Church Discipline

In light of God’s loving discipline that I talked about in my last post, as a church family we must be open to what it is that God wants to do in the area of discipline.  The topic of church discipline is one that many people within the local church find confusing at best.  How is it that a church that is all about the love of Christ being displayed in the lives of people, could then turn around and go through a process of discipline in the life of one of their members?

First of all, church discipline is simply a broadly defined set of intentional steps designed to restore a member who is walking outside of God’s loving instruction.  The most commonly referenced Scripture for this practice is Matthew 18:15-17.  The sequence described in this passage has two steps that we follow relatively easily.  Approaching the individual first privately and then with the help of others.  The third and final step of taking the matter to the church is a different story.

Church discipline is one of the most difficult areas of church life to put into practice.  The Scriptures are clear that those who are walking outside of the fellowship of the local church are to be approached with loving discipline.  R. C. Sproul writes, “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...”

As a church leadership team committed to being Word dependent, practicing church discipline is not optional.  It is in fact, the most loving thing we can do in the life of those who are walking outside of the fellowship.  Church discipline is not punishment or retribution.  It is instead loving discipline intended to train and restore those who are walking their own path to return to God’s loving instruction. 

In the end, a church family that refuses to practice loving discipline within their church family ends up robbing God of an opportunity for his glory to be more fully revealed.  When those who are in the discipline process turn in repentance to following the path of Jesus, God’s glory is on display.  That is why we exist as a church, for God’s glory to be revealed in us and through us.