No 17

(Discipline in the Church)

Church discipline is not well understood and not well received because it means applying God’s Word to a situation where someone has disobeyed God’s law and correction is necessary. The Bible says in Matthew 18, “15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 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. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” The Bible gives a clear mandate on how to treat this difficult matter and Jesus Christ gave His Church the power to apply it. There are three potent reasons why Church discipline is necessary: 1) It is essential for the glory of God and the honour of His name “9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2:9. Church discipline is first and foremost to preserve God’s name. 2) It benefits the individual “4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Cor 5:4, 5. If someone is excluded from the assembly of believers, this could produce in him or her the desired effect that is, repentance of bad behaviour. 3) It is exercised to keep the Church pure “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” 1 Cor 5:6b. Unfortunately if sin tolerated in the Church, it is contagious and must be purged. In Proverbs 28:13, the Bible says “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” This applies to the individual – if we were to deal with our own sin by obeying God’s Word as we should, church discipline would be unnecessary.