POST 2 - Church Discipline—An Evidence of Christian Love

POST 2
Church Discipline—An Evidence of Christian Love
From Gil Rugh

The Book of Proverbs speaks repeatedly of discipline within the family context. The father is given the responsibility of disci­plining his children.

Proverbs 13:24 says, “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.”

If parents fail to discipline their children, it is evidence that they really don’t love them. Some people say they love them too much to discipline. No, the Bible says that no discipline means not enough love. It is for the children’s good that they are disciplined. Lack of discipline will lead to problems for themselves and for others.

Discipline Involves the Family of God. When the family of God is considered, the principle is still the same. Discipline is necessary. It is always a manifestation of love if it is handled properly. It is easy to think of the abuses of discipline, for example, parents who punish their children in an abusive manner. Obviously, that is not what the Bible encourages. Cases of church discipline that were ad-ministered Unbiblically also come to mind. The focus here, however, is on how God’s children should handle discipline.

Discipline involves the local church. The universal church is comprised of every person who has come to understand and believe that Jesus Christ died for his sins. An analogy which is used often in the New Testament for the Church is that of a body, the Body of Christ. 1st Corinthians 12 uses this analogy to show how believers have been placed by the Spirit of God into the Body of Christ. This is the baptism of the Spirit. Each one who has believed in Christ became part of the Body of Christ the moment he believed. Ephesians 1:22,23 says all believers are part of the Body of Christ of which Christ Himself is the head, the One who directs all of its activities and oversees its conduct. The local church is simply the local representation and manifestation of the universal body of Jesus Christ with believers meeting in a given place to worship and serve Him.

Two Primary Reasons for practicing Church Discipline.

Within the framework of the Body of Christ, the Bible says it is important to maintain the purity of the body and to manifest accurately and correctly the character of Jesus Christ. Since believers are His Body, they are to be an accurate representation and manifestation of His character, holiness and purity. (1) To maintain that purity and holiness, discipline is a necessity. Paul told the Corinthians to deal with sin in their midst because sin is like leaven, and “a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough,” (1st Corinthians 5:6). In Galatians 5:9 he says the same thing — sin must be dealt with because it pervades the Body and will affect others. So if sin is not disciplined, it will spread. As it spreads, it compromises the testimony believers are to give concerning Christ’s character and purity. His holiness is to be manifested in His Body.

Why is purity important?
Purity marks God's Word
Purity is demanded of God's people
Purity qualifies God's shepherds
Purity distinguishes God's church

The second primary reason for discipline in the Body is (2) love for fellow believers. The great mark of a believer is love for one another as God’s children. Love always necessitates discipline. If genuine love is to be manifested in the local church, biblical discipline must be practiced.

Love and Truth – Very Important Combo

Chronological sequence
Revelation of His commandments (truth)
Response to His commandments (obedience)
Result of acting upon His commandments (love)

Practical outworking of love in Scripture illustrate the point
Christian brother
Father-Son
Heavenly Father-Child of God
Shepherds-Flock

Love and Discipleship
The church is to be pure
The church's purity is determined from the whole of God's Word
Love and truth are inseparable
Authentic Christian discipleship results from truth acted out in love

Two Basic Principles in Discipline.
Keep in mind these two principles of church discipline.

First, it deals with believers who are part of a local church family. Church discipline concerns only those who are part of the family of God. Further, each local church is responsible for its own children. Parents don’t punish the neighborhood children, and it is the same way with biblical discipline.

Second, discipline is always for the purpose of correcting the problem. Discipline is applied to believers who are living in sin to help them address the sin and stop it.

In Matthew 18, Christ clearly sets down the pattern for church discipline. This pattern is supported throughout the epistles of the New Testament. There are six steps in biblical church discipline. Four of them are in Matthew 18; two are in other portions of the New Testament.

One Last VERY IMPORTANT Point

What are the Purposes of Church Discipline?

To glorify God
To maintain the purity of the church
To vindicate the integrity and honor of Christ
To reclaim offenders – Restoration
To deter others from sin

Now – doesn’t that shout how important Church Discipline is?

Next POST - we will begin to look at the steps of Church Discipline........

Sources Church Discipline—
From Gil Rugh and others