Introduction – The way the world
handles the word ‘love’, it would seem that love and discipline could never be
understood except as opposites. And the
world has learned this from the church which adds words like ‘acceptance’ and
‘tolerance’ as synonyms for ‘love’. And
then there are those that careen the other way, emphasizing discipline, but
according to their own standards. The
Word must be our guide and protection for everything we believe and do. “He who spares his rod hates his son, but
he who loves him disciplines him promptly” (Prov 13:24, also Eccl
8:11).
Love and Discipline – “He who hates
correction will die” (Prov 15:10b).
We live in a fallen world where sin will seek to corrupt. If we choose to address sin as the Scripture
instructs us, we will be involved in discipline. If we choose to ignore the sin, we will be disciplined. Loving one another requires that we
understand how to address one another with wisdom.
Begins with
Self-Discipline (Rom 8:13, Gal 5:23) – God grants us the
fruit of self-control and we are called to put to death the deeds of the
flesh. We discipline ourselves.
Love Covers
(Prov 10:12, 1 Pet 4:8, 1 Cor 13:7) – We are called to love one another, which
means that often, we simply forgive and let it go. The instructions in Matthew on discipline are followed by a
parable rebuking those who lack forgiveness (Matt 18:21ff).
Gentle
Admonishment (Matt 18:15, Gal 6:1) – There is a time when a
brother needs to be corrected. But you
must be spiritually qualified before you approach him.
Bringing in
Support (Matt 18:16) – These may be witnesses to the
sin, or witnesses to how the Word is being handled in your dispute or
accusation.
Before the
Elders (Matt 18:17, Heb 13:17) – This is one of the
many reasons you want to set biblical standards for choosing your elders. Here, the elders still seek repentance and
reconciliation with the fallen brother, but if it fails, the so-called ‘brother’
is to be declared not-a-brother.
Getting Excommunication Right
(1 Cor 5:9-13) – Most evangelicals get this backwards. We don’t put up with immorality outside the
church and remove ourselves from the world and we indulge sin inside the church
claiming that it would be unloving to judge a brother.
Notice the List
(v11) – Some of these are easier to spot than others, and all require wisdom to
judge. In addition, you should notice
that ‘but for the grace of God’ you would be in that list. Excommunication is not just for the
axe-murderer.
What We Seek to Accomplish in Discipline
– The Scriptures give us reasons to pursue this in the church.
To Obey and
Glorify God (Matt 5:16) – We see that God intends there to
be church discipline. We do not do it
on our own authority, but submissive to the Word of God which is to His glory.
To Restore the
Offender (1 Cor 5:5, Gal 6:1) – Restoration is not
promised, but it is one of the purposes and, by God’s grace, can be the
outcome. And so like every other step
of discipline, the goal of putting the offender out is to bring him back in and
the motivation is love.
To Maintain the
Purity of the Church (1 Cor 5:6-9) – Sometimes the offender
is not restored, but biblical discipline always contributes to the purifying of
the church. Notice that discipline is
required to answer the common objection of ‘hypocrisy’ in the church.
To Prevent God
from His Discipline (Rev 2:14-25) – If we ‘put up with’, and
‘allow’, and refuse to discipline, then God will come and discipline us.
To Deter
Against Further Sin (1 Tim 5:20, Eccl 8:11) – If you are
struggling with sin, open, godly discipline of others will aid you in that
struggle.
Church Discipline Requires Church Shepherding
(Matt 18:10-14) – This passage precedes the Lord’s teaching on church
discipline. Care for the sheep, even
the lost sheep, is the context. Church
shepherding requires –
Sound Doctrinal
Teaching (Acts 20:25-28) – What we teach, and what we
neglect, matters.
Pastoral Prayer
(Acts 6:4, Col 1:9, James 5:16) – Prayer works. It is effective in caring for the flock.
Shepherding
Those ‘Among You’ (1 Pet 5:1-2) – If this is not in place,
church discipline will not have an appropriate context.
Final Thoughts – The church cannot
speak with any moral authority today, because the church has refused to
discipline its own. The church is
impotent because it has not stopped the spread of so many diseases in its own
body.
In addition, when godly church
discipline occurs, there is no place for arrogance or bitterness. The offender must not be denied kindness and
courtesy. With fear and humility, we
must obey the Lord and ‘put away from yourselves the evil person’.