How can we start to practice discipline in Churches that has been ignored for years/
Discipline is an important part of the Christian life, for God disciplines his children (Heb. 12) and we must discipline ourselves (1 Cor. 9:24–27). God expects the pastor to discipline his own children (1 Tim. 3:4–5), and also to discipline God’s children when they need it.
Church discipline is actually God’s exercising spiritual authority through a local church for the purposes of reclaiming an erring believer and maintaining the purity of the local church.
Begin by talking the matter over with the church leaders before informing the church. In as loving a manner as possible, let the church know that you want to obey the Word. Explain that discipline is an evidence of love. If you love your members, you will want to rescue them from sin. First Corinthians 5 indicates that discipline is exercised for the sake of the offender (1–5), the church (6–8), and the unsaved society that needs the witness of a godly church (9–13).
Begin by talking the matter over with the church leaders before informing the church. In as loving a manner as possible, let the church know that you want to obey the Word. Explain that discipline is an evidence of love. If you love your members, you will want to rescue them from sin. First Corinthians 5 indicates that discipline is exercised for the sake of the offender (1–5), the church (6–8), and the unsaved society that needs the witness of a godly church (9–13).
Church discipline isn’t a pastor throwing his weight around, or a church board acting like a police court. Church discipline must be God at work in the life of the church, or it will not succeed.
Matthew 18 describes the necessary ingredients for successful discipline: humility (1–6), honesty (15–17), obedience to the Word (18–19), prayer (20), and a forgiving spirit (21–35). Unless a church has the right spiritual atmosphere, attempts at discipline will do more harm than good. Before you can even begin to start practicing it, you must get the church into the right spiritual condition, and this takes time, prayer, love, and faithful teaching.
Who should handle discipline? It begins with a concerned pastor (Heb. 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1–4). First Timothy 5 advises that we pastors treat our people like members of the family: the older members as fathers and mothers, the younger as brothers and sisters (vv. 1–2). The pastor takes the first step privately and see the offender. Later, other leaders can be involved. Offenders are relieved when the pastor, in love, talks to them privately, friend to friend, and seeks to restore them.
Of course, if our private interview does not help, then Galatians 6:1–3 comes into play: take some spiritual leaders from the church and try again. Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 18. If this doesn’t work, then the whole church (unfortunately) must be involved (see 1 Cor. 5). When sin is not confessed, it has a way of growing and involving more people.
Matthew 18 describes the necessary ingredients for successful discipline: humility (1–6), honesty (15–17), obedience to the Word (18–19), prayer (20), and a forgiving spirit (21–35). Unless a church has the right spiritual atmosphere, attempts at discipline will do more harm than good. Before you can even begin to start practicing it, you must get the church into the right spiritual condition, and this takes time, prayer, love, and faithful teaching.
Who should handle discipline? It begins with a concerned pastor (Heb. 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1–4). First Timothy 5 advises that we pastors treat our people like members of the family: the older members as fathers and mothers, the younger as brothers and sisters (vv. 1–2). The pastor takes the first step privately and see the offender. Later, other leaders can be involved. Offenders are relieved when the pastor, in love, talks to them privately, friend to friend, and seeks to restore them.
Of course, if our private interview does not help, then Galatians 6:1–3 comes into play: take some spiritual leaders from the church and try again. Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 18. If this doesn’t work, then the whole church (unfortunately) must be involved (see 1 Cor. 5). When sin is not confessed, it has a way of growing and involving more people.
Here are some guidelines:
1. Before you make any serious accusations, be sure you have witnesses (1 Tim. 5:19; 2 Cor. 13:1). You want facts, not rumors.
2. If the case is especially serious or the offender hostile, take witnesses with you when you make that first contact.
3. Try to be impartial (1 Tim. 5:21).
4. Don’t jump the gun! Read Proverbs 18:13, 17 and 1 Timothy 5:22. Take time to pray, think, and wait; but don’t permit caution to keep you from acting. Don’t expect to be aware of everything involved (1 Tim. 5:24–25).
1. Before you make any serious accusations, be sure you have witnesses (1 Tim. 5:19; 2 Cor. 13:1). You want facts, not rumors.
2. If the case is especially serious or the offender hostile, take witnesses with you when you make that first contact.
3. Try to be impartial (1 Tim. 5:21).
4. Don’t jump the gun! Read Proverbs 18:13, 17 and 1 Timothy 5:22. Take time to pray, think, and wait; but don’t permit caution to keep you from acting. Don’t expect to be aware of everything involved (1 Tim. 5:24–25).
