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CHURCH DISCIPLINE God’s method of solving Christian problems.
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it,” Hebrews 12:7-11.
“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins,” James 5:19-20.
OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES
1 Corinthians 10:11-12 “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come”. SIN IN THE CAMP Joshua 7:1-8:2 V1“But the Israelites [the nation] acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan [one man] son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. [Verse one is the summary of chapter seven. “Against Israel:” Notice that God’s wrath can be poured out against a nation because of one person’s sin.]
V2 “Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, ‘Go up and spy out the region.’ So the men went up and spied out Ai.
V3 “When they returned to Joshua, they said, ‘Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there.’ [What lessons can we learn from this? Never underestimate the power of the enemy. Be well prepared. God can win the battle with only a few but we are always required to do our best.]
V4, 5 “So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water. [One man sinned. Thirty six men died. War was lost. Fear and doubt filled the hearts of the people.] THE LULL [What lulls can you name? After the ascension - what did they do? Acts 1:14. Peter in prison, - What did they do? Acts 12:12.]
V6 “Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. [Long prayer] The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. [What did Joshua and the elders do in the lull?]
V7-9 “And Joshua said, ‘Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?’ [What is the effect of loosing battles to the Devil? Fear and doubt. Gives the enemy an upper hand. Dirties God’s name.]
V10 “The LORD said to Joshua, ‘Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? [What lesson can we learn here? There is a time to pray and a time to work.]
V11 “Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. [Count the plural pronouns. Who are guilty when sin is allowed to exist in the camp? All share in the blame and the consequences therefore ALL must share in the removal of it. Note also that sin can exist without everyone knowing about it. Choose your company carefully. He who lies down with the dogs get up with the fleas. Be watchful for sin in the camp.]
V12 “That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction”. [The thing that over powered the Israelites was not the size of the opposing force, the type weapons nor the tactics used. Psalms 127:1 “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain”. Sin in the camp caused the Israelites to fall before their enemies. Sin in the camp will prevent God’s people from receiving blessings that he wants to give them. God’s people are required by God to get rid of the sin in the camp.]
V13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, `Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. [When the congregation finds out that there is sin in the camp action must follow. Failure is guaranteed if sin is allowed to remain in the camp.]
V14, 15 “In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that the LORD takes shall come forward man by man. He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!’
V16 “Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. [Follow Joshua’s example. Start early to do God’s work even when it is unpleasant.]
V17-19 “The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken. Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. Then Joshua said to Achan, ‘My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.’
V20, 21 “Achan replied, ‘It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.’ [Note the progression of sin. I saw, I coveted, I took, I hid, I died. Note James. 1:14,15 “...but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”]
V22, 23 “So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD. [Guilt is to be proven openly.]
V24, 25 “Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, ‘Why have you brought this trouble on us? [Sin is not a victimless crime even when it is done in private. Sin’s troubles effect many. God’s anger was kindled. The congregation became smalle. People died. Goals were not able to be accomplished. Pain for the sinner. Pain for the people the sinner loved.] The LORD will bring trouble on you today.’ Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.
V26 “Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.” [Pruning out sin turns God’s anger away. Acts 5:5 “When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.” Acts 5:10 “At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.” Acts 5:14 “Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.” Acts 6:1 “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing”.]
Joshua 8:1, 2 “Then the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.’”
Deuteronomy 13:6-11
“If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and worship other gods’ (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), [All gods are “other gods” if they are not in harmony with the God.] do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. [Who’s hands? Why?] Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil thing again.’”
Deuteronomy 17:6-7
“On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.”
Leviticus 24:10-16
“Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse; so they brought him to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) They put him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.
“Then the LORD said to Moses: ‘Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, [Why?] and the entire assembly is to stone him. Say to the Israelites: `If anyone curses his God, he will be held responsible; anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death”’.
LESSONS REGARDING DISCIPLINING A SINNER:
WHAT IS CHURCH DISCIPLINE?
DISCIPLINE means to train to act according to rules. Discipline is accomplished by rewarding good behavior and punishing bad. “...who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right,” (1 Peter 2:14-15). How do we reward? Thanks; Pat on the back; saying amen, etc.
