourselves in this earthly domain affectionately referred to as "the world."  If Jesus saw what we were up to, He would text the Father and say smh (that's teenager texting speak for "shaking my head," usually done in disgust or shame).

I don't see much of a Christian defense of this ostracism tactic, but when I do, I notice believers point to the separation of Paul and Barnabas as a sort of "get out of jail free card" for separating from people they disagree with. I would simply argue that not everything in the Bible is given as an example to follow. Sometimes, biblical topics are examples of what not to do.  In the case of Paul and Barnabas, the Holy Spirit stayed with them in their endeavors, but think about what their collaborative effort would have done in the cities they preached to. 

We're told to witness to sinners, but to avoid people who sin or will cause us to. Yet Jesus, in His unending love for us, chose to hang out with these people, for as He put it, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17 ESV).

So today, as you stumble around in this thing we call life, remember that ostracizing people you disagree with, or ostracizing the sinner, is OK for you to do. That is, it's OK for you to do as Lon as you can do it while knowing Jesus did the exact opposite. If you're like me, once you realize this, you'll run towards Jesus on this one.

Your Brother in Christ,

Phillip Gatlin