“One of the most neglected doctrines of the Word of God is church discipline” (Paul Jackson, The Doctrine and Administration of the Church, 75). “The attitude which accompanies the work of discipline is vital” (Ibid., 76). This post is a quick review of Paul Jackson’s chapter on Church Discipline. There are great resources at 9marks on church discipline (click to view).
Church discipline is using the “keys of the kingdom” referred to in Matthew 16:18-19. The “church” is mentioned in 16:18. Peter used the keys when he preached the Gospel and let people into the church in Acts 2 (Jews), Acts 8 (Samaritans), and Acts 10 (Gentiles). Peter used the keys or the authority given him by God in Matthew 18:15-21, where the church is mentioned again, to let people out of the church who were unrepentant.
Biblical Reasons for Discipline
1. Immorality as seen in 1 Corinthians 5. The man was disciplined, and the woman was not probably because she was not a member, and he was. This is an argument for church membership.
2. False doctrine is another reason for exercising church discipline according to 1 Timothy 6:1-5. This is why having a doctrinal statement is important.
3. Disorderly walk is disobedience to the clear teaching of God’s Word as presented in 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14.
4. Division contrary to Biblical doctrine demand discipline (Romans 16:17-18) (Paul Jackson, 77).
5. Unrepentant church members are identified by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17.
Biblical Attitudes in Discipline
1. Spirituality, humility, meekness as prescribed in Galatians 6:1. In Joshua 22, Phinehas practiced the principle to be given later by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17, but not the attitude of Galatians 6:1.
2. Uncompromising stand against sin even when those who are guilty are pastors (1 Timothy 5:20).
3. Love in discipline is found 2 Thessalonians 3:15 and in how Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery in John 8.
4. Forgiveness as Paul instructed the Corinthians who discipline the man in 1 Corinthians 5 who repented. Paul instructed the Corinthians now to forgive in 2 Corinthians 2:6-10.
Biblical Objectives in Discipline
1. Obedience to the Word of God as given by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17.
2. Removal of the defilement of sin which Paul pictured as yeast in a batch of dough for baking in 1 Corinthians 5:6. Sin spreads if it is not checked.
3. Restraint of others is the principle used by parents as well as churches (Hebrews 12:5-11)
4. Restoring the erring brother is the goal found in Galatians 6:1.
Biblical Methods in Discipline
There are three steps in Matthew 18:15-17. Some argue because the church is not in the Gospels, the steps provided by Jesus are not appropriate for today. Paul generally followed the steps by Jesus in dealing with the Thessalonians.
First Step: Confront the offender (2 Thessalonians 3:10 refers to Paul first’s rebuke of the Thessalonians in Acts 17)
Second Step: Confront the offender more aggressively (Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:11)
Third Step: Confront a final time (Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:14)
This is why Mark Dever advises: “Don’t do it!!” Why You Shouldn’t Practice Church Discipline until you have instructed the church properly. But remember, when you first become convinced of the biblical case for church discipline, your first step in an established congregation is probably to begin by not practicing discipline so that someday you can.