Discipline & Our Role, More On

More On Discipline & Our Role

Introduction: Earlier we studied the subject of "Disfellowshipping and Its Purpose." We have to understand the Bible often gives us commandments, principles that we are to obey. Often they are generic in nature. For instance, we are to observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week. The time of the day, whether we are to take of it before or after the sermon, the number of containers, etc. are matters of personal judgment.

In what is often called "church discipline" we are told to not have fellowship with those walking contrary to the law of God. What does this mean and how do we apply this?

I) How Are We To Treat A Brother Walking Disorderly?

A) First of all we are to recognize this person is "walking disorderly", 2 Thess. 2.15; 3.6

B) We are not to fellowship them.

1. Matthew 18.17 "But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

a. Tax collectors were often corrupt, over charging and taking the excess.

b. Heathen were those outside a covenant relationship with God, generally the Gentiles.

2. Romans 16.17 "note and avoid" them

3. 1 Corinthians 5.7 "purge out the old leaven"

a. Feast of Unleavened Bread, the leaven was not allowed even in the house

b. Leavening became symbolic of sin and that contrary to the will of God

4. 1 Corinthians 5.9 "not to keep company", v. 11 "not even to eat with such a one"

a. To company with means to mix together obviously not to associate with their sin, get involved in fornication, not to socialize with them

b. "Not to eat" does not refer to the Lord’s Supper but to social contact, often eating with some one is part of our social contact. Not limited to just eating with but to socialize with a brother living in sin.

5. 2 Thess. 3.14 "do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed"

II) Our Attitude

A) We are to restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, Galatians 6.1

1. Too often attitudes get out of line when dealing with people in sin

2. We need to stress we are doing this out of love for their soul

B) 2 Thess. 3.15 "Yet do not admonish him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother"

C) 2 Corinthians 2.8 "Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him"

D) There are improper attitudes we can have toward our brethren

1. Not caring about their soul—not talking to them when they are in sin

2. Deciding we are not going to do what the Bible teaches – this is a most common response of brethren, I just can not do this

3. Treating him/her as an enemy—I have seen brethren refuse to even speak to a brother or sister, refuse to eat in the same restaurant, cross the street so as to avoid the person

E) Not everyone "walking disorderly" is to be treated exactly the same

1. The divisive person in Romans 16 is intentionally trying to cause division

2. Read Titus 3.10-11 and see if this person is to be treated exactly the same at the person in Galatians 6.1ff.

III) What About Family Responsibilities?

A) Same size does not fit all

1. Our family responsibilities are not the same for every member in our family—the relationship between husband/wife is not the same as parent/child or brothers/sisters.

2. An unfaithful spouse does not relieve you of your obligations to your spouse, 1 Peter 3.1,2

3. An unfaithful parent does not relieve you of your responsibility to "honor your parents" take care of them when in need.

4. An unfaithful child does not relieve you of your responsibility to provide for your child. Obviously this relationship changes as a child moves out of the house.

B) Where exactly do you draw the line? Key principles

1. Do not allow them to draw you into their sinful relationship, we must obey God rather than men, Acts 4.19

a. A wife can not sin in order to please her a husband, i.e. forsake God, commit adultery, etc.

2. Can not allow yourself to become an enabler- a child committing fornication, do not allow them to bring their partner to your house to commit fornication. In essence you become an accomplice to their sin, 1 Corinthians 5

3. Do not want to make the person think nothing has changed.

4. Do not allow unfaithful members of your family to draw away other members of your family

IV) Other Points

A) Effective Discipline

1. Requires timely action

2. Only effective if our relationship is important to the other person, i.e. fellowship existed before it was cut off

3. The more people in compliance – not socializing with, praying for, letting them know you are interested in their soul

B) Individual vs. congregational activity

1. Sometimes a person may not be "marked or withdrawn from"

a. Elders may be working with this member, teaching the person

b. May be not enough evidence to know if the person is committing sin, Matthew 18.15-16.

c. Some congregations never withdraw from anybody

2. Individually we are to do what Galatians 6.1ff says, and not get involved in their sin

Conclusion: To be a disciple means to learn from, to follow after. A disciple of Christ must obey His word.

D.T. @ Westside Church of Christ

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