Church Discipline

Haafa Aday!

I WAS an AF guy on Guam many years ago. I believe you are correct, considering a few other things are to be done first according to Matt. 18.

Take Care and God Bless you brother.

Thanks -------Bart

 

What more needs to be said?


Matthew 18:15 (KJV)
15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Matthew 18:16 (KJV)
16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Matthew 18:17 (KJV)
17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

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1 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV)
1It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
1 Corinthians 5:2 (KJV)
2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1 Corinthians 5:3 (KJV)
3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1 Corinthians 5:4 (KJV)
4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 5:5 (KJV)
5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

Church discipline is getting little action today because we are too much influenced by a world set upon political correctness, polls and a desire for acceptance and popularity. Many don't want to do it, so we have a tendency to whimp out and not obey the Scriptures.

A new, small church in our state just removed a family under church discipline for false doctrine. While it cut their few numbers, it was the biblical thing to do.

Like spanking it should be done as the last resort when all other courses of action have be exhausted.

 

Church discipline is absolutely biblical and should be properly handled in every church,with restoration to God and repentance as the goal. I think it serves 2 major purposes in the church,1)It keeps the church pure,and 2)It makes people see the seriousness of sin to God and to the body,it is accountability.

Matthew 18 is the guide for how it should be done.

John MacArthur once said..."A Church without church discpline is a church without Christ."

 

Yes, but it can be so hard to apply this. Some things are clearcut like denying the Resurrection.
Other times not so.
Once in my town there was a dispensational church.
A small group in that church decided to turn it into a Reformed church. The dispensationalists did drift away, but in the meantime should they have been publically "marked and shunned"?

Karen

 

what do you think needs to be done about the members that are not in fellowship? those that have not come to church in years but have been visited by other members?

 

Keep lovin' 'em. Keep visiting. Keep asking why they're not attending.

 

Why is this more serious?? I can't really see this distinction here. 1 Cor 5 and Matt 18 both talk of putting the disobedient brother out of the fellowship and not even eating with him (1 Cor 5:10-11) just as Rom 17:17-18 and other passages talk of doing that with doctrinally errant people.

I think confrontation of both is to be undertaken with a view to restoration and the ultimate goal of purity in the body.

On what basis do you say one is more serious than the other?

 

Church discipline is sometimes called for and should be practiced when needed and only to help put the persn back on track.
Our church has had to and the person has stayed a member with the church because they realized they were wrong and needed to make it right with God and the church.When someone is being helped even through correcton its best for everyone.
Jeanne

 

Do any of you have a policy for inconsistent attendees?

One church I pastored ruled that any member not attending for a year would be put on an inactive list, after contacting them, if possible, to see what the problem was.

Rufus

 

At my synagogue, it is 6 months.

 

Rufus wrote:

I have a personal policy that at the close of the meeting, we inquire about the whereabouts of each missing member. Every meeting time. Course in a small church it is easier than in a larger one.

A couple of reasons for this:

a. If some one is hurt/angry, etc., it can be dealt with before it festers.
b. If someone is sick/injured, we can pray and visit.
c. If someone is down on their luck, we might be able to help.

I don't want to sound mean, but you shouldn't wait a year or 6 months to find out why people aren't at church.

I know my church is small by most standards, but every member who is on the rolls and is physically able is usually at meeting.

Jeff

 

I don't think you sound mean at all! I did not intend
that no one calls; I meant that if the person does
not return within 6 months, they are no longer
considered a member.

When I was kicked out of that church, although I
knew it was best, I was deeply hurt. While I was
quickly accepted as a member where I attend, I
did not go often. You know what depression does
to one:; it makes them tired all the time and makes
them feel sick when they really are not. That was
what was happening, becausee I not only had to
deal with the excommunication but also the
shunning and the demise of the ministry to the
elderly I had started there that no one would
continue.

My new pastors made an appointment to visit--
and more than once--until I got my "running feet"
back under me. They were very good to me--they
visited, prayed, asked if I had any needs, helped
us move, the whole nine yards.

 

Abiyah

Sorry, I guess I misunderstood. I do know of places where if you don't show up, no one would notice.

Jeff

 

8o) No apology needed!! I understood what you intended. 8o)