Church Discipline – Spanking Ourselves So God Doesn’t Have To – Part 1

For this series, we've relied heavily on the books Shepherdology by Pastor John MacArthur (M) and Handbook of Church Discipline by Jay Adams (A)

A new believer was invited to attend a "Young Adult Fellowship". When he arrived at the home of one of the young adults at the church he attended he proceeded down into the cellar where the fellowship was being held.

It was much different then he expected. The music was the same kind he listened to before becoming a Christian. The language they used at the party was certainly different than what they were using just a few days earlier in church. The guys were eyeballing the girls and the girls were checking out the guys.

This was called a “Young Adult Fellowship” but it was the same old stuff. This new believer was discouraged. He thought that this was going to be different-- He was trying to get away from the very thing that the Lord saved him from.

That young man was me about 25 years ago and I have since discovered that this “Young Adult Fellowship” was indicative of what was going on at the church on a much larger scale. People were going to church on Sunday but living no different from the world the other days of the week. It was a church out of control, morally speaking.

It is a sad case for the church in that what was done behind closed doors 25 years ago is today paraded in the streets.

* Pastors who have “loved children” are still openly admired and respected by their followers.

Pastors who commit multiple adulteries have only to say they are sorry in order to continue shepherding their flocks.

* Church leaders who are openly flaunting their homosexuality are allowed to stay in the ministry.

* Church leaders are using their trusted positions to rape children.

It is interesting to me that many of the sins that are practiced by church folk were many of the same sins that believers in the early church (and today) were called out of.

(1 Cor 6:9 NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

(1 Cor 6:10 NKJV) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

(1 Cor 6:11 NKJV) And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

It is God’s will that His church be pure. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 that Jesus will one day “present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless".

Someone might be thinking, “That will occur sometime in the future. We will be changed and become like Christ but what about now?”

Yes, one day we will be changed and put off this old robe of sinful flesh but God has also left us with two ways or methods of keeping His church pure:

1.) Teach and preach the Word of God.

(Psa 119:9 NKJV) How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

(Psa 119:11 NKJV) Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!

(2 Tim 3:16 NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

(2 Tim 3:17 NKJV) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(2 Tim 4:2 NKJV) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

But preaching and teaching holiness will not bring about purity in the church if there is an indifference to how people respond. Matthew 18, Acts 5, 1 Corinthians 5, and 2 Thessalonians 3 make it especially clear that the church is to enforce a biblical standard of holiness.

2.) Enforce the Word of God

Sin has to be dealt with. It isn't enough to make announcements or post rules. Proverbs 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.”

As a father must discipline to correct his children, so the Lord must discipline His children. Rules have to be enforced. You just don’t tell Johnny not to do something without communicating the consequences. And you just don’t communicate the consequences without following through when the law is broken.

The combined practices of Teaching the Word of God and Enforcing the Word of God is what is called church discipline.