Today’s Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 01/07/2024
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Church Discipline
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Cor. 14:40
The above verse may be one of the most abused verses in Holy Scripture, and so I wish to be careful with it’s application. Indeed, the context is not referring to church discipline, but under the umbrella of “all things” we should most generously apply decency and order to something as tender and important as discipline within the church?
Discipline is a necessary part of discipleship. Coming into alignment with God’s order requires death to self, and self usually doesn’t go down without a fight. Heb. 12:11 says, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Prov. 3:11,12 says, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.”
Now that we have determined the need for discipline, it’s time to consider the vehicle. Eph. 4:11,12 say, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” Here we see that there is a governing order that arises, by design, even in the early church. Jack Hayford writes of “equipping”:
“katartismos” A making fit, preparing, training, perfecting, making fully qualified for service, in classical language the word is used for setting a bone during surgery. The Great Physician is now making all the necessary adjustments so the church will not be “out of joint.”
In I Tim. 3 and Titus 1 the Apostle Paul speaks of the qualifications for setting in of leadership. Leadership is a necessary component of the body of Christ. John C. Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”
So discipline typically has a trickle down from the top trajectory.
Heb. 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them – for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account – so that they may do this with joy, not groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.” NASB20
Next we’ll examine areas that require discipline for the church to function as Christ intended.
1. Doctrinal error: Paul was a big doctrine guy. In Titus 2:1 he writes, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.” Heresy plagued the early church as it does the contemporary church. Satan is the author of confusion and lies, both contrary to sound doctrine. II Tim. 4:3, “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.” In Revelation Jesus speaks warning to the seven churches in Asia, in part, about some false doctrines being circulated; “doctrine of Balaam,” “Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach…” and “deeds of the Nicolaitans.”
Doctrinal error requires correction which will most likely require disciplining those who perpetrate it, with the intent to bring unity.
Ps. 133:1 says, “Behold how good and pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!”
2. Sin requires disciplinary action. This action should be conducted with a degree of gentleness because that is what God extends toward us. Rom. 2:4 says, “the goodness of God leads us to repentance.”
Sin needs to be ferreted out of the camp. In Jos. 7 we read the OT account of the sin of Achan and how it effected both the testimony and advance of Israel. In I Cor., which is largely a corrective epistle, Paul calls out some particular sin issues and judges them with consequences. Reading the entire account, all the way through to II Cor. we see that repentance and reconciliation is the always the aim. In II Cor. 5:18,19 he writes, “...God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has give us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”
God’s heart is always toward reconciliation.
In the church it is the responsibility of leadership to call out sin, from the pulpit in general but specifically and privately when evident. Jesus, still speaking to Nicodemus, in Jn. 3:20 says, “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
Mt. 18:15-17, Jesus gives instruction on how to confront and deal with a brother who sins against you.
3. Disobedience also needs to be contended with in the body of Christ. Though all disobedience is sin, all sin is not necessarily disobedience. Disobedience, in this context, is implying willful action. Some sin, such as sin of omission or lack of faith can be circumstantial and not directly tied to the will. But obedience is very high in God’s economy. Jesus said repeatedly in John’s gospel, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Jesus joins, conceptually, love and obedience.
I Sam. 15:22 say, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,”
Even in a family setting we recognize the necessity of obedience, and also consequences for disobedience.
Church is not a free for all where in everyone makes up the rules as they go along. That’s a recipe for disaster. Jdg. 21:25 speaks to this, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
Church disciple gets complicated when it has to occur from the bottom up. Falleness, the human element, and Satanic activity often infiltrates leadership as well. True humility is always willing to repent and seek reconciliation. In Gal. 2 we read of an occasion where Paul called out Peter for his actions, and “withstood him.” Also, in Acts 15 we read about a disagreement between Paul and Barnabas regarding John Mark which ends in division and separation.
We must always be careful with bottom up discipline and divisiveness, yet church history is riddled with it. The Great Schism of 1054 resulted in the division of Catholic and Orthodox, and the Protestant Reformation starting in 1517 opened the flood gates for divisiveness in the church; of which we are not proud.
But Christ shall have His bride, and Eph. 5:27 speaks of this, saying, “that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish!” Exclamation point added
We should see disciple, in whatever form it takes, as a refinement. Always be circumspect, considering your own heart, motives and actions. When administering or receiving discipline, remember Js. 1:19,20 which says, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
In conclusion: “Blessed are the peacemakers’
For they shall be called sons of God.”
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Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
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