Bethel MBC

BBD# 28 9-10-08

From a lesson taught by

Elder Kent Welch 3.21.02

“Basic Baptist Doctrine, Lesson 28”
(printer friendly version)

 

The Types of Church Discipline

This lesson will attempt to briefly describe the different types of discipline exercised by a church body.  While we all realize that discipline has been lax in years past, we are no less released from its duties than our predecessors.  What happens today, on our “watch”, will be held to our account.  Last week we spoke about the purpose of church discipline and established that: discipline must be done for the right reasons, with the right end goal, and always with the betterment of both church and member at heart.  Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about this subject and also augment our understanding by referencing Pendleton’s Church Manual. 

I. The Framework of Discipline

A. The Authority to Discipline

1. The Scriptures teach that the church has been given the authority to discipline its members

I Timothy 5:20 “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”

2. The Church Covenant

In joining a church, the new member is agreeing to be bound by the items contained within the Church Covenant.  It is a clear testament of how a church believes that its member should lead their lives.

3. Recognition of the Church’s authority

Many have spoken or shown by their actions resistance to a church’s authority to discipline.  Some may feel as though what happens in their own “private” lives is their business alone.  This attitude, however prevalent, is wrong.  Disregarding the authority of the church is the same as disrespecting the authority of God (from whom the church’s authority has been imputed).  Do we respect the church’s authority over our lives?  It we do not, we need to… 

B. The Boundary of Church Discipline

1. A church only has the authority to discipline its own members, and no others 

Each church is independent and autonomous and thus governs itself under the authority of Christ.  A church’s authority is an awesome consideration and one that comes from Heaven.  However, that authority stops at its membership.

II. Three Categories of Church Discipline

A. Formative Discipline

This is a “progressive” work.  It is carried out by a church’s fulfilling of the Great Commission to “teach [ing] them to observe whatsoever things I have commanded you…”

Ephesians 4:11-14

“11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

a. Newly saved individuals are “babes in Christ” and are in desperate need of sound, formative discipline

b. Analogies with and real babies and “babes in Christ”

c. Need for the older members to be able and willing to teach the younger members.

Hebrews 5:12

“12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”

d. Formative discipline is the oft forgotten POSITIVE form of church discipline.  It is the continual process of teaching and learning how one ought to live as a child of God and a member of His church.

e. We should NEVER stop receiving formative discipline!

Proverbs 1:5

“5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.”

f. We should NEVER stop giving formative discipline

Galatians 6:9

“9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

g. Other Scriptures which reference the idea of formative discipline:

2 Peter 3:18

“18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

2 Peter 1:5-8

“5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

B. Corrective Discipline

1. This type of discipline is meant to admonish, punish, reprove, or otherwise “correct” a member that has committed an “offence”.  (We will discuss types of offences a little later)  This is the most commonly thought of type of discipline, but is still very much misunderstood.

If a church never exercises corrective discipline, it is essentially saying to the world, “All of our members are perfect!”  The equivalent would be parents stating that his or her children never need teaching or correction….they just behave perfectly without any guidance!  HA!

C. Self-discipline

This is what we practice to govern ourselves with integrity, honesty, and other Christian virtues.  True self-discipline is when we not only display Christian virtues around other people, but also when we are by ourselves.  It has been said that true character is revealed when people think they are all alone.

I Peter 1:15

“15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”

D. The relationship between the three categories of discipline

a. Formative discipline attempts to avoid, as much as possible, corrective discipline.  Corrective discipline reinforces formative discipline.  The proper combination of formative and corrective discipline leads to self-discipline.

b. In equation form, the concept looks like this:

Formative discipline + Corrective discipline = Self-discipline!!

III. Types of Offenses and the way they are to be handled

A. Personal Offenses

1. Definition:  an offense against as individual

                “If thy brother shall trespass against thee….”

