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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
To shun is to deliberately avoid something or someone. In the Bible, the word shun is applied to evil. The Lord said that His servant Job was "blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns e...
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
What does the Bible say about shunning?
NIV: And he said to man, The fear of the Lord that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."
Job 28:28
AMP: THERE WAS a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who [reverently] feared God and abstained from {and} shunned evil [because it was wrong].
Job 1:1
AMP: Therefore, my dearly beloved, shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God). 1 Corinthians 10:14
AMP: Shun immorality {and} all sexual looseness [flee from impurity in thought, word, or deed]. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18
NRSV: Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
NIV: Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
Proverbs 3:7
AMP: Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy graspers and cheats {and} thieves or idolaters, since otherwise you would need to get out of the world {and} human society altogether! 1 Corinthians 5:10
NRSV: But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11
AMP: Let him turn away from wickedness {and} shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] 1 Peter 3:11
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
What does the Bible say about shunning? The Bible supports two types of "shunning": first, shunning evil is a command for all believers as an act of wisdom and understanding. Second, the Bible describes a practice called "shunning" or "disfellowshipping" as a form of congregation discipline, in which members are to "not associate with" or "not even eat with" unrepentant members guilty of certain severe sins, such as sexual immorality, greed, or idolatry. However, this form of shunning is intended as a last resort, with the ultimate goal of encouraging repentance and restoration rather than a total severance of all ties. In some cases, a person's actions may lead to his removal from the congregation. (1 Corinthians 5:13) However, because we deeply love our fellow believers, we strive to help that person beforehand so that he does not need to be removed. And even if he is removed, we still show him love and respect, just as the Bible encourages us to do.—Mark 12:31; 1 Peter 2:17. The Bible clearly states that if a Christian commits a serious sin and refuses to change, he should be removed from the congregation. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13) The Bible determines which sins are so serious that they could lead to a person being removed. For example, it lists such actions as adultery, drunkenness, murder, domestic abuse, and theft.—1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Timothy 1:9, 10. Conclusion: When someone who has seriously sinned does not repent and refuses to follow Jehovah's standards, he can no longer be a member of the congregation. He needs to be disfellowshipped. When someone is disfellowshipped, we have no further dealings with them and stop talking to them. (1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 John 9-11) The disfellowshipping arrangement protects Jehovah's name and the congregation. (1 Corinthians 5:6) Disfellowshipping is also a discipline that can help someone to repent so that he can return to Jehovah.—Luke 15:17.
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