There are two evils that continually plagued fraternal relations among the people of God. Like polar opposite twins, they look starkly different but stem from the same source. The first evil is the denial of Christian fellowship to someone who is truly a brother or sister in Christ. The second is to grant Christian fellowship to someone who is not a true sibling. Both evils arise from the same source: a misunderstanding of the nature of Christian ‘brotherhood’.
The biblical term ‘brother’ can correctly be translated as ‘brother and sister’. The concept of ‘maleness’ is not in view, rather the term expressed the sibling relationship among God’s people (and in our contemporary age we need not add fuel to the raging feminist fire). It is a powerful term that occurs over and over in the New Testament. Whereas the gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) preferred the term “disciple”, Paul preferred the term “brother” in order to emphasize the corporate nature of discipleship. It is a term which indicates the deep spiritual bond that connects believers. As Christian siblings, we share both in the atoning work of Christ and the fullness of the Spirit. We have been made joint-heirs of the Father and have been called to a common mission. Each of us has been given only limited ability and giftedness, forcing us to rely upon one another in order to bring glory to God with our lives.
By refusing to recognize someone as a brother or sister in Christ, even though they share a genuine faith in Jesus, we commit a heinous insult to the cross. By doing so we tear asunder the very Bride of Christ (a virtual rape of her beauty, dignity, and worth). Yet it is equally disastrous to admit someone into fellowship who does not share in the faith and mission of Christ and the Spirit. At best, as churches we play the fiddle of fellowship as the false-brother continues along pathway to hell. At worst, we begin to walk on that path ourselves. The first erroneously divides, the second naively unites.
Therefore, it becomes important for us to recognize our spiritual siblings. All who call upon the name of Christ and submit their lives for the glory of God are our brothers and sisters in the faith—regardless of what denomination they may be found in. Jesus asks the question, “Who are my brothers” even as his physical brothers were near the door. He answered that question by pointing instead to his disciples, saying, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven in my brother” (Matthew 12:50). Scripture plainly tells us to examine the faith of those who wish to be considered our brothers in Christ. Paul tells us to judge the faith of those inside the church (1 Cor 5:12b). Those who are found to have an immoral lifestyle are to be removed from fellowship. Paul forbids us from even eating with such people (verse 11b), and commands us to purge the evildoers from our midst (verse 13b). We are even told to avoid spiritual brothers who are “idle” (i.e. those doing nothing for God’s glory, see 2 Thess 3:16).
There is such a thing as a false brother. Whether we like it or not, we are not allowed to associate with such people, or even let them into our homes (2 John 10). We should never rush to this judgment, and there is room for healthy benefit of the doubt. A hasty decision to exclude one from fellowship is indeed a sin, but refusing to ever come to a decision is a sin in and of itself. May Christ protect us from both.
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