GUIDELINES
FOR
CHURCH DISCIPLINE
AND
The Belgic
Confession (1561), which developed out of Reformation teaching, identifies
three characteristics "by which the true Church is known. These marks
are: (1) the preaching of pure doctrine, (2) the administering of the sacraments
(water baptism and communion), and (3) the exercising of church discipline."
The Church today often replaces counseling for biblical discipline
of an erring believer. Both are necessary in the process of restoration. Christians
today are rightly concerned about discipleship, but often fail to confront
and correct an erring disciple. The results are evident in the Church. Because
of our reluctance to rightly apply the principles of church discipline, the
work of the Kingdom of Christ is hindered in our world. The World sees the
Church as impotent and ineffective to deal with its problems of sin within
the Body of Christ.
The Church without discipline is a church characterized by a lack of
purity, as there is more of the World in the Church than the Church in the
world. The Church neglecting discipline faces a serious lack of power to serve
God in the world. The Church, by not assuming its responsibility to discipline
sinning members, limits the progress and potential impact upon both saved
and unsaved.
Joshua 7 illustrates clearly how the sin of one man can bring defeat
to the entire congregation. There is no victory in Ai while Achan's sin goes
unchecked. When the Church is without purity, power, and progress, God's reputation
is damaged. Only by following the principles of discipline, as given in God's
Word, can the full blessing be restored to both the weakened Church and the
sinning saint (I Timothy 6:1b; Romans
2:23-25; Ezekiel 36:21-23).
In preparing this teaching, it is our objective to share these principles
of discipline in a form that can be applied in the Church today. As we go
through the definitions of key words and the steps outlined in Scripture,
it is our hope that we will have clear guidelines with which to lovingly and
faithfully apply church discipline in the household of God, of which we have
been given the oversight and care (II Timothy 2:14-26). Only by the application
of biblical church discipline can true Christian love be demonstrated (Hebrews
12:1-17).
The Disciplinary Process
Church
discipline is a process consisting of three key elements: confrontation, repentance,
and restoration.
I.
The Confrontation Process
The confrontation phase of discipline aims to bring the sinning
member to the point of confession and repentance from sin. It involves six
steps taken from our Lord's teaching in Matthew 18:15-20.
Step
One: "And if your brother sins..."
The first responsibility is to determine when there is a need for discipline.
Five categories of sin necessitate discipline in the Body of Christ:
a)
Violations of Christian LOVE.
(Matthew 5:23,24) These are private offenses to be dealt with on a
personal level.
b)
Violations of Christian UNITY.
(Romans 16:17; Titus 3:9-11) These are actions that are divisive and
destroy the peace and harmony of the church body.
c)
Violations of Christian TRUTH.
(I Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 1:5-13; Ephesians 4:15; II John 7-11) These
involve heresies and rejection of basic doctrines of the faith.
d)
Violations of Christian MORALITY.
(I Corinthians 5; Hebrews 12; Galatians 5:19-21; I Corinthians 6:9,10)
These relate to moral and ethical standards of the Bible.
e)
Violations of Christian COMMITMENT and
TESTIMONY. (James 5:19,20; Hebrews 10:24,25; Philippians 4:1-5) These
are situations in which a believer requests help for areas of weakness in
his life.
Step
Two: "...go and reprove him privately..."
When we become aware of a brotherŐs sin, we are to go to him privately
and deal with the offense on a personal level. Many personal offenses and
issues of sin can be dealt with on a one to one basis.
Matthew 18:15c "..if he listens to you (and confesses - TLB) you
have won your brother."
If the sinning one confesses and repents, the general principle is
that what has been dealt with privately should not be made public. Exceptions
are in the case of sins with public consequence. Then it
If no repentance is forthcoming, then the next step is taken.
Step Three:
"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." Matthew 18:16
When private
confrontation fails to bring repentance, it is to be followed by a private
conference with two or three other witnesses. In the case of church discipline,
church members are preferable. The choice of witnesses should be influenced
by their relationship to the sinning one, since they will witness his response.
The presence
of witnesses can better substantiate the charges, especially if they have
seen the offense, or at least see the evidence. Their presence also strengthens
the rebuke in hope that repentance will follow.
If the
erring brother repents, restoration appropriate for the situation and the
offense can begin. Now there are others involved who are able to help in the
process of restoration.
If no
repentance comes after the conference, then the next step is taken.
Step Four:
"And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the Church." Matthew 18:17a
The place of the church family in discipline cannot be over-estimated. The relationship of one Christian to another is a strong theme of the New Testament.
(See
I Corinthians 10:14; Romans 12:5,10-13; Ephesians 4; Galatians 6:1).
In "telling
it to the Church," our motivation is to restore the sinner. The Church
is asked to pray for, and put spiritual and personal pressure on the sinning
brother, reaching out in love and concern for the one ensnared in sin. Prayer
and fasting are in order when an erring one is under the control of sin and
Satan's dominion. (Isaiah 58:6)
Great
discretion will be used in publicly announcing the nature of the sin (Ephesians
5:11,12). Any announcement will be filled with an expression of grief and
concern that the offender acknowledge and repent of his offense.
