Ryan

Hello Don,

As I read it, the consequence is not mere disfellowship from a congregation, but from the body of Christ, which should include all congregations.  The body is not to execute final judgment and put someone to death (that is God’s responsibility), since it is still possible for them to repent and to be fully forgiven and restored to fellowship.  However, disfellowship has little meaning if one can simply move to another local fellowship (until they find one that lets them continue in their sin).

It would seem that your view would result in the fracturing of the body into many small and independent congregations, whereas in my understanding, there would be accountability between congregations which would unify and not fracture the body and would present a much different picture to the world.

Thoughts?