A LOOSING DOCTRINE: CHURCH DISCIPLINE

By: Michael Tao


The local church is comprised of baptized believers, yet the fact remains where there are people, there are problems. There could be disharmonies between members in the church, or Christians that commit open sins against God. These two situations are common.

Church purity and testimony can be restored by exercising biblical church discipline. However today in many churches, the word "church discipline" sounds like a dirty word , and the practise of it basically does not exist. Many Bible colleges do not teach it, the graduates go to the ministry fields without having a clue what it is, let alone utilizing it in the time of need.

Church leaders abandon church discipline because they take it as a negative and unloving act. Hesitation may also be due to the possibility of turning into a legal issue. However Christ commanded church discipline in Matthew and Luke, and Paul taught of it in his epistles - in 1 Corinthians 5:12 Paul said, "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?""

We are going to start our discussion with the first situation,which is: When a brother is hurt by another brother . Matthew 18 has guidelines to handle it.

Jesus said in Matthew18:15ff, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."

First of all, this offended brother is not to spread any gossips which would damage the unity of the church. He is not to tell or discuss this matter with anyone: not with his family, nor with his pastor, nor with his best friend, but only the offender himself, and must be done privately. It might be some misunderstanding between these two, and has no need to involve other people. Proverbs 25:9ff says, "Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away".

With the same token, if anyone brings a gossip to you; the biblical way to handle this, is to advise him to go to that brother and solve it between themselves. We should not add our opinion to an one sided story. However I would like to suggest one condition here. As God has ordained man as the spiritual head of the family, it is biblically correct for a wife or a child at home to seek counsel from this leader at the home first. A man should definitely protect his wife's emotional well being by not filling her up with problems he has with his colleaques, friends, etc.

If the conflict cannot be resolved on an one to one basis, the next step is for the offended to bring one or two witnesses with him to talk to the offender. They have to be godly and respectable church members, should have no bias towards either side, have no previous knowledge of the problem, and both parties agree to have them as their mediator.

"Every word may be established" is to clarify the situation, to exercise judgment, and to give advices according to the Scripture. These mediators are called "witnesses" because they may become witnesses in the next step of church discipline.

If the offender refuse to correct his mistakes, then the last step is to bring the whole situation in front of the church, and let the congregation judge. Both the offender and the offended should have equal opportunity of pleading their cases, also the witnesses should give a report of what has been done and the outcome of it. Then the whole church would make a final judgment based on the information and the Bible. The Bible has all the instructions or principles to allow a church to judge anything in this world, we will even use the Word of God to judge the angels someday(1 Corinthians 6:3). When the Bilbe is open, with all the evidences presented, to make a right judgment is not difficult, Paul said in1 Corinthians 6:4,5, - "set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church, although Paul spoke to the shame of the Corinthians.

If the offender has no intention to repent according to the decision of congregation, then he should be "rebuked before all" (1 Timothy 5:19,20), and has to be treated by the church as "an heathen man and a publican". A heathen is someone does not believe in God, a publican was seen as a covetous, dishonest, and wicked person by the Jews. It means this offender does not have the testimony of a believer either in faith or in work, so he should not be a church member, and should be put away from the church.

Not every single fault has to be brought up to the offender unless it hinders you to maintain a peaceful relationship with him. However the situation probably will never be improved unless the offender is challenged. The Bible has a balanced teaching, in Proverbs 19:11 it says, "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression". Even though one is hurt, it is wise to hold back the anger, to get some good rest, to seek God's will, to look for more evidences, and to plan for the next move, so that the problem can be satisfactorily resolved. Also it is a man's glory to forgive an offence, and to forgive an offender probably does more good to the offended himself physically, emotionally and spirituallu. Once the problem is resolved, then it should never be brought up again.

The second situation is a church member has committed certain major sin.

First of all, someone has to go and talk to him, in the spirit of meekness.

Galatians 6:1 says,"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

The person who initiates the action should have a higher degree of spiritual maturity, and always be a good testimony for the Lord. He goes to the offender and points out his fault by using the Scripture, with the hope that the offender may repent.

If there is no sign of repentence, then this should be brought up in front of the church, and to remove his church membership. In 1 Corinthians chapter 5, Paul was rebuking the church of not judging the fornicator among them, and he gave clear instruction what they should have done. When one's sin is known to the public, the church needs to judge a righteous judgment. Here we are talking about some major sins, and there should not be any delay in dealing with it. In the same chapter, no mediators are required to be involved. Again not all the faults of a brother have to be brought up in front of the church, Bible gives us guidelines about what sorts of sins require this type of disciplinary action.

Three types of sin which require disciplinary action.

The first group is heretics. Titus 3:10 says, "A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject". A heretic is a person who disagrees with the Bible, there were false believers in the first century churches already. False believers in the church have caused the decline of fundamental churches in the last one hundred and fifty years.

The second group is believers with immorality. First Corinthians 5:8,11,13 say, "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth...But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat... Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person". Paul said we should keep our Lord's supper in sincerity and truth, the offenders should not be allowed to participate, and should be put away from the church. These are church members that have "malice and wickedness"(v.8), and those that are "fornicator, covetous, idolater, railer, drunkard, extortioner" (v.11). These words all have their definitions.