The punishment aspect of discipline (Not stoning as in Old Testiment) Church discipline is to:
2 Thessalonians 3:6 “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away (KJV withdraw) from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us”.
(KJV “Withdraw”. Vine “To shrink from a person.” F. & W. “Draw back, take away, remove, keep from use”. NC. “This is the action of the godly not the sinner”.)
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, (KJV Have no company with him) in order that he may feel ashamed”. (Also 1 Corinthians 5:9)
(“Have no company with him.” Vine “Literally to get mixed up with”. F. & W. “Presence of others, association - bring into relation, unite, connect mentally”.)
2 Thessalonians 3:15 “Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him (KJV Admonish him) as a brother”.
(The only contact a Christian should have is to warn him. “Admonish” F. & W. “Advise of a fault, administer mild reproof, caution, exhort, to bring something forcibly to the attention, reminder of duty, obligation, warning of peril or penalty, instruct solemnly”.)
1 Corinthians 5:11b. “With such a man do not even eat”.
1 Corinthians 5:13 “God will judge those outside. Expel (KJV put away) the wicked man from among you.” (“Put away”. Wms. “You must expel that wicked person from your membership”. Phillips “It is your plain duty to expel from your church this wicked man!” N.E.B. “Root out the evil-doer from your community”. R.S.V. “Drive out that wicked person.”)
1 Corinthians 5:5. “...hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.” (Also 1 Timothy 1:20)
Matthew 18:17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
Ephesians 5:11 “Have nothing to do with (KJV have no fellowship with) the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose (KJV Reprove) them.” (Also Ephesians 5:7)
(“Have no fellowship.” Vine “communion, fellowship, sharing in common, communication”. Reprove. Vine “to discover, expose, rebuke, convict”.)
Romans 16:17 “I urge you, brothers, to watch out (KJV mark) for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them” (KJV avoid). (Also 2 Timothy 3:5)
(“Mark.” To take note of, observe.) (“Avoid” Vine “to turn away from, to turn aside.” F. & W. “to bend out of the way, shun, evade. Synonyms: escape, to flee, (from person or danger) to get away safely.”
2 John 9-11 “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.” KJV “For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” NKJV “...for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds”.
Titus 3:10 “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him (KJV reject him).” (“Reject”. Vine “to beg off, ask to be excused, refuse, decline, avoid”.)
1 Timothy 5:19-20 “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning”. (Also Titus 1:13)
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone”.
LESSONS: Church discipline is: (punishment side) · Keeping away from · Having no association with (not even connecting mentally) · Warn
·
Admonish
(Advise of a fault, caution, instruct · Don’t eat with · Expel · Hand over to Satan · Treat as a pagan or tax collector · Have nothing to do with · Expose them · Have no sharing in common · Reprove, rebuke · Watch out for them · Avoid them · Do not take him into your house
·
Do not
welcome him, bid him God’s speed or · Have nothing to do with him. · Rebuke publicly
FROM WHOM WITHDRAW FELLOWSHIP? A brother who...
1 Corinthians 5:11 “But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” (Also Galatians 5:19)
1 Timothy 1:20 “Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”
Titus 3:10 “Warn a divisive person (KJV Heretic) once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.”
KJV “Heretic” ASV. “Factious person” F. & W. “Given to or promoting dissension or partisan. One who takes his own belief rather than the belief of the church thus causing a split.”
2 Thessalonians 3:6 “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching (KJV Walketh disorderly) you received from us.”
(“Walketh disorderly.” To be slack like a soldier not keeping rank. Those who are truant, (hooky players) absent unjustly. I.e. Hebrews 10:25.)
2 Thessalonians 3:11 “We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. V6 keep away from them.”
1 Timothy 6:3-5 “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, V5 (NKJV) from such withdraw yourself.” (Also 2 John 11)
Romans 16:17 “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”
Hebrews 10:26 “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left...”
WHY DISCIPLINE?
God did. Hosea 5:6 “When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.”
It is commanded of us. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.”
To save his soul. 1 Corinthians 5:5 “...hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.” (Also James 5:19,20)
To win a brother over. Matthew 18:15-16 “If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”
To save the church and keep it
pure.
