Get Disciplined, It’s Good

What is discipline? Is it always bad? Why is it hard to get into holy habits? Is being disciplined just being religious, if so what’s the alternative? Is a church supposed to exercise discipline and if so how? Tons of questions hover around the topic of discipline if we stop to think about it for a minute.

Too often, we as adults can act like two year olds who need a spanking, so we shrugg off discipline because we don’t like to think about it and only think it is something negative. The Bible is in no way silent on the topic of discipline. Here’s a brief outline on the topic of discipline both in general and how it ought to function in a church.

I. What Is Discipline?
A. Etymology
   1. The Greek word comes from “paideuw” (paid-e-o) – To bring up, instruct, train, educate,
   correct, give guidance.
   2. Has the same root as the Greek word for child (paidon), thus the backdrop for discipline is familial.
   3. In the historical/cultural background of the 1st century the word is also used of public
   condemnation and or dismissal either through whipping, scouraging, or banishing.
   4. In the OT the background is both familial and ecclesiastical executed by fathers, judges
    and priests including everything from teaching to stoning.
B. Theology
   1. Discipline Is For Sinners. Is only necessary because we are sinners who need instruction
   and correction because we have parted ways with God’s holiness (Ps 25:8; Rom 3:9-20).
   2. Disciples Need Discipline. It flows out us being disciples of Jesus who are be taught to obey
   all that he commanded (Mt 28:20).
   3. Discipline Is Divine. Is motivated by love (Heb 12:5-6) and meant to bring restoration
   and reconciliation to God and one another (Mt 18:15; Gal 6:1; Js 5:20).
C. Historically
   1. Disentegrated under the rule of Constantine as biblical church membership was redefined
   and political and ecclesiastical authority was welded.
   2. Was reinvigorated during the Reformation under the leadership of Luther and Calvin.
   3. Has been both abused and abidcated by churches in our current age.

II. Why Is Church Discipline Important?
A. War – We are waging a spiritual battle against sin and the powers of sin in the world (Eph 6:12), we cannot afford to just be passive. Wayne Grudem states, “Paul reminds the Corinthians, ‘For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldy war, for the weapons of our warfare are not wordly but have divine power to destroy strongholds (2 Cor 10:3-4). These weapons, used against demonic forces that hinder the spread of the gospel and the progress of the church, include things as prayer, worship, the authority to rebuke demonic forces, the words of Scripture, faith, and righteous conduct on the part of the members of church.”
B. Wolves – There are those who knowingly or unknowingly are seeking to destroy people’s lives and the church who are very good at it (Mt 7:15; Acts 20:29). Alexander Strauch writes, “Since the church is figuratively called a flock it follows that its enemies are ‘wolves’, the proverbial predators of the sheep. They are strong and cunning. They are persistant and come from every side. They are insatiable and merciless in their appetite for devouring Christians. Their presence can only bring death, confustion, and destruction.”
C. Witness – We represent Jesus and are a people who worship God and have him living among us (1 Cor 6:14-7:1). Mark Dever responds, “Why discipline? So that the holy and loving character of God might appear more clearly and shine more brightly.”
D. Warning – The exercise of discipline is both a warning to the individuals of the church concerning the seriousness of sin (1 Tim 5:20) and a warning to the entire church that Jesus will shut it down if does not excercise discipline (Rev 2:14-16). Wayne Grudem says, “If (one) is not disciplened, the effects of the sin would spread to many others who were aware of it and saw that the church paid little attention to it. This would cause many to think that perhaps that sin was not as bad as they had thought, and others might be tempted to commit similar or related kinds of sin.”
E. Wholeness – Jesus’ church is to be kept doctrinally and morally pure. Discipline ensures and protects the church’s integrity. Louis Berkhof declares, “The potestas iudicans (power of judgment) is the power that is exercised to guard the holiness of the church.”

