5 Questions About Church Discipline
What is church discipline?
Church discipline is one of those biblical topics that can make everyone come out of the woodwork.
Points of view vary from “It’s not practiced enough” to “We should stay away from practicing it.”
Church discipline is a biblical topic, so we should be willing to consider what God has to say with an open mind and a heart willing to obey whatever God says. Consider five questions about church discipline and see what the Bible teaches.
What is church discipline?
Church discipline involves teaching, training, and correction. Paul told the young preacher Timothy to “Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).
We teach and train people to walk in the way of Christ (Matthew 7:13-14; John 14:6). The Great Commission from Jesus includes teaching new disciples to “observe all things” that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:20).
Sometimes, this will involve correcting those who have strayed from what is right (Galatians 6:1).
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)
Disciplining your children is not just about correcting them when they do something wrong - it also includes teaching and training them in the right way.
Usually, when we talk about “church discipline,” we only think about the correction side - but it’s important to remember that instruction and training are also part of the discipline process.
Can we find church discipline in the New Testament?
Short answer: yes.
Jesus taught His followers how to do it.
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17)
Paul told the church in Corinth to do it immediately because of a Christian there who “had his father’s wife” (1 Corinthians 5).
There are various warnings about avoiding Christians who refuse to walk as they should in Christ.
Those who are idle and take advantage of others (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).
The ungodly Christian (2 Timothy 3:2-5).
The one causing division (Titus 3:10-11).
No member of the church is above church discipline - not even the elders of the church.
Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5:19-22)
How should the church practice church discipline?
In Matthew, Jesus told us how to do this (Matthew 18:15-17).
It should involve as few people as possible – first just one-on-one, and then two or three.
An individual should be given the benefit of the doubt until at least two or three witnesses establish the charge.
If the person refuses to repent, and multiple witnesses agree upon the matter, it is taken before the entire church, and the entire church gets involved in urging the unrepentant brother or sister to repent.
If they still refuse to repent of their sin, the church must publicly acknowledge that this person is no longer part of the fellowship.
When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, that man’s sin was already a matter of public knowledge (1 Corinthians 5:1). In other words, they had allowed it to continue unaddressed for far too long.
In their pride, they had not removed this man from among themselves (1 Corinthians 5:2).
They were to “deliver” this man to Satan so that “his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:4-5).
They were not to keep company with a Christian who was “sexually immoral, covetous, an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or an extortioner” (1 Corinthians 5:11).
Isn’t practicing church discipline unloving?
If church discipline is practiced incorrectly or in a way that is not like Christ, then yes – it can be unloving.
If a church merely practices church discipline to say, “We do that,” - then it’s nothing more than checking off a box on a list, and that’s not the reason to do it. Churches that approach church discipline in this way will mishandle it.
However, not practicing church discipline is equally as problematic - and unloving.
Even the Lord disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). Are we more “loving” than the Lord? His discipline is meant to bring about the “peaceable fruit of righteousness” in our lives (Hebrews 12:10-11).
Church discipline is done so that we can show the love of Christ to those who repent. When Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, he referred to the man who was living with his father’s wife in 1 Corinthians.
This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. (2 Corinthians 2:6-8)
The Christian repented, and Paul urged the church to “forgive and comfort him” and “reaffirm your love to him.” When we repent and turn back to God - He runs to us like the loving father in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:20-21). The church should follow the Father’s example when our brethren repent.
Even when we must correct our brothers and sisters who have gone off into sin, we don’t consider them to be our enemies but as our family.
Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:15)
Why should Jesus’ church practice church discipline?
According to the New Testament, here are five quick reasons why the Lord’s church should practice church discipline.
Because Jesus commanded it (Matthew 18:15-17).
To save the soul of our brother or sister who has turned from God (1 Corinthians 5:4-5).
To keep the Lord’s church pure (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
To protect the spiritually immature (2 Timothy 2:16-18; 3:2-9).
To maintain the good works the church is doing (Titus 3:8-11).
Simply because Jesus commanded it would be reason enough, but we are given other reasons in the New Testament why the church should still practice church discipline today.
Church discipline should still be practiced in the Lord’s church today.
It must be done out of love and concern for the ones in sin and the church as a whole. And everything we do must always be motivated by love for Jesus and what He has done for us.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
