Church Discipline

Introduction

Hoping beyond hope that we can still right this ship, do good here for these people and bring glory and honor to the God we serve, I am writing these things to you because as the Senior Pastor, you need to be prepared. You need to be prepared to not only battle some things and, potentially, some people in a mentally, physically and spiritually challenging way, but prepared to do what is necessary and expected of you by the members, and in particular by a tithing member in good standing—not to mention your own flesh and blood—as you act in your God-given authority as the leader, Jesus-given gift, angel and messenger of God, and Senior Pastor of Friendship Church.

This will be a battle. However, we have the authority of the almighty God behind us.

Romans 8:31 NASB

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

The church I shepherd alongside you as your Executive Senior Pastor is sick. It has been sick for quite some time. I have recently identified one sickness in particular—the Jezebel Spirit—and it is trying to literally kill you, steal your joy, drive you into depression and usurp your God-given authority. It is causing dissension, sowing discord amongst the congregation, and maliciously gossiping about things which should remain private. We must act if we are to save the church. Part of the reason why the church is dead is because of this spirit.

My 12 years of experience with Focus Right Ministries and the three churches that I have helped shepherd into health, prosperity and growth tell me that once that spirit leaves, the Spirit will flourish and this church will begin to grow.

Illustration

In 1955, the National Football began pursuing franchise opportunities in select cities throughout the United States. One of the cities they chose was Dallas, and in 1960, the Dallas Cowboys got their start.

In 1970, Roger Staubach entered into his rookie contract with the team. He had to compete with Craig Morton for the job. In 1971, then coach Tom Landry decided to split quarterbacking duties between his two quarterbacks—and in the process, split the team. By week five of the 1971 season, though, it was clear that Staubach should lead them going forward. The split was resolved, and the team finally had a leader. Within ten years, with guys like Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, Bob Hayes, Bob Lilly, Thomas Henderson, Ed Jones and Randy White—their very first draft pick in 1961—they began to reach the highest popularity they’d had up until that point and won their first of five franchise Super Bowls in 1971, and their second in 1977.

Over the next five years, key players who had once made those Super Bowl winning teams shine began to age, and players like Randy White, Danny White, Bob Lilly, Five years later, In 1982, the Dallas Cowboys lost an selected University of Miami Bum Bright put his flailing and dying franchise football team Dallas

As a church, we have lost our lampstand:

Revelation 2:4–5 NASB

4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

Once these people either repent—which we both know is highly unlikely—or leave and this spirit leaves with them, we will no longer be under it’s influence and we will get our lampstand back.

The word “repent” in v5 is the Greek word metanoeō and it means:

Lexham Theological Wordbook μετανοέω

μετανοέω (metanoeō). vb. to repent, change one’s mind. In the NT, generally refers not simply to changing one’s mind but to turning back to God.

You treat these people with kid gloves as if they are perfect, God forbid you actually preach the truth to them and they hear it and repent. I hear you say every week, “oh, but that’s not for you guys!” “Of course! Everyone here is saved and you don’t have to worry about such things!” “You have eternal security! You don’t have to do a thing, lift a finger or change one thing you don’t wanna! Ever!” and my personal favorite, “there’s not a single thing wrong with any of you!,” so in all honesty, you are part of the problem.

So, it’s unfortunate that it has come to this, but it appears as if I am going to have to force you to either do your job or get out of the way and someone will happily do it for you since your apparent reaction—which is different from a response—to this letter will most likely be, “I ‘can’t,’” which is Don-Shotwell-Sr-eese for, “‘refuse to.’”

Therefore, beginning next week and culminating by the end of the month, I am—not might, not could, AM—going to confront Glenda Merrill.

Step One

Matthew 18:15 NLT

15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.

16 May 2021

Glenda Merrill and I are going to have a conversation that she will not enjoy.