Lesson 5. A Church without discipline or the ability to discipline ceases to be a Church.
In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus said, “If another member of the Church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the Church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the Church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, in 1 Timothy 5:19-20, “Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.”
One of the most difficult things to do today is to discipline a Church member. Many Churches are so large the leadership and the people do not know all of the members or all of those attending. Some Churches do not have “members,” and therefore, have no way of disciplining those who attend. In many places in the United States there are so many Churches that a member who might come under discipline in his or her Church will simply move to another Church. In some cases in America, Churches have been sued for applying what Jesus teaches about discipline in Matthew 18:15-17.
Francis Schaeffer said that if a Church does not have the ability to discipline her members (and that would include the ability to discipline pastors and leaders); then that Church ceases to be a Church. Indeed, if a Church cannot do what Jesus taught and apply discipline in ways similar to the practice and teachings in the rest of the New Testament that Church is not obeying the Lord she claims to serve. I might add from a personal perspective that a Church that consistently practices or endorses disobedience to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible’s clear teachings in any area ceases to be a Church, or at the very least becomes an unfaithful Church that can, and probably will, mislead people.
The necessity and responsibility to discipline someone involves their committing sin. Sometimes you have the responsibility to approach someone who sins because, in Jesus words, they have committed “sins against you”).
Sin must be defined as the Bible defines sin. Sin is lawlessness, for the Bible says, “Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
If sin is not disciplined, the person will remain lawless and the Church will become lawless (or practice sin). Jesus is speaking of “another member of the Church.” So, in order for the Church to exercise discipline in the Church, the person must be a member (however the Church and the members define membership, either loosely or formally). The Bible does not tell the Church or her members to discipline those who are not members or outside the Church. Rather, Jesus gave the principle of turning the other cheek if an evil doer strikes you, “But I say to you, ‘Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also’” (Matthew 5:39).
One of the main reasons the Bible tells the Church to exercise discipline is love: love for Christ, love for the Church, and love for the sinner. Love for Christ comes first. We do not want the Church or Church members dishonoring Christ and disobeying Christ, for the sake of Christ, Who is worthy of our love and loyalty. In addition, the world is watching, and a Church or Church members that dishonor their Lord will not help lead others to saving faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Second, we exercise discipline because we love the Church. Christ died for the Church, because He loves the Church. When we exercise discipline, so the Church and Church members honor and love Christ as they ought, we express our love for the Church. Third, we exercise discipline over the sinner, because we love the sinner. We know that their living in rebellion against God is bringing others and themselves hurt and sorrow, and if not repented of sincerely, will bring them under the discipline of God (if they are one of God’s children).
Discipline needs to involve much prayer, for the person who sins that they will see the love of Christ for them and experience the love of Christ for them in the lives of those who will go to them to exercise discipline. Prayer for the sinner will include praying they have an open heart and an open mind to receive the discipline and that they will repent and make restitution if necessary. Discipline will involve much prayer for the person or persons who will go to the sinner in the Church to exercise discipline over them. Discipline needs to involve prayer for those exercising the discipline to be practicing sound judgment and for the Lord to give them the right words to say in the right spirit (and Spirit) and at the right time.
Much more could be said about Church discipline. The primary design of Church discipline is not necessarily the punishment of the sinner, but the restoration of the sinner to faith, love and obedience to Jesus, and the restoration of loving fellowship between and among those they have sinned against. Churches that have a Confession of Faith have guidelines that can be followed that will help them to exercise discipline, but even with these guidelines the Church and Church leaders will need to have the courage, love, and wisdom to exercise right discipline.
You might also like to learn more about Francis Schaeffer from two of his biographies, now online for you to read for free at http://www.labri.net .
Copyright 2009 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.
International Bible Lessons
Prayer Steps to Serenity
Serenity Groups
A Psalm and A Prayer
