What We Believe & Why - Chapter Thirty Three

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What We Believe and Why - Vol. II
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1982
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

Chapter Thirty Three
Church Discipline

INTRODUCTION: TEXT: I Corinthians 5:1-13

Sins and offenses of a multitude of varieties exist among believers within a local church. I John 1:8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." God's grace is sufficient to forgive such ones, (Isaiah 1:18), and He will forgive if they confess their sins unto Him. (I John 1:9) In some cases, however, there is no repentance and confession. Sins and offenses occur and the sinner rationalizes, justifies himself, and is defensive in the matter. This is the sort of conduct that causes the lost to view the church as hypocritical. Such conduct is a great hindrance to the church and to the Lord's work in general.

Though the church is not a court where every sin and offense between members is to be tried, it does have an obligation to God to act judicially in certain specified cases. The jurisdiction of the church in these specific areas is the area we commonly refer to as the area of church discipline. When a church follows procedures given in God's Word relevant to these specific cases, the church is exercising church discipline. It is the area of truth related to church discipline that we shall consider in this Bible lesson.

I. THE LORD'S CHURCH HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ITS HEAD TO KEEP ITSELF PURE.

A. In the first place, each individual member within a local congregation is to keep himself pure.

1. The apostle James wrote, "Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your heart, ye double minded." (James 4:8)

2. II Timothy 2:19-22 is an excellent passage of God's Word calling for individual purity among the members of a church. These verses read, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

B. In the second place, the teachers and minister of the church are to preach the Word, which is designed to purge out the evil and generally upgrade the church.

1. God's command to the pastor of the church is, "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (II Timothy 4:1-2)

2. According to the same book, this "word" which is to be preached will upgrade a church. It will condemn sin, call for righteous conduct, and show the church the way that honors God. Listen to II Timothy 3:15-17, "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:15-17)

3. You can see then why Paul wrote to the preacher and said, "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained." (I Timothy 4:6)

C. Then in speaking directly to the church in a collective sense, the Bible insists on purity and self-judgment.

1. The apostle Peter said, "For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God." (I Peter 4:17) "The house of God" is "the church." (I Timothy 3:15) Some contend that the church has no business involving itself in the personal lives of its members. In most cases that is true, but whenever the private life of a member becomes so sinful that it becomes a public reproach to the church, then the church has an obligation to judge the matter and disassociate itself from the unrepentant one living in public sin.

2. In speaking to the Corinthian church collectively regarding their member living in open immorality, Paul said, "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened." (I Corinthians 5:7) Later in this same discussion, Paul said, "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." (I Corinthians 5:12-13)

3. Along these same lines II Thessalonians 3:6 says, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us."

4. The fact is that there are times when the church has no option as to whether or not to take action against a fellow member. When a member's conduct is publicly disorderly to the extent of being a public reproach against the church and the cause of Christ, the church must act to purge itself of that reproach. As we shall see, the church is not to take such action on every sin, but on certain specific sins, the church has no choice but to act against the guilty member.

5. In fact, the church must act lest God bring judgment upon the church. I Corinthians 11:31 says, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged."

D. The need for self-judgment by the church is especially seen at the observance of the Lord's Supper.

1. It seems certain that I Corinthians 5 is dealing with the Lord's Supper and its relationship to church discipline when in verse 11 several reasons for church discipline are given and then the statement is made regarding anyone guilty of such things, "with such a one, no, not to eat." Of course, the only eating the church is to do in a collective sense of worship is the Lord's Supper. I Corinthians 11:33-34 will show that.

2. The point seems to be that the church is not to observe the Lord's Supper with a member guilty and unrepentant of these gross public sins. The church is to withdraw itself from such ones. Of course, I Corinthians 11:31 which calls for judgment, is right in a text dealing with the Lords Supper. Again, the point is that the church is obligated to God to purge itself of members who persist in certain open sins.

E. Actually the church belongs to God, and His reputation is effected by what it does.

1. Colossians 1:24 says, "The church is His body." He is the head of the church, (Ephesians 5:23), and it belongs to Him to govern as He chooses.

2. Actions that are a public reproach to His body, the church, cannot be ignored. To ignore them gives the illusion to the world that God and His church approves of these ungodly activities.