If repentance
is not forthcoming after public announcement to the Church, then the next
step must be sorrowfully obeyed.
Step Five:
"and if he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you
as a Gentile and a tax gatherer." Matthew
18:17b
(AB) "...let him be to you as a pagan..."
(TLB) "...then the Church should excommun-icate
him..."
Although a reasonable period of time should follow public announcement,
when it is evident that the sinning one will not even hear the Church's verdict
of his guilt and repent, then separation and public exclusion is forthcoming.
The ecclesiastical
word is "excommunication," which refers to "cutting off a person
from church membership, fellowship, and/or communion." It seems to imply
that the unrepentant brother is to be treated as a non-believer because he
is acting like one. The Church must keep loving, praying and hoping for repentance
so that restoration can begin. However, while the brother remains unrepentant,
fellowship is broken.
Failure
to obey this step in discipline will further impair the witness of the Church
and the prospect of repentance and restoration of the fallen brother (I
Corinthians 5:11-13; II Thessalonians 3:14-15)
Although
it is hoped that such exclusion will be followed by genuine repentance and
restoration, if such is not forthcoming, then a further step seems in keeping
with church disciplinary procedure.
Step Six:
"Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been
bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in
heaven." Matthew
18:18
Awesome
authority and power is given to the Church and its leaders in matters of discipline.
When a professing Christian, after being reproved in accordance with Scriptural
principles, still refuses to repent, the decision of the Church to exercise
biblical discipline reflects the will of God in heaven.
There
is a promise to the Church when it agrees together in the discipline of a
fallen member in faith that he will be restored: "Again I say to you,
that if two of you agree on earth about anything (context is disciplinary
matters) that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who
is in heaven...for where two or three have gathered in My name, there I am
in their midst." Matthew
18:19-20
A related
text is I Corinthians 5:3-5. Paul took authority to deal with the unrepentant
brother at Corinth in the severest of measures prescribed in the New Testament..."deliver
such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may
be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
It appears
that Paul was willing to subject the sinning believer's physical life to attack
or even destruction by Satan, because he was confident of the eternal salvation
of the spirit. (John 3, 10:27-29; I Corinthians 12:13; II Corinthians 3:1,
11:1-3)
II.
Repentance
The immediate
goal of the necessary steps of confrontation listed above is to bring the
errant brother to repentance. Repentance is the turning point in the
disciplinary process. It is the bridge between confrontation and restoration.
Repentance is:
1.
to
agree with God about sin and act in accordance with His Word.
2.
the
change of mind of those who have begun to abhor their errors and misdeeds,
and have entered upon a better course of life, so that it embraces both (1)
a recognition of sin and sorrow for it, and (2) hearty amendment, the effects
of which are good deeds.
3.
the
improved spiritual state resulting from deep sorrow for sin.
4. used of those who, conscious of their sins and with demonstration of their sorrow, are intent on obtaining God's pardon.
Evidences of True Repentance:
a)
Acknowledge
sin (I John 1:5-2:2;James 4:7-10).
b)
Exhibit
genuine sorrow as contrasted from being "sorry for getting caught"
(II Corinthians 7:8-11).
c)
Seek
to make restitution (Luke 19:1-10; Philemon 18,19).
d) Manifest fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:7,8;Luke 3:8-14).
III.
Restoration
The
process of church discipline is not fully achieved until a period and process
of restoration has been completed. Restoration is the final step of
bringing back the fallen one through correction into a right relationship
with the Body of Christ. It is a mending of broken trust and a restoration
of harmony and order. It involves a re-qualifying, and a re-commissioning
to active ministry.
The restoration
process may involve a period of special disciplines and limitations appropriate
to the offense and the position of the offender. These are not punitive measures,
but necessary restorative steps. They will vary in each situation. The mending
process must be carefully navigated in order to ensure total healing and fitness
for return to active life in the Church.
Restoration
includes:
a)
involvement
of the entire church body (Galatians
6:1,2).
b)
forgiveness
by God and Church (Luke 17:1-4; Matthew
18:21-35).
c)
comfort
and help by fellow believers (II Corinthians
2:5-7).
d)
re-affirmation
of Christian love (II Corinthians
2:8-11).
Final
Remarks
God is serious about sin in the Church and among the saints.
He has given us in Scripture His loving plan for restoring sinning believers
to fellowship with Himself and with the Church.
The true Church today cannot ignore the responsibility of church
discipline nor avoid confrontation with Christians who are living in sin.
We are commanded to "judge ourselves" personally
(I Corinthians 11:28-32) and corporately (I Corinthians 5:9-13).
Church discipline is a tangible, visible way that committed
Christians care for and show true love for each other.
With the coming of the Lord at hand, let us consider the blessing and benefits afforded us by a loving, caring Heavenly Father (Hebrew 12:1-17) in giving us a guide to discipline in the Church. Let us prepare for the soon coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:10-18; I John 2:1-3).
For
further study see:
Guide to Church Discipline, J. Laney
Bethany House Publishers
Special thanks to Gateway Cathedral for letting us use thier outline/material.