Church Discipline

What?

Purpose?

Examples?

Two kinds?

Necessity?

Why Not?

Church of Christ

Identifiable body of baptized believers working and worshipping together.

Christians are to live in the doctrine of Christ

Discipline is required to maintain this proper relationship—instructive (preventative) and corrective (punitive)

Definition

Hebrew word “musar” from “yasar” (Prov.3:11-12; 13:24; 22:15; 23:13; Deut.8:5; Job 5:17; Ps.94:12; Job 36:10

Greek “sophromismos” ASV in II Tim.1:7 not in KJV Best expressed in two Greek words: 1) “paideia” & 2)

“paideu” Paideia: (Eph.6:4; II Tim.3:16; Heb.12:5-6) Paideu: (I Tim.1:120; Titus 2:12; II Tim.2:25; I

Cor.11:32; II Cor.6:9; Heb.12:6; Rev.3:19; Heb.12:7; Lk.23:26,22)

Discipline

Training or experience that corrects, molds, strengthens; Esp. mental faculties or moral character.

Primarily, an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind or self-control. Instructive – preventive in nature; education Corrective – chastising or penalizing in nature

Discipline

Instructive (preventive): learn God’s will in order to apply it to our lives to prevent whatever sin, you can fill in the blanks

Eccl.12:13-14; Js.1:22 Corrective (punitive): failure to apply God’s law in our

lives

I Jn.1:7 versus those who walk in rebellion (Is.59:1-2; I Jn.1:8,10)

Necessity

Prov.13:24; Eph.6:1-4; civil gov’t Rom.13:1-4 God is not the author of confusion I Cor.14:33; there is

punishment for violating God’s law Adam & Eve Gen.3:17-19,23-24; 2:17 The old world Gen.6:5-7,13 Nadab & Abihu Lev.10:1-2 Ananias & Saphira Acts 5:1-10 We realize God doesn’t deal directly with violators

today; He doesn’t deal out punitive action however we MUST respect God and His commands (Mt.10:28; II Pet.3:10)

Purpose church discipline serves?

To Obey God (I Cor.5:1-5; Mt. 18:15-18; 2 Thess. 3:6-

15)

Keep the church pure (Josh.7:1,11; 1 Cor. 5:2,6,7; we

may think we can ignore a brother’s sin: Mt.16:5-12;

Gal.5:7-9,13: II Jn.9-11)

Save the soul of the erring one (1 Cor. 5:4-5, Js.5:19-

20)

Protect others in the church (1 Cor. 5:6)

Be an example to the world (Mt. 5:13-16; II Pet.2:2-9)

Examples

Those who sin against a brother (Mt. 18:15-17, Lk.17:3; Rom.2:11; Gal.6:1; Js.5:19-20; I Thes.5:12-15)

Fornicator, covetous, unclean (I Cor.5:1,4-5; II Cor.12:21-13:1-2; judge those within I Cor.5:12-13; Eph. 5:3-5)

False teachers, divisive men (Rom. 16:17-18; I Tim.6:3-5; Titus 3:10-11; II Tim.3:5; IIJn.10; Acts13:44-46; Rom.2:8-9,11-13; Prov.6:16-19)

Disorderly (II Thes. 3:6,10,11,14,15; I Thes.5:14; Heb.10:25; II Tim.4:10)

Who Should Be Disciplined?

I Jn.1:7 walk in the light vs. those who walk in rebellion (Is.59:1-2)

Christ’s authority Mt.28:18-20; Col.3:17

-I Cor.5:4-5; Jesus reigns as head over the church (Col.1:18)

-Those on outside belong to Satan (Eph.2:12; Col.1:13)

-To be admonished by the saved, one is delivered back to the

kingdom of darkness (I Tim.1:18-20 (Hymenaeus & Alexander)

-Affect of church discipline (II Cor.2:6-8; bring him/her back to

the Lord)

The brother or sister who refuses to repent of sin.

Fellowship is not severed because of a particular sin being

committed, but rather, because of an unrepentant attitude or

disposition of heart toward the sin or sins committed.

When Do We Withdraw?

Establish that sin has been committed Sin must be proved (1 Jn. 3:4; Mt. 18:15-17) Proof of Achan’s sin shown to all (Josh. 7:22-23) Cannot act on hearsay (1 Tim. 5:19)

Give sufficient time to reach the erring (Mt. 18:15-17) Time given for entire church to act Visits, cards, admonishments, & prayers

After all efforts fail—action taken (1 Cor. 5) Withdrawal—last step in long chain of efforts to save

the erring brother or sister

Who Would Not Support Church Discipline?

Other sinners (2 Cor. 12:21-13:2) Ignorant and untaught (Lev. 5:17) Grumblers looking for a complaint Those who think they know better than God

how to save the erring. Those with little faith (2 Cor. 5:7) Those who put fellowship with men above

fellowship with God (Mt. 10:37; Jn. 12:42-43). Power-seekers (2 Sam. 15:4)

Corrective Church Discipline

Appointed by God to save His erring children!Who are we to fight against God (Acts

5:39)?Who are we to question God (Rom. 9:20-

21)?Can we withstand God (Acts 11:17)?

How To Treat Those Who Have Been Disciplined?

Public announcement (1 Cor. 5:3-5) “Mark” (Rom. 16:17) “Withdraw” and “Note” (2 Thess. 3:6, 14) “Admonish” and “Reject” (Titus 3:10)

Individual Practice of Discipline Proper support of whole body (2 Cor. 2:6) Do not keep company with him (2 Thess. 3:14) Do not associate with him (1 Cor. 5:11) Do not eat with him (1 Cor. 5:11) Do not receive him (2 John 10-11) Treat as a heathen and tax collector (Mt. 18:18)

Reasons Given For Not Practicing Discipline:

We are not to judge. Tear up church and do more harm than good. It will harden them in their sins. No one is perfect, we all sin. Their family will be upset if we discipline. Our other preachers never said much about

this. We didn’t withdraw from some in past years,

its not fair to start now.

Questions

Could I work on the same job?Could I eat in the same café?Could I accept invitations from other

Christians if they also invited those who were disciplined?

What if my spouse is disciplined?What about the parent-child

relationship?

Are Family Members Exempt?

Cut off From his people Gen. 17:14 Exod. 30:33, 38 Lev. 7:20-21, 25, 27 Lev. 19:8; 23:29 Num. 9:13

Exod. 32:28-29 Lev. 10:1-7 Deut. 13:6-11; 21:18-21 Josh. 7:15-25; Deut. 24:16 1 Sam. 3:13; 1 Kgs. 15:11-13 Ezra 10:3, 4, 11

Matt. 10:34-36 Matt. 12:46-50 Luke 9:62 1 Cor. 5:11 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15 Matt. 18:15-17

Working With God To Save Souls

God Has Done His Part Sacrificed His Son For Us Revealed Plan For Saving Souls

We Must Do Our Part Warn the Unruly – Gal. 6:1; 1 Thess. 5:14 Withdraw From Disorderly – 2 Thess. 3:6

Public Announcement – 1 Cor. 5:4-5 Private Application – 1 Cor. 5:11

Sinner Must Do His Part Repent, Confess, and Correct – Acts 8:22