A fornicator is one who has committed sin of sexual perversion, or adultery. One who is covetous is greedy for the material wealth even the unlawful gain. A railer is one has filthy and malicious communication. An extortioner is one who commits violent acts. However there are certain major sins which are not included here e.g. blasphemy of God, murdering, dishonoring father and mother, insubordination to the church authority. These are included in the category of "malice and wickedness" in verse 8. Holy Spirit does not give us a long list of sins that the church need to send away those that have commited them, Holy Spirit gives us examples and principles, so that the church can exercise the judgement.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 says, "that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us", these are addressed as ""brother"" by Paul, and they could well be saved, but they should be put outside the church because of their heresies and misconduct.

The third group is members who are holding and promoting some different doctrines to the harm of the church. Romans 16:17,18 says, "Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple". This group stir up the church due to their doctrinal difference. Paul did not use the word "among you" so these may not be church members, but friends or visitors that come consistently. Church members should separate from them (instead of having the church split up by them), so that they are ashamed and forced to make some serious self-examination.

Interestingly enough, these three categories describe outward sins only. As no man is perfect, it is impossible to judge one's heart. One's behavior is always a reflection of his inside, then we can judge accordingly. For example, Paul did not ask the church to judge someone who has an angry temperament, although he did not approve of it at all (Colossians 3:8). When this anger gets out of control and results in violence, then it is the time for disciplinary action, because this angry brother has become an extortioner.

Why do the sinners have to be put out from the church?

1 Corinthians 5:3,4 say, " For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus".

The purpose of putting a rebellious sinner out of church is a sign of breaking the fellowship with him, and to remove the spiritual protection from the chruch so that God will use Satan to chastise him and bring him into repentance. Actually the church is assisting this brother to repent, it is obedient to the Word of God, and must not be seen as an unloving act. It is a time to be patient with sinnes, but it is a time to obey God and preserve the integrity of the church. Chastisement is a sign that we are God's children (Hebrews 12:8). God's chastisement can extend to premature death(1 Corinthians 11:30; James 5:19,2; Proverbs 15:10), that is to take the rebellious child home so that he would not hinder God's work by being a poor testimony.

Once a brother's church membership is removed on discipline ground, the other church members should have nothing to do with him. We are instructed to "avoid them" in Romans 16:17. The purpose is to let him feel ashamed, 2 Thessalonians 3:15 says, "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed". If he repents, he will come to the pastor.

Other considerations:

There are some general considerations.

- Church discipline should be taught in the church to improve the interpersonal relationship among church members;

- Disciplinary action starts with the greatest privacy, but more people will be involved further down the process, eventually it might have to be brought in front of the congregation;

- Although not clearly stated in the Bible, the shepherd inevitably plays the role of witness, chairman of the meeting, and will rebuke the unremorseful before all;

- Mediators should explain each step of church discipline, and the possible consequence to both sides, so that it is fair to both of them;

- When brought up before the church, it is for church members only, no need for the children to be there;

- Whatever the result is, it should be announced and recorded;

- The offended brother or the church has to forgive the brother when there is confession, so that . the church unity can be sestored as quick as possible. Jesus teaches us to give the best benefit of doubt. Luke17:4 says, "And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him". There should not be much time for scrutiny if one has to forgive someone seven times in a day; so accept the brother if he repents.

- Take immediate action when the sin is evident; if one step of action cannot resolve the problem, then the next step has to be followed; so that the church can be kept clean.

- The church is dealing with one who has commited some major sin, the offender usually has a pretty good idea already. It is no point to offer some bible counseling before judgement is carried out. It is not an issue of lack of knowledge, but an issue of willingness to repent, the best counseling cannot change an unwilling heart.

- If the offender knows well he is in sin and yet stiffens his neck, he will be unlikely to show up in the meeting, however this should not hinder the disciplinary process. If the offender resigns his membership before or after the church meeting, then it should be accepted. But the granting of a church letter for membership transfer should be denied until repentence is evident.

What about if you are the offender, and facing a challenge from the offended brother?

Matthew 5:39ff says, "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away".

This is a passage that teaches a Christian needs to maintain a decent relationship within a church at all cost, the Jews sees each other as brothers or sisters. (This passage does not apply to the gentiles, otherwise you will have a lineup at the front door for your overcoat.) If I am the offender, I would seek peace at all cost as Christ commanded, even I may not agree it is my fault. Christ puts church unity very high, his body will be unable to function well when there are unresolved conflicts. Reluctance to reconcile with a brother is a sin of pride, and a failure to see the work that Christ has done for us.

What about if you have sin in your life, and a brother is pointing out that to you?

If I have committed a major sin and have no knowledge of it, and become "thou art the man"; then no matter what my pride, what my self esteem tells me, I need to repent.

I would thank my dear brother that points out my sin in my life, I would invite him over and treat him as my honorable guest and ask for forgiveness. Then I would fall on my face to tell God I have sinned against him, and I would also thank God for the mercy that he use someone to exhort me so that I do not have to be judged by Him. I would definitely pray that God will give me strength to repent from my sin. If necessary, I would then go to seek peace, and compensate all damages that I have done.

I may have to speak to my pastor so that my servant position (e.g. deacon, teacher, writer, song leader, choir, treasury etc) in the church will be put onhold until my repentance is evident.

Conclusion

Church discipline assist church members to repent. However there is a way which is far more effective, which is to exercise self discipline. Matthew 5:23ff says, " Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and here rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift"; 1 Corinthians 11:31 says, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world".

We ought to examine ourselves, be sensitive to the small voice of the Holy Spirit, never stiffening our necks that we would have to be judged by our Master.