Introduction
Church discipline is a crucial aspect of the Christian life that often goes overlooked or ignored. However, it is an essential part of our spiritual growth and well-being. As believers, we are called to live in obedience to God’s Word and to hold one another accountable for our actions. The Bible provides us with clear guidance on how to practice church discipline, and in this post, we will explore three examples of church discipline from the Bible and what they entail.
The concept of church discipline is not new and is rooted in the Bible’s teachings on discipleship, accountability, and the pursuit of holiness. It is a process of correcting and restoring believers who have strayed from the truth or are living in sin. Through the practice of discipline, the church can maintain its purity, uphold biblical standards, and protect its members from harm. It’s a loving act that seeks to restore those who have gone astray and to ensure that the church community remains a place of safety, support, and growth.
In this post, we’ll examine three examples of church discipline from the Bible, including Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, and Galatians 6:1-5. These examples provide insight into how to handle disputes, deal with sin within the church community, and support one another in the pursuit of holiness. By understanding these examples, we can gain a deeper understanding of the importance of church discipline and how to practice it in a way that honors God and benefits the church community.
What is Church Discipline?
Church discipline is the process of correcting and restoring believers who have strayed from the truth or are living in sin. It’s a loving act that seeks to restore those who have gone astray, and it’s rooted in the Bible’s teachings on discipleship, accountability, and the pursuit of holiness.
The concept of church discipline is found in several passages of the Bible, including Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, and Galatians 6:1-5. In each of these passages, the Bible emphasizes the importance of holding each other accountable, correcting one another, and restoring those who have fallen away.
Example 1: Church Discipline in Matthew 18:15-17
In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus gives clear instructions on how to handle disputes between believers. He says, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”
This passage highlights the importance of confronting fellow believers in love when they have sinned against us. The goal is not to shame or condemn but to restore the relationship and the individual. If the person is unrepentant, the matter is taken before the church for further action.
It’s important to note that this passage is not just limited to personal offenses but also includes situations where believers are living in open sin. This process of confronting and restoring is a vital part of the Christian life and the growth of the church.
Example 2: Church Discipline in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
In 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Paul addresses a specific case of sexual immorality in the Corinthian church. He instructs the church to remove the immoral person from their midst, stating, “Do not associate with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
This passage highlights the importance of dealing with sin within the church community. Paul’s instructions demonstrate that church discipline is not just about punishment but about restoration. By removing the person from the community, the hope is that they will repent and be restored to fellowship.
It’s also worth noting that in this passage, Paul is clear that we should not associate with those who claim to be believers but continue to live in sin. He says, “I wrote to you not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person.”
This passage highlights the importance of not condoning or excusing sin within the church community. While we are called to love and forgive our brothers and sisters, we cannot overlook or ignore sin in our midst. This would only lead to further corruption and decay within the church.
Example 3: Church Discipline in Galatians 6:1-5
In Galatians 6:1-5, Paul instructs the Galatian believers to “bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” He goes on to say, “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.”
This passage emphasizes the importance of accountability and support within the church community. It’s not just about correcting others but also about examining our own lives and being willing to receive correction from others. By bearing one another’s burdens, we demonstrate love and care for one another and grow in our faith together.
It’s worth noting that this passage is not necessarily about disciplinary action but about the mutual responsibility that believers have toward each other. However, this principle of accountability and support is a vital part of church discipline. It’s through our willingness to support and correct one another that we grow in our faith and become more like Christ.
Conclusion
Church discipline is a difficult and often uncomfortable topic to discuss. However, it’s a vital aspect of our spiritual growth and the health of the church. As we’ve seen in the three examples discussed, church discipline is about restoring those who have gone astray and holding one another accountable in love.
While the process of discipline may involve difficult conversations, temporary separation, or even removal from the church community, the goal is always restoration. As Paul says in Galatians 6:1, “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.”
As believers, we are called to love one another and hold each other accountable to God’s Word. Church discipline is not about judging or condemning but about restoring and growing in our faith. Let us be a community that practices discipline with humility, grace, and love.
