When I say the words “church discipline”, what comes to your
mind?
Maybe you think of the whole process in Matthew 18. Maybe you think of that letter you received from
your church informing you not to associate with someone who just left his
wife. Maybe you think of that really
awkward Sunday when someone from your church had to publically go before the
congregation and confess their affair. Maybe
you think it is totally pointless in a society where you can just hop churches
at any time.
Honestly, it is just something the North American
evangelical church does NOT do well, and I
think most Christians have a very warped view on the topic.
In my mind, I know that church discipline is Biblical, but I
don’t think I have a good idea of what it would practically look like, and I
have certainly failed at practicing it.
I know believers are commanded to warn a brother twice about
not causing division, and then have nothing to do with him (Titus 3:10). I know believers are to not associate with
anyone who claims to be a Christian but is still a sexually-immoral,
idolatrous, swindling drunk (1 Corinthians 5:11). And I know that if anyone does not obey the
teachings of the Bible, believers should have nothing to do with them (2 John1:9-10, 2 Thessalonians 3:14).
But given that standard, pretty much the entire church,
including myself, should be under “church discipline.” So where do we “draw the line” on who we
should restore with a “spirit of gentleness”? (Galatians 6:1)
(I think on Thanksgiving all Americans will be under Church Discipline for Gluttony)
As I have been meditating on what church discipline should
be, Scripture has challenged me in a few areas:
- Church Discipline is about more Sins than just Divorce: I have only seen church discipline practiced when a man and wife separate; however, clearly from 1 Corinthians 5 and other passages of Scripture, discipline is not limited to just divorce. I think divorce is the primary area where church discipline is practiced, because it is the one clear line that people will willfully pass that we know is against the teaching of Scripture. We see people with bursts of anger or dissention, but are never bold enough to say anything about it. We don’t want to deal with sin, until it is something bold and unrepentant that we cannot ignore.
- Church Discipline is not just Excommunication: When you talk with most people about church discipline, they think about shunning people; however, church disciple should start way before that. We live in a society that hates to confront or challenge others, because who are you to force your values on me? But if God’s Word is profitable for correction (2 Timothy 3:16), if we are supposed to talk to the brother who has wronged us (Matthew 18), and if the spiritual are called to restore those in sin (Galatians 6:1), there should be a lot more conversations happening that aren’t. If the first two steps of Matthew 18 are done effectively, the last step should rarely need to be enacted.
- Church Discipline requires Relationship: One reason church discipline seems so awkward is that we are trying to correct people we don’t have a relationship with. In our consumer Christian, church-hopping world, the relational aspects of church have taken a significant hit. I need people in my life so that they can see when I am caught in sin and gently restore me (Galatians 6:1). A trusted friend giving you advice on your relationship with your spouse is way better than an elder you have only seen once from a church you attend 20 times a year coming to your house and telling you to love your wife.
- Church Discipline is Love: One of the reasons church discipline gets a bad name is that people see it as retaliatory or controlling. However, it should not be confused with a cult that excommunicates members for personal gain. Discipline is a true sign of sonship and love (Hebrews 12:5). The sin people are trapped in is killing them, and we need to not only warn them of the danger ahead, but also discipline them if they fail to heed the warning. It is out of love that I discipline my toddlers for running out into a parking lot without holding my hand.
- Church Discipline is about God’s Glory: I can’t take credit for this thought, but the purpose of Church Discipline is God’s glory, the purity of the church, and the restoration of the person in sin, in that order. The problems come when we put either the purity of the church or the restoration of the believer before the glory of God. Just as Christ is full of grace and truth (John 1:14), the church must be about both grace and truth. Cults tend to be over zealous on truth and claim purity in order to control. Conversely, most North American evangelical churches tend to be too full of grace, and refuse to confront (I am not sure this is real grace, more pacifism). When we enter eternity, God will be glorified by both the judgment of the unbelievers as well as the salvation of the believers. We should not feel like the Bible police when we loving execute discipline.
So where do we go from here?
I think we are each responsible for lovingly correcting end exhorting
our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Just because something isn’t comfortable, doesn’t mean it isn’t Biblical
or profitable. Am I really being a
loving part of the body of Christ by doing nothing? If our culture changes about receiving
correction, so much of the awkwardness around this topic would dissipate.
Feel free to start with me.
If you think there is anything in my life that is not pleasing to the
Lord, you are now responsible to tell me.
I want to know about the logs in my eye.
And after you help me with my log, I think I see a few specks in your
eye.
