Episode 11: The Ban
INTERVIEW WITH DAVE REIMER
Discussion Questions
Murray points to the challenges of discipline in an individualistic culture that is strong on tolerance. He also points to an unattractive vision of what happens when there is no discipline. What does a community look like when sin is never dealt with?
Murray states that we need to talk it through before we get into a situation where it is necessary. In that spirit, here are two case studies.
Case study 1: Your friend has gotten into a battle with a neighbour who is not part of your church. A tree in the neighbour's yard is overhanging the fence and dropping leaves and twigs on your friend's yard. Your friend claims the tree will blow over in the wind and the neighbour needs to have it removed. The neighbour, a recent immigrant, does not have money for that but to avoid conflict says he will but then doesn’t follow through. It is not obvious to anyone else that there is any danger of the tree falling but your friend is insistent. She has escalated to harassing the neighbour by kicking over his garbage and recycling bins, allowing her dog to do its business in the neighbour’s yard and not cleaning it up, being particularly loud when she knows the neighbour is sleeping after a night shift etc. The neighbour is fearful of the police and has not made any complaint, but your friend has confessed these things to you, thinking you’d be on her side. You are not and you told her that. She became upset at you and quite angry. What should you do? Is this something for which she should be removed from fellowship if she doesn’t repent and make it right?
Case study 2: A young man—a recent convert—attends your church. He is awkward, and some people think he’s on the autism spectrum, though he hasn’t been diagnosed as far as anyone knows. He has said inappropriate things to the girls and one of the boys in the youth group and has been pulled aside and reprimanded for it several times. He promises to stop but it doesn’t take long and he does it again and it seems to be getting more offensive. It’s hard to tell if he’s repentant when approached by the youth leader. He seems humble and penitent but then seems to shake it off very quickly. You and a fellow youth leader agree that his behaviour should be brought to the attention of the church leadership, but when you do, they are divided about how serious this is and whether anything should be done. What should you do?