Slideshow image

Many Christian will no doubt be surprised, and perhaps disturbed, bu this assertation. Yet it is something taught quite clearly in the Epistles.  But from the outset of our brief look at the subject, we must be clear that "church discipline" has the restoration of a sinning believer in view, not jaded shunning.

The most obviouis instance of this apostolic teaching is found in 1 Cor. 5: 1-5:

Ir is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife....I have already pronounced judgement on the one who did such a thing.  When you are assembled in the name of the Lord ... you are to deliever this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

The idea of "delievering to Satan" reflects the ancient worldview that God's people occupied sacred space, and everywhere else was under the control of evil, Sin belonged outside the believing community, not in it.  Though sin leads to self-destruction, the goal was still that the mans soul be saved and that genuine repentance would come.  In this case there was a good resolution (2 Cor. 7: 7-10).

Though this warning by Paul occurs in 1st Corinthians, it is actually his second admonition about this problem.  In 1st Cor. 5:9 Paul says "I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people."  Paul had writtenb an earlier letter to the Corinthians that has been lost.

This "double warning" is actually part of a significant pattern in the New Testament.  We see it elsewhere in passages relating to sin problems in churches.  In his letter to Titus, Paul said, "As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once then twice, having nothing to do with him." (Titus 3:10).  This is habitually ignored, I read church records where the same person is stirring things up year after year, some warnings should have been issued.  In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul admonished believers who were "idle" (1st Thess. 5:14).  By the time of this second letter the problem had not been resolved. Paul gave a second warning and an ultimatum (2 Thess. 3: 6-10).

Church discipline was not conducted flippantly.  It was for the good of all concerned.  Believers in sin won't repent if no one tells them the truth about their conduct.