Church Discipline-How We Are to Discipline, Who We Are to Discipline and Why We Are to Discipline
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday November 24, 2013
Church Discipline: How We Are to Discipline, Who We Are to Discipline and Why We Are to Discipline
Lesson # 1
Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 18:15.
One of the most controversial subjects in the Word of God is that of church discipline.
Too often, it has not been practiced in many churches which has resulted in disastrous consequences in the sense that it has destroyed the testimony of these churches before the world.
Unfortunately, many churches describe their legalistic bullying of other Christians, who did not fit their non-Biblical requirements for a Christian, as church discipline.
This too has produced disastrous consequences resulting in damaged souls who have been abused by these hypocritical, self-righteous people.
Because of this abuse, many churches don’t even attempt to practice it.
Wiersbe writes “Church discipline usually goes to one of two extremes. Either there is no discipline at all, and the church languishes because of disobedience and sin. Or the church officers become evangelical policemen who hold a kangaroo court and violate many of the Bible’s spiritual principles.” (Wiersbe, W. W.; The Bible Exposition Commentary; Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books; 1996)
However, the teaching of the Word of God says it must and should be administered by the church when appropriate circumstances call for it.
The Bible teaches when and who we are to discipline and why we are to discipline.
The Lord has ordered the church to administer discipline to those who are living ungodly lifestyles and who are habitually living in rejection of the Word of God.
It is to be administered for the spiritual well-being of these individuals who are living in apostasy.
Church discipline is based upon God’s holiness and is patterned after God’s discipline of the church.
Failure to administer church discipline when it is called for demonstrates a church’s lack of awareness or concern for God’s holiness.
Church discipline is taught in Matthew 18:15-18, Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2:6-11; Galatians 6:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-16; 2 Timothy 2:23-26; Titus 3:10; 2 John 9-11.
Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 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. 18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (NASB95)
The purpose of church discipline is always restoration and not revenge.
The purpose of this discipline is to deliver the offender from sinful patterns of behavior and not to drive him or her away from the fellowship of the church.
The church’s attitude is to be one of love and gentleness (Galatians 6:1-3).
The discipline of the church is first patterned after the fact that the Lord Himself disciplines His children (Heb. 12:6) and, as a father delegates part of the discipline of the children to the mother, so the Lord has delegated the discipline of the church family to the church itself (1 Cor. 5:12-13; 2 Cor. 2:6).
Discipline is further based on the holy character of God (1 Pet. 1:16; Heb. 12:11).
The pattern of God’s holiness—His desire for the church to be holy, set apart unto Him—is an important reason for the necessity of church discipline.
The church is therefore to clean out the leaven of malice and wickedness from its ranks (1 Cor. 5:6-8).
A failure to exercise discipline in the church evidences a lack of awareness of and concern for the holiness of God.
Church discipline is to be patterned after and based on the divine commands of Scripture (1 Cor. 4:6).
We have numerous passages of Scripture which both command and give us God’s directives on the how, why, when, and where of church discipline.
Again, a failure to exercise this responsibility demonstrates a lack of obedience and belief in the authority of the Bible (1 Cor. 5:1-13; Matt. 18:17-18; Titus 3:10; 2 Thess. 3:6-15; 1 Tim. 5:20; Gal. 6:1).
Another basis for the necessity of church discipline is the testimony of the church in the world (1 Pet. 4:13-19).
The world observes the behavior and life of the church and when the church acts no differently than the world, it loses its credibility and authenticity (1 Pet. 2:11-18; 3:8-16; 4:1-4).
There are several purposes for administering church discipline: (1) To bring glory to God and enhance the testimony of the flock. (2) To restore, heal, and build up sinning believers (Matt. 18:15; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; Heb. 12:10-13; Gal. 6:1-2; Jam. 5:20). (3) To produce a healthy faith, one sound in doctrine (Tit. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:19-20). (4) To win a soul to Christ, if the sinning person is only a professing Christian (2 Tim. 2:24-26). (5) To silence false teachers and their influence in the church (Tit. 1:10-11). (6) To set an example for the rest of the body and promote godly fear (1 Tim. 5:20). (7) To protect the church against the destructive consequences that occur when churches fail to carry out church discipline.
Church discipline should be administered by those who are in fellowship with God and are knowledgeable of the Word of God and filled with the Spirit (Galatians 6:1).
It must be done with an attitude of humility, gentleness and patience, always looking to ourselves that we too might not be tempted (Galatians 6:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:24-25) and must be done impartially (1 Timothy 5:21).
Those who are disciplined are to be warned and must be appealed to in love (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15; 1 Timothy 5:1-2; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:2).
This discipline, is not restricted to church leaders, but may be done by any person in the body with another if that person is influenced by the Spirit and governed by Him (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
If the person who is confronted does not stop and obey the Word of God, then they are to be publicly rebuked.
No one in the congregation is to fellowship with them.
The purpose for withholding fellowship with the sinning Christian is to make clear to them that they have dishonored the Lord and have caused a terrible disturbance in the body.
The goal of such discipline is always restoration and the person is still to be counted as a brother or sister in Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).
Also, this expulsion from the fellowship of the church is designed to create fear in the rest of the flock as a warning against sin (1 Timothy 5:20).
Those who do not respond to the discipline are to be excommunicated (Matthew 18:17).
Several examples of church discipline are found in Scripture.
The Corinthian church was to gather together for the purpose of taking action against the offending brother or sister (1 Cor. 5:4-5; 2 Thess. 3:6-15).
This is defined by Paul as “punishment inflicted by the majority” (2 Corinthians 2:6).
It must always be remembered that there must be a readiness to forgive (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).
Now, we must be very careful that when administering church discipline that we are not censuring someone for our taboos or pet peeves.
As Keathley states “Scripture, not our opinions or dislikes, must be the guide for what is sin.”
The church is to administer discipline for those whose conduct is disorderly and negatively impacts the testimony of the church before the world (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).
Discipline is to be used with divisive or factious people causing divisions in the church (Romans 16:17-18; Titus 3:9-11).
Those involved in immorality such as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5 are to be disciplined.
Also, discipline must be administered to those who are habitually involved with covetousness, idolatry, abusive speech, drunkenness, swindling, or idle busybodies who refuse to work and run around spreading dissension (1 Corinthians 5:1, 11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-15).
Those who teach false doctrine are to be disciplined as Paul did with Hymenaeus and Alexander.
It is extremely important that the church understands why discipline must be administered.
First of all, God’s holy character requires it.
Secondly, it is for the testimony of the church.
It also effects the unity and purity of the church.
Lastly, discipline is for spiritual edification and restoration of the individual.