2 Thessalonians 3:6
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”
Every parent who truly cares for their child will prevent them from playing with children who could turn them away from what they are supposed to be. I remember when I was a boy there were people my age with whom my mother would not let me spend much time. There were times my mother would not let me go to someone’s birthday party because she knew that person would be a bad influence on me. She was not trying to be mean to that family, but she was simply trying to protect her son.
If a parent will protect their child from bad influences, then why would God not protect His children from bad influences? In fact, He does! In the verse above, God makes it very clear that there are some bad influences with whom Christians should not associate. God was not talking about the bad influences that come from the world, but He was talking about Christian brethren who are bad influences. God calls them disorderly. Who are these bad or disorderly influences from whom we are to withdraw?
First, you are to withdraw yourself from the influences who don’t properly believe the Word of God. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 says, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” When someone does not believe the King James Bible is the Word of God, then you are to withdraw from them. In other words, you don’t go to their church, read their books or associate with them. They are a disorderly influence.
Second, you are to withdraw from those who don’t hold the traditions we have been taught by our forefathers. This is interesting in that God wants us to know what those before us taught. In other words, there are people who avoid being associated with those who stood in the past, but God says to withdraw from those who would be critical of them. There are men like J. Frank Norris, Lee Roberson, Jack Hyles and Tom Malone who have shown us how to build a church and separate from liberals. Instead of being critical of their methods, God says to withdraw from those who are critical of their methods.
Third, withdraw yourself from those who won’t work. Verse 10 shows us that not working is a disorderly influence. In other words, those who are lazy both in the spiritual and earthly realm should be avoided. Don’t go to churches that are not aggressively going after the lost. Lazy churches and lazy Christians should be avoided. Likewise, those who don’t physically work are people from whom you should withdraw. God doesn’t want you to learn their disorderly ways.
What is interesting is that God says in verses 14-15, “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” Notice that you are not to be unfriendly to these people, but you are to be kind and treat them “as a brother” when you are around them. God is not saying that we have to be a jerk to these people, but we are to be kind to them when we see them, just don’t spend time with them.
God is interested in your spiritual well-being. God’s telling you to withdraw from someone should not be grievous to you, but it should be a sense of endearment that God cares enough about you to protect you from disorderly influences. Don’t let the disorderly make you feel bad because you withdraw. God says in verse 13, “…be not weary in well doing.” It won’t be easy to withdraw, but God knows it is best for you if you want to serve Him with your entire life.