| Church discipline has never been popular. It has | | | | doctrinally correct; (7) speaking the truth in love. |
| also been abused. We have had people burned at | | | | Anything that is done in the church that is not |
| the stake for not believing the dogma of the | | | | carrying out the church's purpose or functions |
| church or for owning a Bible. Also, in our own | | | | should be disciplined. |
| nation we have had witches put to death. These | | | | Some things that should be disciplined in all |
| are abuses of "church" discipline. This is not the | | | | branches of our churches are as follows: |
| kind of church discipline that is becoming to a | | | | 1. People who are denying the main message of |
| Christian church. Real church discipline is motivated | | | | the Bible should not be allowed to have leadership |
| by a love for the truth and the redemption of the | | | | positions in the church. There are many things |
| offending party. It must be without partiality. | | | | that are allowed in the church that would fit this |
| It cannot be motivated by a get-even spirit. It | | | | category, such as those who deny Jesus is the |
| must be done in such a way as to bring unity to | | | | only way of salvation, which leads to a personal |
| the church and blessing to everyone that is | | | | relationship with God; people who refer to the |
| affected by it. It must be administered by the | | | | "blood of Jesus that cleanses from all sin" as a |
| whole church. The pastor and church board should | | | | "bloody religion;" and those who bring in "new age" |
| be coordinating it for the whole church. It should | | | | religions into the church. |
| be done in a spirit of love and forgiveness. It | | | | 2. People who are not morally pure should not be |
| should not be done without proper preparation. | | | | allowed to have leadership positions in the church. |
| This should include prayer and fasting for the | | | | Only those who love God with their whole being |
| situation to be resolved in a godly manner. The | | | | should lead the church. |
| offending party should be given an opportunity to | | | | 3. We find in 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus |
| turn from his or her sin before church discipline is | | | | guidelines for church leaders. These guidelines |
| administered. | | | | must be followed. Those who are not doing these |
| The stages of this process are: (1) the offended | | | | should not be allowed to have leadership positions |
| person should talk to the offender to attempt to | | | | in the Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. |
| work out a solution; (2) if this does not work, the | | | | 4. No one should be allowed to be a member of |
| offended person should take two or three others | | | | the church that is warring against the |
| with him or her to work out a solution with the | | | | commandments of God. Even though we are |
| offender; (3) if the offender does not work out a | | | | saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus |
| solution with the offended person, the next step | | | | Christ, we are not free to go against the plain |
| is to bring the problem before the church board; | | | | teachings of the Bible. Those who love God keep |
| (4) finally, if no solution is reached, the offender is | | | | His commandments. |
| removed from the church fellowship with the | | | | The church is in a mess because we have not |
| understanding that repentance and restitution will | | | | administered proper discipline to its membership. |
| bring him or her back in fellowship with the church. | | | | Without proper "pruning" the church will continue |
| If the offender does repent and make restitution, | | | | to bring forth "poisoned fruit." It will continue to be |
| the church should celebrate with a fellowship | | | | a disgrace to all that is good and godly in this |
| gathering and all parties should be supportive of | | | | world. In an hour when the message of the |
| one another. The church should forget the past | | | | church is needed so badly, the church is |
| and unite to fulfill its God given mission to the | | | | powerless to bring redemption to our sin-sick |
| world. The offender should be treated as if | | | | world. |
| nothing ever happened. If the offender goes back | | | | When the church is without proper discipline, God |
| to his or her old ways and comes back, he or she | | | | brings judgment upon it. "Judgment begins at the |
| should be placed on probation before being | | | | household of God." This judgment comes in the |
| allowed to be a full member. No offender should | | | | form of persecution. If the church does not "clean |
| be allowed to have a leadership position in the | | | | up its act," God is going to allow it to go under |
| church until he or she proves his or her | | | | great persecution. This persecution is meant to |
| repentance and restitution were in good faith. | | | | purify the church of all "filthiness of the flesh and |
| Perhaps this can be better understood if we | | | | spirit" so it can "perfect holiness in the fear of |
| understand the reason for church discipline. The | | | | God." |
| reason for church discipline is so it will be a godly | | | | There is hope on the horizon. The way the church |
| witness in the world. The church is not a social | | | | will "clean up its act" is to have a Holy |
| club like the YMCA or YWCA. The church is the | | | | Spirit-inspired revival. There is a movement of |
| "pillar and ground of the truth." Jesus tells us, "You | | | | God for a revival. People are following the 2nd |
| shall know the truth and the truth will set you | | | | Chronicles 7:14 Scripture's call to repentance all |
| free." Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life." | | | | over our land. If the church has a revival, God will |
| The church is a fellowship of like-minded believers. | | | | hear our prayers, forgive our sins and heal our |
| It is made up of those who have been made | | | | land. This will enable the church to have power |
| "new creatures in Christ Jesus." The church is not | | | | and authority to carry out its mission of love and |
| of this world. The church is made up of people | | | | grace to the ends of the earth. The church will be |
| who have forsaken the world, the flesh and the | | | | honored and God will be glorified. Our national |
| devil. We read in Ephesians 4:11-16 the functions | | | | problems will be worked out and we will be very |
| of the church. These are: (1) perfection of saints; | | | | blessed. Our blessings will be carried to the ends |
| (2) works of ministry; (3) edification of the body | | | | of the earth. May this revival come quickly before |
| of Christ; (4) unity of the church; (5) increased | | | | persecution sets in! |
| love for God and others; (6) keeping the church | | | | |