III. How Is A Church To Do Discipline?
A. Prayer – Only God can make discipline in any form successful, so we must pray and ask for his help and favor.
B. Preaching – The best form of discipline we ever receive is the teaching of God’s Word. This form of discipline is both pre-emptive and a preaching pastor can address a wide range of sin from the pulpit.
C. Process – Jesus gave very clear instruction in Matthew 18:15-20 about how he wanted his churches to conduct discipline (see below).
D. Pensivity – Due to our sin nature, we ought to personally be self-critical, examining our hearts assuming there is a great liklihood we are at fault.
    1. Desire our sin be found out (Ps 139:23-24).
    2. Welcome correction (Ps 141:5).
    3. Be quick to listen to reproof ( Js 1:19)
    4. Respect the authority of God’s Word (2 Tim 3:16)
    5. Obey one’s church leaders (Heb 13:17)
E. Pastors – Must be disciplined diffferently.
    1. There is a higher standard by from God and others (Js 3:1)
    2. There must be 2-3 witnesses first (1 Tim 5:19)
F. Punishment – Is failed discipline. Kicking people out of church (excommunication) is never the goal but occurs when one will not receive discipline.
G. Public/Private – Depending on the sin and if the church is an official member or not determines the extent of the publicity of disciplinary action.

IV. Exegesis of Matthew 18:15-20
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
A. Clear Process – There is a very clear process commanded by Jesus here:
    1. Step One – Go to the person alone, one on one and confront them.
    2. Step Two – If the person does not repent after step one, bring along someone else
   for a spiritual intervention.
    3. Step Three – If the has not yet repented after the first two steps inform the pastors
   of the church who must arrange a third confrontation meeting.
    4. Step Four – If the person has not repented after the first three steps, they are to be
   excommunicated from the community of the local church.
B. Clear Hearts – The attitude of confronters in how they do this matters a lot.
    1. They are to seek restoration & reconciliation (Gal 6:1).
    2. They are to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15).
C. Clear Teaching
    1. This passage is not talking about the presence of Jesus in prayer.
    2. This passage is talking about Jesus’ authoritative presence of approval when this process is used.

V. Difficulties of Church Discipline
A. Cultural Resistance – “Don’t judge me” attitude, where it is a sin to ever tell anyone they are sinning or are a sinner.
B. False Repentance – Sorry or self pity without change. This is where someone will express remorse and a desire to be different but never follow through with any action.
C. Our Own Pride – The ease of falling into sin while attempting to discipline another (Gal 6:1). Often times we can become self-righteous when we see another’s sin and being to look down on them for their sin. Jonathan Edwards said that when we see another’s sin we ought realize our own great potential for the same evil and pray against it’s work in us.
D. Rebellion – We are naturally a rebellious and unteachable genereation. Christian living turns one’s heart, life and attitude to be submissive to authority.
E. Fear Of Conflict – Avoiding difficult conversations because we don’t want to rock the boat and/or just want people to like us. This is idolatry of peace at the expense of purity.
F. Lawsuits – The desire to deal with things legally before dealing with them first in the church and/or to not report crimes to civil authorities which ought to be (Rom 13:1-7; 1 Cor 6:1-11).

VI. Dangers of Church Discipline
A. Abuse of Power – Church leaders can easily misuse their position to get rid of people they don’t like under the guise of discipline. If they are seen doing this they ought to be confronted and rebuked.
B. Fall Out – Those under discipline will almost always attempt to gather adherents, trying to win over other to “their side.” There is potential for church splits etc. because of this.
C. Theonomy – When church discipline extends beyonds the boundaries of the church and attempts to legislate Christianity through governmental rule.

VII. Questions
A. Personal Benefit – How have you personally experienced discipline and how have you grown from it?
B. Church Discipline – What is lost if a church decides not to excercise church displine? Is this really that important?
C. Experiential Lessons – Are there times when you have seen church discipline done well or bad?

VIII. Key Verses To Remember
A. Hebrews 12:5-6 “My son do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
B. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 “Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? “Purge the evil person from among you.”

“Get disciplined, it’s good.”
- Pastor Duane