Church Discipline

Church Discipline

This was gathered from a variety of sources, but primarily from a talk given by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle.

Submission is not submission until there is a disagreement. All issues in the church boil down to one of two things; either moral sin or theological error. Church leaders are often afraid of confrontation so rather than address the issue it is left alone and grows.

This is am important issue because of the variety of attacks from within and outside the body of Christ. We must be ever vigilant in the protection of the sheep and the gospel of Jesus Christ. As leaders we will be called to give an account for our leadership, for everything we have taught. We need to ensure it is theologically sound, doctrinally clear and be unwavering in our commitment.

What is the focus of church discipline?

The goal is repentance and reconciliation
Resolution and recompense
Protection of gospel and the entire church
Church leaders are given authority and are not to abuse it
Discipline is unpleasant but necessary
Self discipline is important
Matters of discipline must be orderly (1 Corinthians 14:40)
Leaders should not let anger turn to sin (Ephesians 4)
Both sides of a dispute must be heard (Proverbs 18:17)
Multiple witnesses where possible (1Peter 3:1-7, Deuteronomy, 2 Corinthians)
Communion table – 1 Corinthians 11
Sin is serious
People should repent
Or bring on judgment

How can we fall into sin?

One Christian sins against another
Matthew 18
i. 2-3 witnesses there for the process, they don’t need to be witnesses to the event. This is in response to the issue of some churches that would not discipline leaders in child sex cases because there were not 2-3 witnesses present. This is an incorrect view on this issue.
ii. Refusal of repentance means refusal of membership, conversely repentance means reconciliation, but it doesn’t mean free and clear to go about, it depends upon the sin involved.

Person is a gossip
Proverbs 16:28
A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21
For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
What do you do? – Avoid them – this is difficult a lot of times, but this is necessary as it will infect a church faster than anything else.
i. Proverbs 20:19
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips
It is critical that this start and end with the leadership team. The leadership team must act to stop this behavior and never, ever start it on their own.

Someone who says they are a Christian but live a life of habitual sin
1 Corinthians 5
i. The church and leadership endorse this person’s life
ii. Kick them out if they are not repentant
iii. It is not good to be tolerant of sin

Someone who continually blasphemes God
1 Timothy 1:18-20
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
i. People who will not stop teaching false doctrines
ii. Someone who was not teachable

Someone appoints themselves to leadership
3 John 1:9-10
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
i. Refused to welcome the brothers
Revelations 2:2
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
If you don’t appoint someone to leadership, someone will appoint themselves.

Someone is divisive
Single issue voters, for example people who come into the church and say that everyone must speak in tongues or that we must burn all Bibles that are not the King James Version.
Titus 3:10
Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition

Idle busybody
Someone who is into everyone’s business
2 Thessalonians 3:6-11
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he[a] received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
Titus 2
i. Keep away from those who are idle

Commits a minor offence out of character
Proverbs 19:11 – forgive them
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

Christians sins and is repentant
We should be ready to forgive and come along side such a person as this, teaching them sound doctrine and helping them through.
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.
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
2 Corinthians 2:5
But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.

Now we enter into the more specific ways that sin can enter into a church, these are the things we must be on guard for always vigilant and ever ready to address.

Teaching Sins

Someone who encourages false doctrine
Open handed or closed handed issues
i. Someone tries to move something from the open hand into the closed hand
ii. Someone tries to debate a closed hand issue
Acts 20 – the challenge will come from within
1 Timothy 1:3-7 – they must stop
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
1 Timothy 4:1-8 – some will follow demons
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
2 Timothy 4:14,15 – be on your guard
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
Colossians 2:8 – do not get confused, do not lose sight of Jesus
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Romans 16:17,18 – watch out for those who are ready to take over
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Habitually nit-picking the doctrinal message
2 Timothy 2:14-16,23 – Godless chatter, Have nothing to do with these arguments
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
Titus 3:9 – Avoid silly talks
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

People who only listen to false teachers
2 Timothy 4:1-5
i. Preach the word, do nothing with the freaks
ii. Correct from the pulpit
iii. Rebuke
iv. Encourage
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Acts 6:4
but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Self-righteous legalist
They think they are Jesus 2.0
i. In them is no humility or repentance
Galatians 5 – run the good race
i. People will try to tell you that you must do something to prove yourself to God
2 Corinthians 1:21
i. Taking credit for their righteousness
ii. Council of leaders Vs. a single leader
iii. Confidence and humility
1. All things in Christ

Someone who promotes a false gospel
Galatians 1:6-10
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
The glory of the Lord is at stake

Sincere but deceived
2 Corinthians 11
i. Satan will masquerades as an angel of light
ii. Be sure to know who Jesus is
iii. Be sure to know the true gospel

Legal Issues

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 – This covers the legal dispute between two believers.
Sin not crimes
i. Romans 13 – This deals with crimes, God has placed laws and authorities over us with government

Responses for church leaders and members
Hebrews 13:17 – Obey leaders and submit to authority.
2 Thessalonians 3:14,15 – A person counseled by a leader but refusing the council
14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Someone leaves the church to pursue sin and heresy
1 John 2:19 – They went out from us (you assume they never were a Christian to begin with)
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

Someone who is consistently not in community
Hebrews 10:25 – Don’t forsake gathering together – we need to encourage these people
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

When a teacher is in moral sin or doctrinal error
James 3:1 – they will be judged more strictly
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
1 Timothy 5:1 – They should be treated with respect
i. Listen to those who bring a credible charge
1. witnesses
2. evidence
3. investigate
ii. Rebuke publicly
1. 1 Timothy 3
2. Titus 1
a. These speak of the qualifications for an elder, if they disqualify themselves then they are fired
b. There are disqualifying issues and rebuke issues
iii. There is no room for partiality and favoritism
iv. Pastor needs to set example of coming under authority

Confidentiality
There is no confidentiality as that means keeping things in the dark.
Waiver of confidentiality
i. This covers sin issues (i.e. adultery) and legal issues (i.e. rape)
Need a good insurance rider from frivolous lawsuits
i. May need restraining order for some people.
Registered sex offenders – need a policy, should they be allowed in the church? To someone’s house? Background checks on nursery workers?
We welcome all people, but that doesn’t mean we trust all people
This is different than gossip