Why we do what we do

Church Discipline

Introduction

In our tolerant society, discipline is not a popular concept, especially that of church discipline. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training (lit: disciplining) in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 

Church discipline is a Biblical practice, with Biblical purposes, founded on Biblical principles, dealt with in a Biblical way.

The Principles of Church Discipline

Principle No 1:   Discipline is about training Christians to be mature in Christ

The Greek word for 'discipline' was primarily used of educating children, but it was also used in the case of adults for any kind of instruction, correction and training that worked to produce good moral character, or, in our case, Christian maturity

Principle No 2:   God has the ultimate responsibility for our maturity

Hebrews 12:6, 7, 10 “the Lord disciplines those he loves. . . Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. . . God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.” God disciplines all believers as His children

Principle No 3:   God has given authority and responsibility to the local church to carry out church discipline

Romans 13:1 “There is no authority except that which God has established.” He has delegated authority to various groups on earth (eg. Governments, husbands, parents) and in Matthew 18 the church is given authority to carry out discipline within the church

Principle No 4:   God has given all believers authority in matters of local church discipline

While there is an authority structure within the local church, the two main passages on church discipline (Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5) do not mention leaders, rather these are broad messages given to all believers, placing the responsibility with each of us

Principle No 5:   Church discipline is a great demonstration of our love for one another

Few people enjoy confrontation, and presenting someone with their sin can seem judgemental and unloving. However, in Hebrews earlier we saw love as the motive behind God's discipline, just as Proverbs 13:24 shows it is as the heart of parental discipline. As uncomfortable as it may make us feel, it is love that moves us to engage in church discipline

In Matthew 18, Jesus' teaching on church discipline is preceded by the parable of the lost sheep, which shows God's desire to bring erring believers back into fellowship. This is the primary purpose of church discipline:

·       Repentance 2 Timothy 2:25 “Those who oppose him, he must gently instruct (discipline), in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.”

Repentance is simply a change of mind – where before you thought that that was true, now you realise that this is, in fact, the truth. This new understanding is reflected in a change of lifestyle

·       Reconciliation  Matthew 18:15 “If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”

Just as Jesus has reconciled us to God, in that we were once His enemies, but now we love and are loved by God, so too church discipline is all about being reunited in fellowship with other believers

·      Restoration  Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.”

Just as with the shepherd bringing back that sheep and returning it to be with the flock, so too, through Church Discipline, we seek to completely restore the believer to fellowship within the local church.

We could sum up the purpose of Church Discipline here as ensuring unity - the unity of the church – us being at peace with one another, in fellowship with one another, and loving one another.

Church Discipline is never about penalising a believer for their sin or exacting vengeance for their offence against others. Jesus has already taken the penalty for our sin - God's vengeance was delivered in full upon Jesus when he hung on the cross for our sin.

·       Purity Hebrews 12: “(Discipline) produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

If there is blatant unrepentant sin in the local church, and it is not addressed, it will spread throughout the church. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5, using yeast as a metaphor for sin, “Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?”

Church Discipline is there not only for the individual, but to protect others in the local church from falling into the same trap

Stage One: “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.” (Matthew 18:15)

Note that we are talking about Biblically substantiated sin – not merely about an offence that ought to be forgiven in love (see Ephesians 4:2)

If you have first hand knowledge of sin in the local church, your responsibility is to go and confront them privately. Rather than doing this in a secret, back room, the point is not causing a public scene or discussing with others first.

“Show him his fault”, means explaining from Scripture that what they have done is a sin, bearing in mind Galatians 6:1, which says this should be done gently. The desire must always be to “win your brother over”.

“If he listens to you”, means that the person has taken on board and understood what you have said – the aim isn't to get a confession out of them, but to make sure they have understood, and leave the matter with them trusting the Holy Spirit to do the work of convicting (eg. 2 Samuel 12).

If the sin is also a crime or offence that needs to be reported to the appropriate authorities, then you have a responsibility to do that too.

Stage Two: “But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'” (Matthew 18:16)

The authority and responsibility to gather the witness(es) still lies with you. Avoiding choosing your best friend or someone who doesn't like the other person – rather seek out mature Christians, who know their Bible and the other person well, and has their respect.

It is down to these witnesses then to ascertain the truth and decide whether or not this is indeed a matter for Church Discipline. If it turns out the person has not sinned, seek reconciliation.

Stage Three: “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.” (Matthew 18:17)

At this point, elder involvement is necessary. If, however, the offender is one of the elders, the case needs to be taken to the apostolic overseer (see 1 Timothy 5:19, where, after the first two stages have not worked, the case is to be brought to the apostolic overseer, Timothy).

The elders or the apostolic overseer gather the local church and the matter is presented to them. Note that the sinning believer is not automatically cast-out at this point, only if they remain unrepentant.

Stage Four: “If he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:17)

Pagans and tax collectors were two groups of people with whom the Jews would not mix or even speak. The erring believer is effectively cut off from all fellowship with those in the local church.

It is now the responsibility of every individual in the church to enforce this.

In 1 Corinthians 5:5, Paul says, “hand this man over to Satan.” This echoes God handing Job over to Satan, which doesn't mean that the erring believer will suffer as Job did, but that God will do whatever is necessary to bring his children to repentance, reconciliation and restoration. In reality we are handing the person over to God.

It seems harsh to do this to someone, but this is done out of love for them, and the desire to protect the local church.

Our role, aside from excluding that person from fellowship, is to pray that God will bring them to the point of repentance, and when they are restored to us, we should welcome them back into fellowship, forgiving them and continuing in our love for them.

The most vital point to remember in the process of church discipline is that the instant there is repentance,

the process ends. We have won our brother back

The following diagram shows the process of church discipline

Church discipline plays a vital role in the life and health of the local church. When Jesus taught on church discipline in Matthew 18, he preceded it with the parable of the lost sheep, and followed it with teaching on forgiveness. This was no mistake, rather it speaks volumes about the role of church discipline in ensuring unity in the church.

Without church discipline we have no chance of being united, but if we take it seriously we will be a light to the world around us that cannot be hidden, a proof of the Gospel that cannot be argued against. That is what Church Discipline is all about!

If you have any questions about our understanding or our practice of church discipline then please contact us.