Biblical Church Discipline
Baptists have traditionally been known as “a people of the book.” Article I of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message says, “The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error, for its matter.”
However, there are certain issues that seem to tempt even Bible-believing churches to compromise. One of these issues is church discipline because our natural tendency is to flee from conflict and tough issues. We must remember, however, that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Therefore, because Scripture is breathed by the God of Truth, because it gives us our doctrines, because it reproves and corrects us, and because it equips us for every good work; we have no spiritually viable option but to follow it even in tough matters like church discipline. When there is sin in the fellowship, we need direction from God’s Word in order to know what to do. The following is a look at what God has said in His Word on the subject of church discipline.
First, 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 clearly tells us that believers are not to settle their disputes in secular courts. Instead, these matters are to be settled “before the saints” (v.1). Paul asserts that believers will judge the world (v.2) and the angels (v.3), and this certainly qualifies us, and not unbelievers who, “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (v.9), to judge among the family of God. It is even better to allow ourselves to be cheated, apostereo, literally meaning to be “robbed from” (Patterson), instead of taking a brother to court. It is “already an utter failure for you that go to law against one another” (v.7). Only the devil wins in that case because it brings reproach upon the name of Christ. Therefore, we must accept our God-given responsibility to judge matters between Christians.
Second, Galatians 6:1 relates that restoration must be the ultimate goal of church discipline. It says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” While we must administer discipline at times in order to be obedient to God, we must do it with the desire of lovingly restoring the person instead of angrily punishing them. Remember, God Himself sets this example for us because He chastens those that He loves (Hebrews 12:6), and He cannot set an example for us that is wrong because He is holy. The idea of church discipline is correction and not punishment. The Book of 2nd Corinthians relates that the person disciplined in 1 Corinthians 5 was ultimately restored to the fellowship of the church. The leadership of True Life Church will make every effort to restore a church member who is living in unrepentant sin or who is refusing to abide by the commitments he or she made by signing the membership covenant.
Third, Matthew 18:15-20 lays out the steps that are to be taken in situations where one Christian sins against another Christian. The first step is for the wronged person to confront the sinning brother or sister. The second step is for the wronged Christian to take one or two others from the church to act as witnesses in the situation. Finally, if the offender is still unrepentant, he must be brought to the church. Then, if there is no repentance, the sinner is to be treated “like a heathen and a tax collector” (v.17). This would have to be speaking of a disfellowshipping from the local assembly.
Fourth, 1 Corinthians 5 gives guidelines for dealing with public sin that affects the entire church. The sin that occasioned Paul’s response was sexual immorality between a man and his unbelieving stepmother (v.1). However, the admonitions of this passage do not just apply to this particular sin. In verse 11, Paul writes, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner.” Sexual immorality, pornos in the Greek, is the general word to cover all sexual sin. Covetous is defrauding for the sake of gain. An idolater is an image worshipper. A reviler is one who uses abusive language. A drunkard is someone who is consistently drunk. An extortioner is someone given to extortion and robbery (These definitions came from Strong’s comprehensive Concordance, The new Analytical Greek Lexicon, and Webster’s Dictionary.).
It is important to note, however, that Paul directs criticism and commands to the church body and not the offender. He criticized them for pride and for not mourning over a sin so serious that it was even illegal according to pagan Roman law (MacGorman). He reminds them that a little leaven, almost always a symbol for evil in the Bible, leavens the whole lump, a symbol of the Church body. In other words, sin that is ignored permeates and infects the entire congregation. Paul’s remedy for unrepentant sin was to “deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (v.5). This is hard to understand, but it has to mean something along the lines of disfellowshipping a person from the church in order to ultimately redeem that person.
Therefore, the following conclusions can be drawn from this passage:
Church discipline is not exercised over gray areas but over clear, continued, and unrepentant sin. (v.1, 11).
The church must realize the seriousness and the corrupting influence of such sin, and humbly deal with the sin (v. 2, 6-8).
The church has the right and responsibility to judge sin in the name and power of the Lord Jesus (v.3-4).
The church is to deal with this sin as an entire body (v.4). [Note also 1 Timothy 5:20]
The ultimate goal is redemption and not punishment (v.5). The discipline is only a means to ultimately redeem and restore the offender while purifying the church.
Unrepentant sin must ultimately result in the exclusion of the member from the church. Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, Paul called for the exclusion of the sinning member in verses 2, 5, 11 and 13. This is in perfect agreement with Matthew 18:17.
Based on these passages, the following should serve as general guidelines for administering church discipline at True Life Church:
For the sake of obedience to God and the purity of the church, we acknowledge (based on 1 Corinthians 6) that it is our God-given responsibility, not secular courts, to deal with disputes between Christians and to deal with sins within the church related to those named in 1 Corinthians 5. It is important to note, however, that this does not exempt Christians from reporting criminal offenses.
Church discipline must always be carried out in love and with the ultimate goal of restoration
The church as a whole must ultimately deal with matters where the sinner remains unrepentant. However, the church leadership should deal with the situation first and seek to bring repentance without having to bring the issue before the church body.
In instances where one Christian wrongs another, the steps listed in Matthew 18:15-18, and not anger, gossip, backbiting, unforgiveness, slander, etc.; should be followed. The wronged Christian is to go to his brother seeking reconciliation. If the sinner will not make things right, the offended person is to take two witnesses, with the church’s recommendation being two pastors or a pastor and a deacon. At that point, if the sinner is still unwilling to make it right, the pastors must take the matter before the church. If there is still no repentance, the church, in order to obey Jesus, must expel the sinning person from the church.
If it comes to the light that a person is engaging in the sins mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5 or others specifically named elsewhere in Scripture, the church must also practice discipline. In such cases, the ministerial staff must make every effort to bring about repentance and begin the restoration process. However, if this fails, the church as a body must hear the matter, and if there is still no repentance, expel the sinning member.
If a person in a leadership position has to be disciplined and they repent, the church still has the right to remove that person from their position. The reasons for this are the public nature of ministry, the fact that leaders have to set an example, and the stricter standard the Bible sets for them in 1 Timothy 3 and James 3:1, which says, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
In closing, there are a couple of points that need to be repeated for the sake of clarity. First, it needs to be emphasized that even church discipline is to be done in love. There is no place for judgmental and condemning attitudes. However, sin cannot be winked at either. This is the balance that must be maintained. Second, it is important to realize that church discipline pertains only to professing Christians who are church members. It does not apply to non-believers (1 Corinthians 5:10-11). Unsaved people who visit a church should be welcomed and accepted regardless of a particular lifestyle. Change and accountability comes after receiving Christ. This balance must also be maintained.
