Church Complexity

Unless the structure of the local church furthers the mission of the local church, the structure will become the mission causing that local church to slowly die.

Church Discipline, part 2

Last week, we wrote about the biblical foundation for church discipline. We also talked about the two forms of discipline that are present in all of our lives.

Today, let’s look at a list of several biblical purposes for the right practice of church discipline.

One, the right practice of church discipline is necessary for preserving the purity of the church. God has called us “to be holy, for he is holy”. The fact that we are human and do sin does not preclude us from striving by grace-driven effort to live holy lives before God—attitudinally and behaviorally. Church discipline, formative & corrective, is a means by which God trains us toward holiness.

Two, the right practice of church discipline is necessary for preserving the fellowship of the church. This is in regard to striving for reconciled relationships among church members. The immediate context of Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 18:15-20 have to do with a relationship that needs to be reconciled. Jesus prayed in his high priestly prayer in John 17 that we would be one; church discipline, practiced rightly, is a means by which we can be an answer to Jesus’ prayer for his followers.

Third, the right practice of church discipline is necessary for restoring someone caught in sin. Galatians 6:1-2 says, “Brethren if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” To restore means to set back into place or to restore to former good condition. The ultimate goal of all church discipline, especially corrective discipline, is for the offending brother or sister to come to confession & repentance and be restored to fellowship with the church.

Fourth, the right practice of church discipline is necessary for protecting and warning the rest of the church body against the danger of sin. Sin is deceptive and we are all susceptible to being drawn away into its clutches; it is crouching at our door (Genesis 4:7). The right practice of church discipline helps as a deterrent to falling into sin’s grasp.

Fifth, the right practice of church discipline is necessary for guarding the honor of God’s name. We who call ourselves Christians have a great responsibility as we wear the name of Christ. Therefore, to call ourselves Christians and a member of the church and then, to live contrary to all that the name we wear represents demonstrates a blatant disregard for the honor of the name of Jesus.

Well, that’s enough for today. We’ll finish these biblical purposes next week for the right practice of church discipline.

Church Discipline

Recently, I wrote a series of newsletter articles for the church I serve on the subject of church discipline gleaning information and perspectives from several resources, primarily the scriptures.

Over the next several days, they will be posted here on the blog. I pray that they will be helpful and encouraging.

So, here's the first:

On Sunday, June 13, we studied Matthew 18 in our Sunday morning gathering time concerning Jesus’ teaching on the subject of church discipline.

We were only able to scratch the surface on this subject and begin the journey toward a healthy view of church discipline for our church.

Over the next several weeks in our Forerunner, we are going to continue that discussion on church discipline. 

Each week, we’ll go a little bit deeper into the subject praying that we will grow in our understanding toward a healthy view of church discipline.

Let’s do a little review this week beginning with a definition of sorts.

The restorative & redemptive process of church discipline is the mediatorial work of God’s grace through the members of the church to help encourage brothers & sisters in Christ to remain faithful & if necessary to bring a straying brother/sister back on track before he/she crosses the line because of love for that brother/sister who is on a path to destruction. This mediatorial work of God’s grace is put in place to protect & guard the church.

There are two forms of discipline: formative discipline and corrective discipline.

Formative discipline is the process of building into one’s life through routines and habits those things that encourage godly living. This is usually what we call discipleship.

Corrective discipline is the form of discipline that seeks to correct when one gets out of line; it is to restore someone who has fallen into sin.

The major passages of scripture that deal with this subject are Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, and Galatians 6:1-2. There are a host of others, but these are primary.

Matthew 18 provides the general process of church discipline for churches to follow. First, there is a private meeting with the offending person. Then, there is a small group, two or three, meeting with the brother/sister. If the person is not reconciled at this point, the matter is made known to the church for the purpose of exhorting that brother/sister to confession and repentance and then restoration. If the person refuses to listen to the church body, that person is to be treated as if they are lost since that is the lifestyle they are living in.

The goal in all this loving confrontation is restoration, to restore the straying brother/sister to the fellowship of the body for their protection and good (cf. James 5:19-20).

Next week, we’ll look at the biblical purposes of church discipline and why it is necessary for us to practice it rightly.

On the blogs for 6/28/2010

Wow...it's been awhile since I've posted anything. Things have been pretty busy around here.

Stop chasing success (interesting post about significance)

For the work-a-holics (like me)

Gospel-centrality (this is worth a look)

Substitutionary Atonement - still central to the gospel

Two Wills in God? (want to go deep?)

On the blogs for 6/3/2010

"Let Go and Let God" Theology--good or bad? (interesting)

10 Hard Questions for Leaders (needed to hear this)

The Ministry Divide (interesting article, but insightful)