Discipline is a serious but often neglected responsibility of the church. We live in a day where tolerance of sin in the Body of Christ is increasingly normal, yet the mandate of the Bible for a pure church has not changed. God has set forth in His Word specific instructions concerning how the church should handle the issue of sin in the family of God.
What is church discipline?
Where does the Bible address this issue?
What is the purpose of church discipline?
What principles should be followed in the discipline process?
One of the most difficult responsibilities for parents in raising their children is exercising discipline. Most parents would rather not discipline their children at all. It seems much easier to just let things go rather than have a confrontation. However, if the ultimate good of the children is at heart, it is necessary to exercise loving but firm and consistent discipline.
The same principles are true in the family of God. Within God’s household, the Church, He has given instructions about disciplining those members of the family refusing to submit to the standards for godly living which God has established in His Word. Those responsible for leadership within the family of God must sooner or later come to grips with their responsibility to exercise discipline within God’s household.
When the subject of church discipline is mentioned, many questions immediately come to mind.
What does God say about discipline?
Is discipline intended for use today?
What principles should be followed in the discipline process?
How do you begin discipline when it has been overlooked for so long?
What kind of repercussions can be expected if the discipline process is initiated?
Discipline is never easy. It is difficult for those being disciplined as well as for those administering the process. However, in God’s family, His children are called to do what is right even though it may be difficult. As the writer of the Book of Hebrews said, "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness," (Hebrews 12:11). That fruit is the goal in all discipline — the righteous character of Christ produced in the life of the believer.
The guidelines God gave for discipline within His family and the responsibilities He has given His children are presented here. There is a desire among many for God’s children to understand what He has said about this important subject.
Over the next few weeks we will look at Church Discipline - An Evidence of Christian Love.
From: Gil Rugh
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