(CM 08) What Happens When Members Don’t Represent Jesus?
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As we finish up our series on the value of the local church and church membership, we will spend the last two weeks getting a better understanding of church discipline.
What is church discipline?
What is church discipline?
In broad terms, church discipline is the part in the disciple-making process where sin is corrected and disciples are pointed towards holy living.
To be discipled is to be disciplined.
Disciplers you have a responsibility to to correct through scripture.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
What is church discipline?
What is church discipline?
Teaching = truth (the standard)
Reproof = pointing out where one has strayed from truth.
Correction = how to fix the problem
Training in righteousness = training how to live correctly.
This is discipline.
We think of church discipline as the removal of a member from a local church body because they are no longer representing Jesus.
That is part of it but not all of it.
Let’s look at the words Paul uses:
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife.
And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
deliver this man to Satan
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
What is church discipline?
What is church discipline?
Purge (remove) the sinful person from you.
The church affirms a Christian’s profession of being a Jesus follower.
When the church can no longer affirm that.
When a person begins to bring shame, especially public shame, on Jesus
Something needs to be done.
Jesus talks about church discipline.
Jesus talks about church discipline.
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Jesus talks about church discipline.
Jesus talks about church discipline.
On the surface, Jesus seems to have two concerns.
That the sinner repent and be restored.
That the number of people involved remain as small as necessary.
Deeper is that the church should not look like the world.
Let him be an outsider.
A gentile was one who was outside the covenant community.
A tax collector was one who betrayed the covenant community.
If, after a serious of gracious warnings a church member doesn’t repent, a church should exclude them from its membership.
A specific process is given.
First: You go to your brother.
The process of church discipline begins on a personal level.
An individual believer goes privately to a brother who is sinning.
Don’t tell a bunch of people.
Don’t even tell pastor.
Just take responsibility and go to your brother.
This should be done in gentleness.
This should be done pointing directly to scripture.
If that brother repents its over.
Second: If they don’t respond… take one or two others with you.
This is not public and can be but doesn’t need to be a pastor.
Vs 16 tells us that by the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses facts can be confirmed.
Confirm that the brother is living in sin.
Confirm that the brother was clearly rebuked for their sin.
This protects the one being approached and the one approaching the brother.
It helps us to be level headed and unbiased.
Third: The last resort is to tell it to the church.
How much time should be given for repentance?
Plenty! During these steps we want to make sure much grace is given.
That much opportunity for repentance is given.
At this point the Christian living in sin is excommunicated from the church.
The point of this passage is that the local church has the authority to asses a professing Christian’s life.
Six purposes of church discipline.
Six purposes of church discipline.
1. Discipline aims to expose sin.
1. Discipline aims to expose sin.
Sin thrives in secret.
Like cancer, the quicker it is found and removed, the easier it is to get rid of.
And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
1. Discipline aims to expose sin.
1. Discipline aims to expose sin.
We don’t let people live it, we mourn their sin and confront them.
Our goal is to shine a light on sin through the truths of scripture.
Our goal is not simply expose sin
But to correct it.
As we correct it, we help the offender as well as teach the church.
2. Discipline aims to warn.
2. Discipline aims to warn.
The church does not enact God’s judgement through discipline.
Rather it paints a picture of the judgement that is to come without repentance.
you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
2. Discipline aims to warn.
2. Discipline aims to warn.
A small picture of judgment in the present warns of even greater judgement to come.
This should be seen as loving and gracious.
3. Discipline aims to save.
3. Discipline aims to save.
Churches pursue discipline when they a church member making decisions that move towards death.
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
3. Discipline aims to save.
3. Discipline aims to save.
Our goal is to save them from a life of destruction.
Save them from death most likely means physical death.
The Jews understood in their context the penalty for ongoing sin was certain death.
Adam and Eve.
A whole generation of Israelites wandering in the desert.
Sodom and Gomorrah
Cover a multitude of sins.
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
3. Discipline aims to save.
3. Discipline aims to save.
4. Discipline aims to protect.
4. Discipline aims to protect.
Just as cancer moves from one cell to the next if not removed, sin can begin to move from person to person.
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
4. Discipline aims to protect.
4. Discipline aims to protect.
This purpose is different than the first 3 because they are designed to for the good of the person in the sin.
This one focuses on the rest of the flock.
Christ is extremely protective of His church.
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
4. Discipline aims to protect.
4. Discipline aims to protect.
This means not only removing a sin problem before it spreads, but providing what is needed for the spiritual health of the church during the process.
5. Discipline aims to present a good witness for Jesus.
5. Discipline aims to present a good witness for Jesus.
Oddly, church discipline is good for non-Christians as well.
It helps preserve the distinctiveness of God’s people.
The unsaved world is watching us!
They expect people who call themselves Christians to act differently than everyone else.
1 Corinthians 5:1 (ESV)
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife.
5. Discipline aims to present a good witness for Jesus.
5. Discipline aims to present a good witness for Jesus.
There should be a noticeable difference in a Christian’s life.
Even an attractiveness.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
5. Discipline aims to present a good witness for Jesus.
5. Discipline aims to present a good witness for Jesus.
Our lives should clearly point people to Jesus.
As a church we have a responsibility to protect that.
Look a couple of verses back…
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
5. Discipline aims to present a good witness for Jesus.
5. Discipline aims to present a good witness for Jesus.
Jesus interestingly says that if salt is not longer salty it is worthless.
6. Discipline aims to restore.
6. Discipline aims to restore.
The core purpose for any kind of church discipline is LOVE.
Love for the individual and a desire to restore their relationship with Christ.
Love for the church and a desire to restore peace and unity.
Love for the watching world and a desire to restore Christ’s reputation.
The purpose of church discipline is not to excommunicate people from the church but to bring a christian living in sin to a place of repentance and restoration.