From time to time we hear from the pulpit, “The consistory notifies the congregation that br. (or sr.) _________ has withdrawn him(her)self from the communion and supervision of the church.” This means that they discontinue, cancel or retract their membership in the church. They no longer want to be under the supervision and discipline of the office bearers, and no longer want to be a part of the communion or fellowship of the church.

It seems that as time progresses there are more and more withdrawals. What's happening? Why do people withdraw? Is it such a serious thing? How do we react to people who withdraw from the church?

Why Do People Withdraw?⤒🔗

I've found through experience that there are three¹ reasons. In some cases members of the church do not hunger for the Bread of Life, or thirst for the Living Water that wells up to salvation. They abandon the faith, spurn God's grace in Jesus Christ, and give themselves over to the world. In other cases members of the church seek to escape the discipline under which the office bearers have placed them because of unfaithfulness in either doctrine or conduct. In still other cases members of the church become disillusioned with something or someone in the church, and they seek their spiritual food and fellowship elsewhere.

What's so Serious about Withdrawing?←⤒🔗

It is a very serious thing to withdraw from the church because of indifference. Scripture warns that if those fall away who “were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come” then they “crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.” Their “end is to be burned” (cf. Hebrews 6:4-8).

It is also a very serious thing when those withdraw from the church who are placed under discipline because of wrong doctrine or sinful conduct, for they cut themselves off from the means whereby God brings them to repentance. Church discipline is the proclamation of God's Word to those who live in sin. This proclamation is audible through admonitions and exhortations given through the office bearers who visit those who are delinquent. And this proclamation is visible when office bearers withhold those who are delinquent from the sacraments. The audible and visible proclamation of God's wrath against those who harden themselves in sin, and the proclamation of God's grace to those who turn from their sin is the divinely appointed means whereby God brings sinners to repentance. To cut oneself off from the church because discipline is being applied is like a drowning person cutting the lifeline that is used to draw him back to solid ground. He who withdraws in order to escape discipline imperils his soul. He may still claim to believe in God, and join himself to another assembly that is more tolerant of his doctrinal error or misconduct. But in the end his sin will find him, and he will not escape the judgment of God.

It is also a very serious thing when those withdraw from the church because they have become disillusioned with something or someone in the church. Members of the church, and especially its leaders, must take care that they do not give reason for offence and cause any one to stumble. Better that a millstone be tied to one's neck and be thrown into the sea than to cause someone else to stumble! But even if something should happen that would cause a church member to become disillusioned, withdrawal from the church is not a legitimate response.

In Article 28 of the Belgic Confession we confess, “We believe, since this holy assembly and congregation is the assembly of the redeemed and there is no salvation outside of it, that no one ought to withdraw from it…” To the church has been given the means of grace and the keys of the kingdom. Grace is administered through the faithful preaching of the Word of God, the administration of the sacraments and through the administration of church discipline. To cut oneself off from the church is to cut oneself off from the means of grace and from the keys of the kingdom. To cut oneself off from the church is to cut oneself from the means whereby God works and strengthens faith, by which one comes to share in the saving work of Christ. Thus our forefathers wrote, “Outside of the church there is no salvation.”

Furthermore, in the same article we confess, “All therefore who draw away from the church … act contrary to the ordinance of God.” They are obliged by God to remain in the church and so maintain its unity. If they withdraw from it, they sin. And as with all sin, those who harden themselves in it incur the displeasure of God and rob themselves of the blessings that God would shower upon them.

If members of the church perceive that a wrong is committed, they may either accept the wrong or they may appeal it. If the wrong is committed against them, they may in meekness suffer the wrong, even as Christ did. It is a noble thing when the saints will turn the other cheek and so display the attitude of Christ. But if the wrong is such that it touches on the marks of the church, a person is duty bound to pursue the correction of this wrong. We have established a proper appeal procedure for this purpose. As long as the church maintains the marks of a true church, we can expect that these wrongs will be corrected, though we need to realise that even the true church is not perfect, and wrongs may not always be corrected. But as long as the church remains true to its marks, all withdrawals from it are acts of disobedience.

As we have seen in church history, a church can lose the marks of the true church. But even in such a case “withdrawal” is not the proper response. Our forefathers have taught us that members of the Body of Christ must continue to fight for the truth and for faithfulness until such time as their voices or writings are no longer tolerated. When that happens, the faithful remnant will be put out of what clearly becomes a false church.

This faithful remnant constitutes the continuation of the true church. Even in this situation the members do not withdraw from the church, but remain members of it. As history has shown, God has showered His blessings on those who remain faithful to the church in this way.

How do we Deal with People who Withdraw?←⤒🔗

Those who withdraw from the church should not be treated differently than those who are excommunicated from the church. For those who withdraw have in fact excommunicated themselves.

By their withdrawal they refuse to submit to the instruction and discipline of the church. And by their withdrawal they separate themselves from the communion of the church. In doing so, they act contrary to the ordinance of God, contrary to the confessions of the church, and contrary to their confession before the Lord and His church.

When we say that they should not be treated differently than those who are excommunicated from the church we mean that we should not keep company with them, that they might be ashamed. We must not associate with them as though they were still faithful members of the church, and as if nothing divides us. At the same time, we do not avoid them altogether and treat them as an enemy, but lovingly admonish them as brothers or sisters and pray for them, that they may repent of their sin and join themselves to the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.