Vol. 11 No.7 – March, 2013

Warn the Unruly

Mike   Johnson

 In  I  Thessalonians  5:14,  Paul  gave  some important teaching that all Christians need to listen to.  He stated that Christians are to,  “be patient toward all men,” they are to  “support  the weak,”  and they are  to  “comfort  the feebleminded.”   The first responsibility that  he  enjoins, however, is to “warn them that are unruly.”  This, in addition to the other duties, is for all Christians.  It is not just a responsibility of preachers or elders as all must warn the unruly.

What does the term “unruly” mean?  Thayer, in his Greek Lexicon,  defines the word translated unruly as, “disorderly, out of   the   ranks, (often   of   soldiers); irregular, inordinate…deviating  from  the  prescribed  order  or  rule: I Thess.  5:14, c.f.  II Thes. 3:6.”  (page 83)  The American Standard Version translates it “disorderly” in I Thessalonians 5:14 instead of  “unruly.”  The term in II Thessalonians is translated “disorderly” (KJV).  Here Christians are told to withdraw from those who  are  disorderly.   The  term  was originally a military term (as the above definition indicates), and it expressed the idea of soldiers who did not keep their ranks but would break out of line.

Who are the unruly?  They would be Christians who do not keep the ranks, are neglectful of  duty,  or are disorderly. They are those who do not keep God’s commandments.  It would be difficult to have an effective army if the soldiers kept getting out of line and leaving the ranks.   It would also be difficult for a church to be effective when its members are rebellious towards God’s Word.

The admonition is that wayward members are to be “warned.” The word comes from a word in the original which is also found in verse 12 and is there translated “admonish.”  So it is the duty of all Christians to warn or admonish those who are unruly.  Christians are to help one another in their walk.

Galatians 6:1 says,  “Brethren,  if a man be overtaken in a fault,  ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit  of meekness; considering thyself,  lest thou also be tempted.”   In addition to  commanding  the  spiritual  person to restore those overtaken in a fault, this passage emphasizes the importance of the right attitude by the one doing the teaching.  It would be easy for a person to adapt a “better-than-thou”  type  disposition when  trying  to  teach  others. This verse says that the person doing the restoring must have a spirit of meekness.

James 5:19 says, “Brethren if any of you do err from the truth,  and  one  convert  him;  Let  him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his may shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”  One reason to warn the unruly is simply because God says to do it.   However, this passage shows the important effect that the teaching of the Christian can have on the soul of the erring.   It can save his soul from spiritual death.   So a person’s soul is at stake.  We can keep an unruly Christian from spending an eternity in Hell.

We need to make sure that we remain faithful ourselves. Also we must warn the unruly.  How about you—do you warn the unruly?