Shunning: Biblical?

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Mirth1981

Some of you on here may remember my story...I left my former UPC church last summer. My husband is a licensed UPC minister; he still attends the same church.

Earlier this summer, I was shopping at a local store that was having a sidewalk sale. While perusing through some pictures, I happened to glance up and see my former pastor's wife and her two daughters walking directly towards me. They were maybe ten feet away. I prepared myself to smile and be friendly, even though it felt a little awkward. However, I didn't get a chance, because as soon as they spotted me, all three of them froze in their tracks, and quickly turned the opposite direction, and hustled off. They darted straight to their vehicle, and I stood there frozen as I watched them drive quickly out of the parking lot. It was so bizarre. They obviously didn't want to see me at all.

Not only was this display hurtful...it bordered on ridiculous. I could only think to myself: "Well, even if a small part of me ever wanted to go back to that church, it's completely gone now." When I left that church, I did so quietly. I didn't leave out of anger or confrontation, so this behavior really puzzled me.

Has anyone else ever encountered this type of shunning, or even engaged in this type of behavior towards someone else? Does anyone out there believe that shunning is biblical, and if so, what types of circumstances do you believe it should be practiced?

Yes, I have encountered this. We live in a small community and on occasion we see former church memebers. The pastor was quite authoratative (a huge understatement) and when we see some of the members (one we most often run into works at the local wal-mart, which is the hub around here) they will avoid us at all costs. When they can't avoid us the conversation is short, and if they can keep walking and say "hi" in passing (always a reaction to being spoken to, never an initiated response) they do so. When we left the church it wasn't like this the first couple of weeks, I've got a pretty good feeling the pastor essentially scared them to death about us. They seem to think that if we so much as look at them they are going to become "charismatic."

Anyway its disappointing, and even a little hurtful, but just know they are not really reacting to you, they are reacting to a mindset that is founded in fear.

Is shunning Biblical, Yes, in a case in which a brother/sister is in blatant sin (such as 1 Cor 6:9-10) and refuses to repent. In a case like ours, no.