Church Discipline

What is church discipline?

Church discipline is the breaking of fellowship with someone by the church in order to motivate them to repent of a serious wrong. (Called by some – "excommunication" or "disfellowshipping.")

1 Cor 5:12  What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

For what causes are believers subjected to discipline?

1. They are unrepentant of some serious moral sin 

1 Cor 5:9  I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people -- 10  not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11  But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

2 Th 3:6  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

2. They are spreading heresy       

1 Tim 1:20  Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

2 Tim 4:14  Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15  You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. 17  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18  who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

2 John 1:10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11  Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

3. They are divisive

Rom 16:17  I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

Titus 3:10  Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.

What is the goal of church discipline?

The goal of discipline is not punishment, but restoration of the individual with God and fellow believers.

2 Cor 2:6  The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7  Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8  I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

2 Cor 13:10  This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

What procedures are followed for discipline?

1. Those who witness it, and are confident their own personal failures have not colored their perception, should confront the offending brother in gentleness.

Mat 7:3  "And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4  "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5  "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Gal 6:1  Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

2. The one sinned against or witnessing the failure should confront the offender privately;

… then in front of a witness or two (preferably the elders);

… then the elders will bring it to the attention of the church.

… If the sinner will not listen to the appeals of the church, he is to be set outside the fellowship.

Mat 18:15  "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

3. When the brother is cut off from the fellowship he is to be turned over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh.

1 Cor 5:4  When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5  hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

1 Tim 1:20  Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

4. Church members are not to enter into Christian fellowship with him.

ê Avoid them

Rom 16:17  I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

2 Th 3:6  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

2 Th 3:14  If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15  Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

ê Do not discuss spiritual things

Mat 18:17  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

2 John 1:10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11  Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

ê Treat them as if they had a spiritually infectious disease

2 Tim 4:14  Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15  You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. 17  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18  who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

1 Cor 5:6  Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7  Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

ê Do not share meals

1 Cor 5:11  But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

What are the unique procedures for the discipline of a leader?

1. In Matthew 18:15-17 Jesus gave his followers general guidelines for confronting fellow believers. In 1 Timothy 5:19-20 Paul gave pastor Timothy specific directions for the confrontation of elders. Following these guidelines, when anyone brings to church leaders an accusation of sin against one of their fellow leaders, the elders are to weigh out that accusation, and if they then determine that the accused elder is guilty, they are to rebuke him “before all.” (Either before all the elders or before the church. The Greek text isn’t clear.) Such a rebuke of a leader will motivate those listening to regard holy living more seriously. 

1 Tim 5:19  Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

2. If the elder is judged guilty, yet refuses to accept the rebuke of his fellow leaders, he will be subjected to church discipline as one in rebellion.

3. If after hearing the charges, the leaders judge that the charges are baseless, and therefore no discipline is merited, the brother bringing the charges is to submit himself to the elders’ decision. The accusing brother must drop the matter, trusting that God works through fallible men, resting that if the elders have made a mistake, they will give account to God for their error.

Heb 13:17  Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

4. If the accused elder is found innocent, and the accusing brother refuses to accept the elders’ judgment, and he insists on voicing publicly the charges he had made about the exonerated elder, he will be regarded as a slanderer who is spreading false charges and causing division[1]. He will then be disciplined as a divisive person. If the accusing brother does not accept the elders’ decision, and chooses instead to leave the fellowship, he will not be subjected to discipline unless he insists on spreading slander to others.

Titus 3:10  Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.