Title
A Cause of Divided Loyalties
Scripture
If anyone does not obey our word... note that person and do not keep company with him... Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
(2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)
Devotional
Love them, but mark them. People are not our enemies. Nevertheless, we cannot serve faithfully in two camps. If someone breaks fellowship with you because of disagreements or disobedience you are to warn them and let them go. They are not your enemies, but he or she is no longer fellowshipping with you. Therefore you are to, "Note that person and... not keep company with him." To do so would sooner or later bring about divided loyalties in both camps. The previous verse tells us what we are to do in these situations, "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good."[34] Let us not lose heart. Love those who have broken covenant. Admonish them and let them go. We are further more warned; "You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."[35]