2. Examples:

a. Slander: oral communication of false statements injurious to a person’s reputation

b. Libel: written communication of false statements injurious to a person’s reputation

3. Biblical way to address such offenses

Matthew 18:15-17

“15Moreover 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. 16But 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. 17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

Note the order:

a. A personal offense is committed

b. The offended person must go to the offender and “tell” him of the offense

J.M. Pendleton wrote the following:

“It has sometimes occurred that the offended brother has chosen to write to the offender rather than state his grievance by word of mouth.  This is very reprehensible.  Christ does not say, ‘write a note or a letter’, but ‘go and tell him his fault’.  In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the inclination to write would indicate a wrong spirit.  It would betray an unchristian desire to get some advantage, especially if the offended one believes he could wield the pen more effectively than the offender.  The language of the Master is, “Tell him his fault.”

c. At this point, the offense I between the offended and the offender ONLY.

Why?  Offenses OFTEN come down to simple things.  Miscommunication, unintentional acts, etc.  If we involve a lot of people prematurely, the problem will compound itself.  Pride may enter in to one or both of the parties, preventing any reconciliation, which is the ultimate goal.

d. If the offender will not hear, then the offended is to take one or two with him and go back again to the offending brother.  Why?

“…that every word may be established…”  This, hopefully, will help avoid situations of “he said, she said”. 

e. If the offender will still not hear, then the matter is to be taken before the church.  Up to this point, only the offended, the offender and the witnesses should know of the particulars. 

It is crucial to remember that the offended party is to begin the attempt at reconciliation. Pride tells us that “they ought to come apologize to ME!!!”  This is not the purpose of discipline.  We agree in the church covenant to readily seek reconciliation with our brethren.

4. How to Avoid Personal Offenses

a. Always think of others before yourself

Philippians 2:4 “4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

b. Don’t take yourself too seriously

Romans 12:3 “3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

B. General Offenses

a. Definition: An offense committed against a church in its collective capacity

b. Classifications:

1. A rejection of any of the fundamental doctrines of the gospel

                - Heresies

Galatians 1:8-9

“8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

2. Anything that seriously disturbs the union and peace of the church

                - open and blatant acts that cause strife within the church

Philippians 2:2

“2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

3. Disorderly and immoral conduct in all its forms

                - Public drunkenness, fornication, etc

I Corinthians 5:11

“11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”

c. How to Handle

Similar to personal offenses ..

a. The general offense in committed

b. Others from the church should go and speak with the offender privately

Galatians 6:1

“ 1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Titus 3:10

“10A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject.”

Notice the “…first and second admonition…”  It sounds very similar to a personal offense where

the offender is approached at least twice before the church takes up the matter.

c. If the offending brother is convinced of his guilt and makes appropriate apologies to the church, the church MUST forgive him and the matter is finished.

d. If the offending brother will not repent of his actions, he is excluded and fellowship withdrawn.

e. If, after exclusion, the brother repents and offers appropriate apologies to the church, he can be “restored” to fellowship. Remember: Restoring fellowship is the goal. 

C. Infamous or Scandalous General Offenses

J.M. Pendleton says the following upon this subject:

“Offenses of an infamous or scandalous character must have a peculiar treatment.  The church must express its reprobation of them by an immediate act of exclusion.  No preliminary steps are necessary. 

NO penitence must prevent the withdrawal of fellowship.  The honor of Christ and the purity of his religion are especially involved in these cases.  What Paul says in regard to the incestuous man (I Corinthians 5) vindicates the position here taken.  If a church member is guilty of adultery, or murder, or perjury, or theft, or forgery, or drunkenness, or any kindred crime, he deserves exclusion without trial. 

Some perhaps would exempt drunkenness from this catalogue, but taking into account the manifold evils of intemperance, in connection with the light shed on the “temperance question” for thirty years past, one instance of drunkenness makes it the duty of a church promptly to exercise its power of excommunication.  No church can adequately express a suitable abhorrence of such offenses without excluding the offender.  Nor can the world be otherwise convinced that the church in the friend  and the conservator of good morals.”

Conclusion:

The church is commissioned to preach the gospel, and teach and make disciples of men and

women. However, without formative discipline, she will be UNABLE to do so; without corrective

discipline, she will be UNQUALIFIED to do so; and without self-discipline, she will be UNWILLING
to do so!