To make the guilty ashamed. 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.”
To cause others to fear thus saving others. 1 Timothy 5:20 “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.” (Also Acts 5:11)
So you are not partaking in his evil deeds. 2 John 11 “Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.”
So you won’t be yoked with unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
So they may recover themselves from the Devil. 2 Timothy 2:26 “...and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”
So they can stand against their enemies. Joshua 7:13 “You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.”
So God’s work can advance. Joshua 8:1-2 “I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.”
PROCEDURE OF DISCIPLINE
1. Matthew 18:15-16 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” 2. 1 Thessalonians 3:15 “Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”
(Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”)
3. Matthew 18:16-17 “But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that `every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
4. Matthew 18:17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
5. 1 Timothy 5:20 “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.”
6. Follow through with verses that show what discipline is.
WHEN SHOULD THE FINAL STEP BE TAKEN?
1 Cor 5:4-5 “When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”
WHO SHOULD DO THE WITHDRAWING?
The entire church should get involved.
OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES: Joshua 7:25-26 “Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger.”
Leviticus 24:14-16 “All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. Say to the Israelites: `If anyone curses his God, he will be held responsible; anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him.”
Deuteronomy 13:9-10 “Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people.”
NEW TESTAMENT INSTRUCTIONS: Matthew 18:17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” 2 Corinthians 2:5-6 “The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him.” I conclude from this study that the church is to do certain things, and that when the majority of the church does these things, these acts are accredited to the whole congregation. I believe these verses illustrate that majority rule is the scriptural way to direct the affairs of the church in places where the scriptures do not give specific instructions.
ATTITUDE TOWARD THE FALLEN WHO REPENTS
Forgive, comfort, and reaffirm your love to him.
2 Corinthians 2:7-9 “Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.”
OBJECTIONS TO CHURCH DISCIPLINE
1. It won’t work Isaiah 55:8-9 “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’”.
2. God forbids judging Matthew7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:5 “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”
Matthew 7:16-18 “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”
John 7:24 “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you.”
Luke 12:54-57 “He said to the crowd: ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, `It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, `It's going to be hot,' and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time? ‘Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?”’
1 Corinthians 5:3 “Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.”
Requirements for judging Don’t be guilty of the sin you are pointing out in others. (Matthew 7:1,2) Don’t judge according to appearances. Make sure you have the facts. John 7:24 “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.” Don’t judge another man’s servant by your standard. Romans 14:4 “Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls.”
3. The one without sin is to cast the first stone. John 8:7 “When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
1. The difference between Old Testament law and New Testament discipline is that the OT emphasized exclusion. NT emphasizes inclusion. We are not throwing stones as though giving out the final punishment but we are disciplining with the view of winning back our brother. 2. To point out sin in others we must be without the sin we condemn. 3. God commanded us to do it.
4. This will violate the parable of the Tares Matthew 13:27-30 “The owner's servants came to him and said, `Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' `An enemy did this,' he replied. ‘The servants asked him, `Do you want us to go and pull them up?' "`No,' he answered, `because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”’
Matthew 13:38 “The field is the world..” The field is the world not the church. We are not to discipline the world. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked man from among you.”’
SHOULD OTHER CONGREGATIONS RESPECT THE ACTION?
3 John 9 “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.”
1 Timothy 1:19-20 “Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”
2 Timothy 2:16-18 “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth.”
2 Timothy 4:14-15 “Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.”
Yes, we are to respect the actions of other congregations with regard to church discipline but we are commanded, “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment,” (John 7:24). We need to make sure that the judgment made by other congregations is accurate. Remember also what Nicodemus said about Jesus. “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” (John 7:50-51 NIV).
Everywhere humans are found on earth, and this includes within the church, there will be problems. Someone said, “When all else fails, read the directions.” This statement works with regard to all human relation problems. The one that created us sent a operations manual, we call it the Bible. This Bible gives us step by step instructions on how to deal with these problems. God knows best, He made us. Use His manual.
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This column lists books Just click on the book title
We Can Know . . . 
America's Providential Heritage
What Made America Great? Home page
Abortion
Is Wrong
What God says about Homosexuality
Yielding To The Master's Hands
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