Award winning author Joshua Harris in his recent book Stop Dating the Church lists the practice of “church discipline” as one of the ten things that matter most when choosing which church you should join. In his list of “Ten Important Questions” to ask before joining a congregation he puts this one on the list: “Is this Church willing to kick me out?”
The practice of discipline in scripture is clear. Jesus talked about it (Matthew 18:15-20) before the establishment of the church while drawing on ancient case-law in the Old Testament, and Paul talked about it extensively (I Corinthians 5:1-13; II Thessalonians 3:6-15) as a necessary means to preserve the purity and unity of the church.
So why don’t more churches practice discipline? Here are my thoughts – perhaps you have a few of your own:
Ignorance. Sadly, we live in a period of time in which Biblical literacy is at alarmingly low rates. Many Christians sitting in the pews don’t know their Bibles and when they do quote them it is often out of context. Take the oft-cited prayer promise “that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you” (Mat. 18:20). One simple look at the context reveals that Jesus is talking about the gathering together of the church to pray for a person’s discipline! “Stop passing judgment on one another” (Rom. 14:13) is found in the context of Christian liberty while a rebuke for the failure of the church to judge another believer is found in a passage on discipline (I Cor. 5:12)! Many people simply don’t know their Bibles. (For a brief primer on church discipline, see the series of articles in Christianity Today entitled "Fixing Church Discipline.")
Fear. We simply lack the moral courage needed to hold people accountable. Yes, people will obfuscate, manipulate the truth, try to sway others to side with them, tell others only half the facts, and criticize the leadership after they have prayerfully and tearfully listened to all ten sides of the story – in fact, I have found that people will do almost anything to take the focus off of them. Seldom do I receive thank you notes from people (or their friends) who have been disciplined by our Elders! Even ministers live in fear. As Richard Baxter once wrote to ministers who were saying they would practice discipline if their church members were ready for it: “Is not the fact rather that you (the minister) will not bear the trouble and hatred which church discipline will occasion?” Believe me, approval ratings typically don’t go up when ministers hold people accountable!
Compromise. For 2,000 years the practice of discipline has been part of the church. The Reformers called the practice of discipline, “The Third Mark of the Church.” But compromise with Western culture in the postmodern era where truth is a bad word has rendered our brief period in time what one church historian has called, “Our Uniquely Undisciplined Moment.” I personally believe that this is one of the reasons we have so many nominal Christians sitting in the pews of American churches. (As one who just spent four months in Africa where discipline is taken seriously, I can tell you that the Christians there beleive our churches have lost their moral courage.)
There is more I could say – a lot more. We desperately need to restore the beauty of the church for God's glory. Maybe you would like to weigh in . . .
5 comments:
Oh yes, I agree Lionel with all of your thoughts. In a sometimes "politically correct" church it is not always that correct to discipline. We live in a culture where personal accontability is at an all time low; why would we want to hold anyone else responsible. We might have some rocks in our own garden that might get upturned! I am glad to serve in a church where I know I can be "kicked out." Does it make me more aware of my behavior? Yes. Does it strngthen my walk with God? By all means. All of these things are good. Should I lean totally on the Bible for my guidance in matters of behavior, thoughts, etc? By all means. That is why I need to know I can be disciplined; it makes me a stronger believer; it's Biblical.
You will have to be carefull too though with only one side of the story, which is often issued by the parties most willing to gossip and backstab. Church discipline was "negotiated" away because church leaders abused it. Just as the pastors' role of chief elder was negotiated away because it was abused ... so now we have governance by democracy.
The inquisition was the church leaders' idea not the members. I'm sure many a Christian was burned at the stake by a Pagan church leader. Martin Luther himself was thrown from his church.
Calvary has been, more than once, made part of character assasination. They have been used to the whim of a brother against another.
Be careful, very careful, when suggesting that anyone will be able to "judge" in this society. Oh, we need more accountability, and we need leaders willing to take steps that are "right" even if they aren't popular.
But there is an equal balance needed that leaders don't pride themselves on being unpopular ... then perhaps being "right" will also have to be held in disregard.
If a woman commits adultry, be careful that the leaders look at the entire situation. If a man is considered a thief, be careful that the leaders look at the whole story ... the rocks unturned may show a totally different perspective.
Great entry, Lionel. You're exactly right-- there aren't very many Richard Baxters around anymore.
Though it seems like we need them now more than ever--leaders who would "take heed to themselves first", and then (upon personal introspection and renewal) still protect the beauty of the church through loving discipline.
I agree that ignorance and compromise are two indisputable reasons that discipline is not practiced, but I'm certain the third reason is most prevalent: fear.
After all, we live in an age of unity services, anonymous comments and litigious parishioners. Is standing up for truth really worth the trouble?
JPS
Having witnessed the inactment of the application of church discipline by the Bishop Young himself and seen the result being a representation of repentence may I say: Love is the most important reson for church discipline. and Pride the most common reason for not. The end result of properly administered discipline by those whose goal is love for the church and love for the individuals envolved in sin will be positive and not negative rather they "get right or get out", it is their choice. Also I agree that great care and patience are vital ingredients for indeed it lacks no pain in the process.Blessed is the church that is able to appropriate this biblical practice with Godly Motives.
John, litigious parishioners is cute. And yes we live in that age and the age of Jimmy Swaggart. But we also live in the age of fundamentalism ... a disease the church is just beginning to fight back here in the US and may take decades to fight as a seed unruly in the developing world. Sadly we planted that seed.
Fundamentalism, as has been preached from our pulpit, allowed legalists the bully pulpit to bereate those who had done nothing more wrong than not bow and kiss a proverbial ring. (ie. thou shalt not consume __________) Sure there's a long running tension between this control minded fundamentalist tendancy and wanton libertinism.
So perhaps we should practice discipline with fear and trepidation. One foot is resting in the fire of inquisition history and the other in vomit laden moderation to the point of cultural relativity.
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