II. THE SINS THAT ARE TO BE PUBLICLY JUDGED BY THE CHURCH ARE SPECIFICALLY ENUMERATED IN THE SCRIPTURES.

A. It is our belief that public exclusion or discipline is limited to six specific public sins.

1. These six sins are named in I Corinthians 5:11. Each is a sin of a grievous, public nature including either interaction with or observance by others.

a. The first sinner worth of church discipline is a fornicator. This is one who becomes involved in sex relations outside the bonds of his marriage.

b. The second in the list is a covetous one. This is one who intensely or passionately desires the wrong things, especially that which belongs to another.

c. Then an idolater is mentioned. This is one whose mind is turned away from God and turned toward depraved ideas which its idols represent.

d. Next on the list is a railer. The Greek word here is "loidoros" used as a noun. By definition this reference is to a reproachful person, a person of coarse, harsh and bitter words. The definition includes one whose characteristic it is to abuse others, vilify their character and wound their feelings. It is noteworthy that out of all six offenders, this is the only one mentioned anywhere else in the Bible in connection with exclusion from the church. Of this type person Romans 16:17 says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." Listen to I Timothy 6:3-5 speak of a railer and the church action which should be taken. "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." Listen also to II Thessalonians 3:6,11 and 14 discuss a railer. "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us...For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies...And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." What God's word is teaching is that a church cannot tolerate one who seeks to cause division within its ranks. God clearly says the church is to withdraw itself from one who talks against the pastor, leaders, or other members of the church. By nature of the Bible emphasis given to it, railing would seem to be one of the worst kinds of offenses against the church.

e. Also on this list of sinners is a drunkard. This is one who is addicted to the vice of alcohol. As bad as drinking in any amount is, only drunkenness is grounds for church discipline.

f. The last sinner on this list is an extortioner. W. E. Vine says the idea of seizing is denoted here. The reference here is to one who plunders, steals, robs and extorts.

2. Every one of these six areas of sin runs absolutely counter to the Christian system of ethics. And, one guilty of these is in open, public sin. The initial discussion in I Corinthians 5 relates to a fornicator, and during the discussion the five other types of sinners that should be disciplined are named. Of the fornicator, and likewise of the other five, Paul wrote that the church "deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh." (I Corinthians 5:5) Stressing the same point of church discipline, he says in verse 7, "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened." Then he said in verse 9, "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators." He restates that the begin verse 11, and ends verse 11 "With such an one no not to eat." He then concludes the chapter by saying, "Therefore, put away from among yourselves that wicked person." (I Corinthians 5:13) So it is not at all difficult to see that God wants His church to purge itself by self-judgment of those guilty and unrepentant of these six public sins.

B. Any time the church precedes to bring church discipline upon one guilty of one of these sins, it must be careful to follow God's method for solving offenses. Such action is an offense against the church and the method for solving offenses is set forth in Matthew 18.

1. First, someone in the church who has proof of the guilt of the offender must go to the guilty person and seek to restore him in the spirit of meekness. Compare Matthew 18:15 with Galatians 6:1.

2. If the guilty remains unrepentant after this first effort, the person with proof is to go back with one or two witnesses to seek a restoration. (Consider Matthew 18:16.)

3. If this second effort fails, the matter is to be brought to the whole church for judgment according to Matthew 18:17.

4. In following this procedure, it is most important that meekness, mercy and patience prevail in the efforts to restore the guilty. Listen to God say it in I Thessalonians 5:14, "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men."

C. What church discipline signals for the unrepentant sinner is trouble and ultimate physical destruction.

1. Hebrews 12:11 declares, "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

2. Listen also to Hebrews 10:30-31, "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

3. I Corinthians 5:5 indicates that church discipline is actually a matter of delivering the guilty sinner "unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

III. ONCE THIS KIND OF ACTION IS TAKEN BY THE CHURCH AGAINST AN OFFENDER, THE RESPONSE OF THE CHURCH TOWARD THE OFFENDER SHOULD BE A TERMINATION OF FELLOWSHIP WITH A CONSTANTLY OPEN DOOR FOR RESTORATION.

A. Until the sinner repents, the church cannot fellowship with him.

1. Matthew 18:17 says, "Let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican."

2. I Timothy 6:5 says, "From such withdraw thyself." Romans 16:17 says, "mark" them and II Thessalonians 3:6,14 says, "withdraw" from such ones and "have no company" with them.

3. Also I Corinthians 5 says we are not to fellowship with such ones nor eat the Lord's Supper with them.

4. But, even though fellowship is broken, the olive leaf of peace should constantly be held forth. Listen to II Thessalonians 3:14-15, "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." This is exactly how God is toward us. We sin and fellowship is broken. (Isaiah 59:1-2) But any time we are willing to repent and come in confession we will immediately be restored into fellowship with God. This must be the way the church treats those whom it disciplines.

B. Once the disciplined person repents and comes to the church for forgiveness, the church has no choice except to forgive the offender and to restore him to full fellowship with the church.

1. No place makes the truth clearer than Matthew 18:21-22, "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

2. This is the exact truth being taught in Ephesians 4:32. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

3. Paul wrote concerning the fornicator of I Corinthians 5 that the church exclude him from their fellowship. Once the man repented, Paul again wrote to the Corinthians to restore him into full fellowship with the church. Listen to II Corinthians 2:6-8, "Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him." This Satan would do if the church developed an unforgiving attitude.

4. So, in certain cases, the church is to exercise discipline against offenders. But once they repent they are to be forgiven.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"