Church Discipline - Final step

A few Months ago we informed the congregation that Brian Harmon was officially being placed under Church discipline. Today I would like to update you all on where we are at in that process.

After much effort to have Brian come in to meet with the elders, this still has not happened. The members of Living water were instructed by the elders to go after their erring brother and encourage him to repent for abandoning his family and marriage and to come meet with the elders.

On May 21st Brain Harmon communicated directly to me that he would not meet with us and that he didn’t care if we removed him from membership here, in fact he would prefer it rather than answering for his actions. I explained that the process of removing someone from the membership and the fellowship of believers was not a decision that he could make unilaterally, but rather it was how church discipline concludes and that if he wanted to proceed this way, it would mean that we as a church will no longer validate his profession of faith, whats more we would find him to be acting as an unregenerate person, meaning we do not believe he is a genuine believer.

It was apparent to me that his position was not going to change and that we should allow more people from our church to pursue him. In the past 3 months many of you have done just that. While we have tried everything within our power to get Brian to come and talk with us we have not stopped praying for the hardness in his heart.

All this being said, we as elders now believe that it is time for the final step of church discipline. That step has been referred to as excommunication. What that means is excluding the unrepentant sinner, (in this case Brian Harmon), from fellowship with the congregation. According to instructions from Christ found in , specifically vs 17, we are to treat him as a gentile or a tax collector, meaning that there is a definite break in communion as this process has served to reveal that the unrepentant is not truly part of the body of believing saints.

It is very important to be noted that this entire process, including this final step, is never done in a manner of retribution. We are not pleased to expel Brian, nor do we now feel any less grieved over his sinful actions. This entire process is always to be done with a hope of bringing a true brother back into the fold.

At the point of excommunication, the guilty party is handed over to the devil. The intent is not to punish but rather to awaken Brain to his sin.

John Calvin held that church discipline is the ‘best help’ to sound doctrine, order and unity. It is also worth pointing out that excommunication is not the same as anathema which is taking away all pardon, condemns and consigns a man to eternal destruction.

Excommunication removes the guilty party from the fellowship. Excommunication also punishes the man, in such a way that, by forewarning him of his future condemnation, it may call him back to salvation.  But if that be obtained, reconciliation and restoration to communion await him. 

We desire this to inform Brian that his profession of Faith is not valid and that he should be aware that his current path will lead him to eternal damnation. All of this can always be overturned if he should truly repent, and that is always the goal. Brian needs to repent of abandoning his marriage and family, desire reconciliation, and return to the home. We are grieved that he refuses to do so.

What does this mean for the members of LWC?

According to God will judge outsiders but we are to judge those inside the church. As for the believer the apostle instructed us to not even eat with such a person who is found guilty of serious sin and is unrepentant.

It is our official position that Brian not be allowed to the gatherings or to the Lords table. As elders we are asking the members to no longer go after Brian in love but to now treat him as an outsider and if you have the opportunity to interact with him, call him to repent. The benefits of fellowship should also be removed from Brian, “do not associate… not to even eat with such a one.”

If you have business dealings with him, then it is to your discretion how you would like to proceed in maintaining and upholding the doctrines of the church, but we would caution you all of by treating him as if nothing has happened, that would not lead him to repent but would rather re-affirm his own false belief that he will be ok when he stands before the Lord.

Finally I would like to say that this final action is also in line with standing with our sisters, Charlene and her daughters. We would now turn our attention to helping her continue in the faith and helping her raise her children in the love and admonition of the Lord.

We as elders are available to answer any questions you may have beyond what we have stated here today. It is our deep desire that in practicing membership and church discipline others may see how much care we have for God’s people, and how serious we are about affirming and upholding the doctrines of the church. This process has humbled us and grieved, and now it provides us an opportunity to show real Love and charity to those who have been most affected by this.

May Christ return to find his church thriving, his people passionately following him, and its overseers fearfully and humbling committed to the cause of Christ, bringing the light of his Gospel and his loving care for his children to all peoples.