Church Discipline / Excommunication

Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:15-20

Excommunication, the formal removal of a brother or sister from church membership. It is also the informal separation from that person. Our scripture reading gives the procedure and authority for us to do this. It tells us that the person who is wronged is to go to the offending individual, if he or she does not repent, then two or three go to confirm the situation and ask for repentance. If they still refuse, it is taken before the church. This process is never desirable but sometimes is necessary. The purpose is not to be mean-spirited or to display a “holier than thou” attitude. The goal is the restoration of the individual to full fellowship with both God and other believers. It should be done in love toward the individual, in obedience and honor to God, and in godly fear for the sake of others in the church.

Biblical Examples:

The church in Corinth. Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 Paul gives some principles behind the biblical use of excommunication. One reason is for the sake of the testimony of Jesus Christ before unbelievers. When David sinned with Bathsheba, one of the consequences of his sin was that the name of God was blasphemed by God's enemies. 2 Samuel 12:14 “But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” The un-saved are watching, they use our sinful actions as reasons for not following God.

Sin is like a cancer, if allowed to exist, it spreads to those nearby in the same way. 1 Corinthians 5:6 “Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?"

Paul explains that Jesus saved us to be set apart from sin, that we might be “unleavened” or free from things that cause spiritual decay. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 “Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”

Christ's desire for His church (His bride), is that she might be pure and undefiled. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Why Excommunication?:

For the long-term welfare of the one being disciplined. 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.” This means that excommunication can involve God using Satan (or one of his demons) as a disciplinary tool to work in the sinner's life physically to bring about true repentance in their heart. Prayerfully the disciplinary action of the church is successful in bringing about godly sorrow and true repentance. When this occurs, the individual can be restored to fellowship.

Restoration:

The man involved in the 1 Corinthians Chapter 5 repented and Paul encouraged the church to restore him to fellowship with the church.

2 Corinthians 2:5-8 “If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 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.”

Disciplinary action, when done in love and the correct manner, is not always successful in bringing about restoration. Even when church discipline fails to achieve its goal, it is still needed to accomplish God’s work in us, His church.

We have all witnessed the behavior of a child who has been allowed to do as they please with no discipline. It’s usually an ugly sight and it usually foretells of a troublesome future. Such behavior will keep the child from forming meaningful relationships and performing well in any kind of setting. A parent should discipline out of love for their child. Likewise, discipline in the church, is not only necessary, but loving as well and it is commanded by God.

We, as the body of Christ, have the obligation to keep His church clean and free from sin. It is not up to us to punish, it is up to us to turn over the un-repentive sinner to the world. God will handle them, He has a plan. As a body, we need to obey the laws of scripture. For those who continually disobey and not repent the church must obey what scripture tells us. It’s not an easy decision to make but one we are commanded to do. My job as Pastor should be a joy not a burden. Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” … Let us live in peace together, obey God’s commands and prove to the world that we are indeed Children of God. I pray that if anyone of your brothers or sisters has offended you that you use the procedure set forth in Matthew 18. Let us come together as one as God has commanded us.