Christian Living

What is Church Discipline?

by Jeff Drinnan
07/24/21
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I remember in my creative writing class in college years ago the professor banged on his desk to emphasize that the most important thing in writing is discipline. Discipline is also important in the church.

Discipline comes from the root disciple, which means to follow. In the context of the church, it means followers of Jesus. "Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left". -Deuteronomy 12:32

"What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it." - Deuteronomy 28:14

Church discipline is an intregal part of the church. "Church discipline may be broadly defined as the confrontive and corrective measures taken by an individual, church leaders, or the congregation regarding a matter of sin in the life of a believer." -Carl Laney

Even after being saved Christians still face temptation. Like the kids in Paul McCartney's song "Uncle Albert", we're so easily called away". When a church member who made a confession of faith and pledged loyalty to God and the church continues in unconfessed, besetting sin, such as adultery, the church needs to get involved. When this happens, one person gently tries to admonish the person and restore him or her. Then more people get involved if the offender doesn't turn around there is no progress then further steps are taken

"Your boasting is not good. Dont you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. So then, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of vice and evil, but with the bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Corinthians 5: 6-8

Excommunication is a last restort. All this is about love for the bretheren to bring the church member trapped in besetting sin back to God.

"The church is called not only to a ministry of reconciliation, but a ministry of nurture to those within her gates. Part of that nurture includes church discipline." -R. C. Sproul.