There are many today who are saying that congregation A, cannot withdraw fellowship from congregation B. Is this what the Bible teaches, or does it teach something else? In order to understand what we mean by the phrase "withdraw fellowship," we must first understand what we mean by fellowship?

The word "fellowship" comes from "koinonia {koy-noh-nee'-ah}" it means, "1) fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation," (Thayer's - from Logos Bible Software). Vine's says, "communion, fellowship, sharing in common" Vine, W. E., Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words."

From this we learn that fellowship is a joint participation of and or a sharing in common of something. The Bible is clear about whom we can and cannot have fellowship with. Paul said, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Eph 5:11). Can a congregation have unfruitful works of darkness? Of course they can. If they can, then we can withdraw our fellowship from them! Anyone who teaches and/or practices things contrary to the truth, must have fellowship withdrawn from them, whether as an individual or collectively as a congregation. When Jesus was speaking to the seven churches in Asia, He told them "the church," collectively, that unless they repented He would remove their candlestick? Everyone understands that He was speaking to the church as a whole. He was simply telling them that unless they were willing to repent, He was going to exercise discipline against them. That is, He would withhold His fellowship from them because they were refusing to follow after His will. We must remember that the only reason that two congregations can have fellowship with each other in the first place, is because they both have fellowship with God (1 John 1:3-10). However, when one congregation begins teaching things which are against the will of God, then they forfeit their fellowship with God and thus we cannot have fellowship with them either. How can we do something that God will not do?

The same principles which teach that an individual can withdraw fellowship from another individual also teaches that one congregation can withdraw fellowship from another congregation. Remember John's words, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11).

We should also understand that the withdrawal of fellowship from another congregation does not violate the local autonomy of that congregation. It does however help to maintain the autonomy of the congregation doing the withdrawing. In order to violate the autonomy of another congregation one would have to forbid them from teaching false doctrine. The withdrawal of fellowship is not forbidding them from teaching whatever they desire to teach. It is however, saying that we will not let such teaching influence the congregation of which we are a member. Every eldership must rule over the congregation where they are shepherds, (Heb. 13:7). In doing such, they must keep out false doctrine and those who would influence the flock to walk in such a manner unpleasing to God.

Hence, whenever an eldership sees the need to withdraw from another congregation, they are simply protecting the congregation which they shepherd from hearing false doctrine, (cf. Acts 20:28).

It is time that sound brethren everywhere do as Paul said, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). Also, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1 Cor. 16:13).