[Biblemat] The Buckhorn Teacher 5-13-07

Thu May 10 08:24:17 CDT 2007

THE  BUCKHORN  TEACHER

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2.Tim.4:2

Buckhorn church of Christ - Thomas Thornhill - editor. 13675 Hwy 341, Randolph MS 38864-9117. Tel. 662-568-2960. Cell 662-419-5378. E-mail thornhill1 at frontiernet.net 

Vol.5                                                   May 13, 2007                                                 No.26

CHURCH  DISCIPLINE  No.4

Read the previous articles for continuity. So far in this series I have pointed our several things about "church discipline."  First of all, even though it is taught in the scriptures and is a command to be obeyed, it is one of the most neglected commands by most churches claiming to follow the New Testament pattern. Secondly, it was pointed out that "church discipline" is a necessity. When a penalty attached to a violation of law is not enacted when the law is violated, then contempt for the law ensues. This contempt genders a lack of respect for the law and the law-giver. "Church discipline" was defined as instruction and training, designed to bring about obedience and adherence to a prescribed order of conduct and behavior, i.e., the rules and order taught by Jesus Christ in His word.  The purpose of "church discipline" is to maintain the purity of the body of Christ, both in life and doctrine. Christ will present the church to Himself without spot or blemish, so church discipline is necessary to remove the spots and blemishes (sins) in the church. Discipline is of two kinds. One is instructive, involving training, admonitions, and correction. This is preventive by nature and is the most desirable.  But, when instructive discipline does not work, then a sterner, harsher discipline must be exercised. When a sinner in the church does not respond to the training, admonitions, and pleadings of concerned brethren to repent of sin, corrective discipline should be practiced. The last article dealt with instructive discipline. This article will deal with punitive discipline that must be exercised when instructive discipline fails. 

There are those in the church who absolutely refuse to bring their lives into harmony with the rules and order prescribed by the Savior in His word, either in doctrine or life, or both. They ignore all instruction and admonitions, becoming unruly and rebellious. If they are "unruly" they are out of order. They refuse to obey and adhere to the prescribed order of conduct taught in the word of God, "to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age" Tit.2:12, or fail to "hold fast the pattern of sound words . in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" 2.Tim.1:13.  When one is unruly we are told to "warn" them 1.Thes.5:14. If they continue to walk "disorderly" refusing to repent, we are told to withdraw from them 2.Thes.3:6. "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us."  The word "disorderly" was a military term and meant "one who breaks rank." When the army is walking, left, right, left right, and one decides to walk right, left, right left instead he will first be admonished, but if he continues he will be severely punished. He will pay the penalty for disorderly conduct. Ask any person who has been in the military and he will tell you this is true. As Christians we have enlisted in the Lord's army. See 2.Tim.2:3-4. As such we are to "please Him who enlisted him as a soldier" Should the Lord's soldier expect more tolerance and less discipline than men demand in the world? 

While I am on this subject, let me answer a question that sometimes comes up. If one has left the church (some say quit) does the church still have a responsibility to enact discipline on such a one since he has already withdrawn himself? My answer is "Yes!" Think about it. If one enlists in the military and later decides he no longer likes to live under the restraints of military rules of order, can he suddenly decide to leave and expect no discipline from the military? People know better. He surely will be disciplined, probably jailed, and later given a general discharge" even though he has already withdrawn himself from the service. 

 I feel the same is true of those who have enlisted in the Lord's army. For one reason or another, a Christian soldier decides to leave the Lord's army (the church). So he quits, walks off, or whatever. The other brethren reason, "Yes, he was one of us, but he has departed from us. He has withdrawn himself, so we no longer have any responsibility to him. Since he has left us, we have no obligation to discipline him in any way." Brethren, I don't believe this. Even if he left of his own free will, he was one of us previously, and we should "not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." 2.Thes.3:15. He was a member of the body and that should be noted. Members of the physical body cannot remove themselves without some type of trauma being enacted. The same should be true of the spiritual body (the church). If a member decides to remove himself from the body, or has to be removed for the welfare of the body, some trauma occurs. He is walking "disorderly" (out of step) with the rank and file and must be disciplined, either by instructive discipline or punitive punishment. Why? The scriptures say so. 2.Thes.3:6. If overt sin is not involved, and the person has departed, at the least an announcement should be made by the church to state the fact. Maybe something like the following, "brother (or sister) so-and-so has decided he no longer wants to be a part of this body, and we are making this announcement to acknowledge his wishes. He has withdrawn himself, and no longer wants to be considered a member of this body." 

Punitive discipline may seem harsh, but it is necessary to keep the body of Christ pure. The unrepentant brother in Corinth (1.Cor.5) was living a life of shame, and was bringing shame upon the church. Instead of exercising discipline Paul says the church was "puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among us" v.2. He commanded them "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan (withdrawal - t.t.) for the destruction of the flesh, that his soul may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" v.5. He continues, "Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sanctified for us" vs.6-7.   Such action should come only after sufficient efforts have been expended to admonish such a one to repent of his sin. But, if he will not repent then withdrawal is required.  More about what this means in the next issue. 
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