How Important is Church Discipline?

[Steven Yeadon]

The questions are straightforward:

1. Are certain sins such as adultery, murder, homosexuality, and drunkenness heinous enough to deserve a response from the pastor of those commiting such sins in private?

2. Theologically, are there apostates in your view? Depending on theology, this may include those who abandoned the faith. Those that embraced the faith, falsely, for a time and left. Or those that commit heinous sins over and over again without repentance.

3. In a broader context, do you see a point to church discipline in a local congregation?

 

[JonC]

All sin is heinous enough to warrant church discipline if the member is unable or unwilling to address the sin themselves. We are called to be a holy people.

 

[Reynolds]

The questions are straightforward:

1. Are certain sins such as adultery, murder, homosexuality, and drunkenness heinous enough to deserve a response from the pastor of those commiting such sins in private?

2. Theologically, are there apostates in your view? Depending on theology, this may include those who abandoned the faith. Those that embraced the faith, falsely, for a time and left. Or those that commit heinous sins over and over again without repentance.

3. In a broader context, do you see a point to church discipline in a local congregation?

Any ongoing sin should receive church discipline.

 

[Steven Yeadon]

I'm sorry, I should not have used murder. Everyone can agree that murder demands action.

 

[Reynolds]

I'm sorry, I should not have used murder. Everyone can agree that murder demands action.

Murder is no different than other sin.

 

[agedman]

Also, it isn’t the quantity nor quality of a sin.

More often humankind take into account that “mass” murderer as being worse than a liar who destroys a person’s character and career.

Shamefully disgusting people are puffed up in heroic fashion even after their agenda filled lies are admitted.

A dear friend said, they would have suffered less damage had they been murdered.

 

[Salty]

I'm sorry, I should not have used murder. Everyone can agree that murder demands action.

There is that one exception
If a Baptist pastor divorces his wife - then he must go
But If a Baptist pastor murders his wife - well for that they will forgive

 

[agedman]

There is that one exception
If a Baptist pastor divorces his wife - then he must go
But If a Baptist pastor murders his wife - well for that they will forgive

Pastor's Double Life Motive for Wife's Murder?

 

[Reynolds]

All sin is heinous enough to warrant church discipline if the member is unable or unwilling to address the sin themselves. We are called to be a holy people.

I even think the pot bellied preacher should receive it.

 

[Steven Yeadon]

I'm holding back my own convictions until more time is provided for others to speak. I will explain my convictions and the purpose of the post in a few days.

 

[Hollow Man]

The questions are straightforward:

1. Are certain sins such as adultery, murder, homosexuality, and drunkenness heinous enough to deserve a response from the pastor of those commiting such sins in private?

Yes, yes, yes, and depends.

2. Theologically, are there apostates in your view? Depending on theology, this may include those who abandoned the faith. Those that embraced the faith, falsely, for a time and left. Or those that commit heinous sins over and over again without repentance.

I know this will sound like I'm taking the coward's way out, but I'm of two minds on this and am not really comfortable answering until I get it sorted out.

3. In a broader context, do you see a point to church discipline in a local congregation?

Of course. It's there to shepherd the sinning member and to protect the integrity of the church.

 

[Wesley Briggman]

If the Holy Spirit has not chastised the wayward child, then that child is not part of His family.

Heb 12:6 KJV - For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 KJV - If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 KJV - But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

1Co 5:1 KJV - It 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.
1Co 5:2 KJV - And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Co 5:3 KJV - For 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,
1Co 5:4 KJV - In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5 KJV - To 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.
1Co 5:6 KJV - Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 KJV - Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 KJV - Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.
1Co 5:9 KJV - I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 KJV - Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 KJV - But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12 KJV - For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13 KJV - But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

[Aaron]

No, not every sin gets church discipline. Wasn't Philemon a slave owner? And are you going to church Sister Martin for eating herself into obesity and ill health?

Sins of the character of those in the list in 1 Corinthians 5:11 are what get church discipline.

 

[Reynolds]

No, not every sin gets church discipline. Wasn't Philemon a slave owner? And are you going to church Sister Martin for eating herself into obesity and ill health?

Sins of the character of those in the list in 1 Corinthians 5:11 are what get church discipline.

Slave owning was not a sin.
You should "church" gluttony if you are going to "church" any of the other sins of the flesh.

 

[Hollow Man]

No, not every sin gets church discipline. Wasn't Philemon a slave owner?

Philemon had indentured servants. You're thinking of chattel slavery.

Chattel slavery is a sin. Indenture is not.