Church Discipline
Church Discipline
INTRODUCTION Church discipline is like the weather. We talk a great deal about it but seldom do anything about it.
Paul expected Christians to use church courts, not government courts.
1 Corinthians 6:1-3, "Dare any of you, having a matter against another. go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life?"
See also 1 Corinthians 6:12.
Discipline means taking corrective measures as punishment in order to maintain the good conduct of church members. This is a practice seldom made effective in our churches today. Why? Is it because we have grown weak and cold and fear to act on our principles? Is it because we have all attained a state of perfection and no longer require it? Is it because our churches are afraid of losing church members? Are we afraid that the church income will be reduced if we punish sin? Do we love popularity, money, large churches, easy times, more than holiness? Are we afraid of calling "sin" "SIN" and thus condone the evil of fellow believers? The Apostolic Church was strong because it was pure. Our modern church is weak because we have compromised our position and condoned sin in the members.
WHEN TO TEACH DISCIPLINE
I believe that it ought to be taught after conversion but before baptism. In baptism courses we set before the candidates our Christian standards.
Alongside this we ought to teach them the punishment for disobedience.
We say to our children, "Clean up the mess or I will put you to bed hungry." The child then weighs the facts and acts accordingly.
Before entering the Church and its responsibilities the candidate ought to be informed on this important point. This ought to be comparatively easy in a Roman Catholic country where the people are accustomed to church authority, penance and excommunication.
WHAT TO TEACH REGARDING DISCIPLINE
Basis of our authority to administer discipline. Matthew 18:15-17, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."
Go to the erring one alone to exhort him to repent.
If he resists, take with you two or three others as witnesses.
If he continues to harden his heart, inform the church.
If he insists on resisting consider him as a sinning heathen man.
Occasions for discipline:
False doctrine. Titus 1:13, "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith."
Has your church ever taken this strong a stand against corrupt doctrine? Our educational system needs a housecleaning of false teachers.
Open sin. 1 Timothy 5:20, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. "
Has your church ever taken disciplinary action against flagrant sin?
Habakkuk 1:13, "Thou (God) art of purer eyes than to behold evil."
Romans 7:13, "... that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful."
Let us pray and ask God to make sin so terrible that we will strive to punish it or exclude it from our midst.
Immorality. 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. This man was excommunicated for he had committed fornication with his own mother or step-mother.
Extent of discipline. Deliver the individual to Satan for the destruction of the body. 1 Corinthians 5:5, "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. "
1 Corinthians 5:13, "... Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. "
1 Timothy 1:20, "Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. "
What does one do when the crime or sin does not merit excommunication?
If the guilty one shows genuine repentance, keep the guilty one from the Communion table or any public office for a set period of time (three months, six months, one year, in accordance with the crime committed). This judgment would be handed down by the presiding church council.
HOW TO TEACH DISCIPLINE
Firstly, the church and particularly the church council must live clean, disciplined lives themselves, above reproach in word and deed. What a responsibility!
In humility. 1 Corinthians 10:12, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Do not lord it over the fallen one.
If the temptations and circumstances were similar perhaps we would have committed an even greater sin.
Also our "besetting sin" may be much different from his. The point on which I would succumb to sin might be a strong point to this erring one. This is no place for superior "holier than thou" feelings.
In sincerity. Remove the beam from your own eye before you mention the mote in your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5, "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye."
Some may take the attitude that "I am not perfect, therefore, I will not discipline my brother.” This is wrong. If God gives me responsibility I am expected to exercise it.
In love. 1 Corinthians 13:4, "Love suffereth long and is kind."
We certainly must deal in love. Love is our strongest lever against the one whom we are trying to bring back to the strict paths of righteousness.
He may respond to our love when he may resist our words and arguments.
"Suffer long." Be sure to exercise plenty of patience--"till seventy times seven" if there are signs of genuine repentance.
By Scripture. Be sure that you can prove that that which he has done is sin from Scripture and not just transgressing "Western Culture."
The church is founded on Scripture and its actions must be the outworkings of the doctrines and principles laid down in the Word of God.
By testimony. Be willing to share personal experiences on the subject. This will assist in establishing a friendly, brotherly confidence--a mutual trust.
This will help us to deal with him as a brother and not a dog beneath our feet.
By experience. In Panhsiem (S.W. China) I recall three cases of church discipline.
A man excommunicated for marrying the second wife (bigamy).
A woman was kept from the Communion table for three months for dealing in opium, which was contrary to the laws of the land.
A widow was disciplined for flirting with a young man-behaviour unbecoming to a sober, mature church member.
CONCLUSION May God give us the courage of our convictions to exercise discipline.
Acts 20:28, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers."
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Is a Church Court Scriptural? Give proof.
What is the ultimate object of Church discipline?
Why is Church discipline seldom practiced today?
Outline the four steps in discipline mentioned in Matthew 18:15-17.
List 3 occasions for Church discipline.
Name various punishments that a Church Board may give.
How should discipline be taught?
What is required of the Church Board before dealing with the erring member?
When was the last time the Church Council in your Church administered discipline?
Should one postpone judgment on the basis of Matthew 18:22 (just forgive him 490 times)?