[Biblemat] A> Cutting Back In Order To Grow [2]

[Steven C. Harper]

From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. 
Editor: Steven Harper 
April 20, 2008
Cutting Back In Order To Grow [2]

 

      Last week we talked about the wisdom of cutting back certain limbs and branches on trees and other plants as a way of helping the plant to grow. Though it seems like pruning will hurt or even destroy the plant, if it is done properly it will help the remaining parts of the plant to thrive and produce more effectively than before the removal of the dead, unproductive, or useless parts. We also saw that discipline within the Lord's church is just as effective as proper pruning, and that it must be done if the local church is to grow. This week, we continue our look at the benefits and results of proper discipline when it is exercised within the local church.

      Discipline is Done To Keep the Church Spiritually Pure. In the case of pruning plants, the aim is to remove or reduce "parts that are not required, that are no longer effective or productive, or are of no use." Here is where the parallel may seem a bit harsh, but please recognize that proper discipline within the Lord's church is supposed to do the same thing. Don't forget that Jesus said, "Every branch of Mine that does not bear fruit He takes away" (John 15:2), and, "If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned" (v. 6). If you think discipline is harsh, consider what Jesus just said! There is no getting around those pointed statements that the useless branch [disciple] will be cut off and the disciple that does not remain faithful will inevitably face the eternal punishment. In comparison, whatever discipline is done now within the Lord's church seems not so harsh, doesn't it?

      Take, for example, the need for discipline at Corinth; they had one among them who was spiritually dead and had done nothing. They had tolerated this sinning brother among them and were proud of their tolerance, yet Paul chastised them and told them they needed to "Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump" (1st Cor. 5:7). In case someone is thinking these words are not clear enough, back up a few verses and note that Paul had said plainly regarding the sinning brother who was still among them, "Let him who has done this be removed from among you" (v. 2). In light of the illustration we are considering, the Corinthian brethren needed to get out their pruning shears and cut off the dead limb!

      But, again, lest someone think this is cold and harsh, please consider the purpose for this. For the remaining, faithful, believers it was that they might remain pure [unleavened, as he described them in 5:7], but for the guilty one, they were "to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord" (5:5). While spiritual pruning is done to help the remaining body grow, it can also help the one cut off to recognize his dangerous condition and return to faithfulness. Just as Israel was "cut off" from God because of their disobedience and could yet be grafted back in if they did not continue in unbelief (Rom. 11:17-24), so, too, can the unfaithful disciple be restored when he repents.

      In the case at Corinth, it worked! In the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses the brethren again on the matter, but they had apparently done what Paul commanded (2nd Cor. 7:6-12) and the sinning brother had apparently repented (2:6-11)! But what if they had done nothing, as happens in so many churches today? If they had not acted, then we may know two things: [1] the sinning brother would not be aware of his condemnation and [2] the body of believers at Corinth would have become affected spiritually - polluted - by this man's sin, possibly causing others to indulge in the same or a different sin. Let us be always willing to make the hard choice to cut off those who are in sin and who refuse to repent, but let us do with the goal of saving his soul and strengthening self.

      Effective Discipline Must Be Done Regularly and Promptly. In the plant world, a dead or diseased branch, if left alone, will negatively affect the health of the remaining limbs - even the healthy ones. Overall, a lack of action to cut off those worthless parts can even kill the plant altogether! Likewise, when necessary discipline is ignored or delayed within the local church, it will negatively affect the remaining members - even the healthy ones. Inaction will affect all involved - the unfaithful ones and the faithful ones, the young and the old, the spiritually mature and the spiritually immature. Ignoring a problem and just hoping it will take care of itself or 'just go away' doesn't work with plants, and it doesn't work in the spiritual body of believers, either. Action must be taken if one desires to save the spiritual body.

      In the local church, when the body of faithful ones fails to act, there will be some faithful ones who will be negatively affected because they see inconsistency within the body; they might begin to wonder why they are faithful when the unfaithful are treated equally. The spiritually immature will be negatively affected, too; they will wonder why faithfulness is exhorted and taught from the pulpit and in the Bible classes, but not practiced in actuality, and it may cause some to lose their spiritual interest and may even cause some to give up. In every case, when discipline is ignored or delayed, the spiritual strength of the church will be weakened - and that is the last thing that needs to happen to any local church!

      Let's learn some lessons from the wise writer about discipline: "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly" (Prov. 13:24). In the local church, we demonstrate our sincere love for the sinning brother by letting him know he is in sin and that we care for his soul. And if we truly care for his soul, we know that we should not - cannot - delay our actions because his soul is at stake. We act quickly, instead of delaying or hoping he will come to his senses without our intervention or waiting for 'someone else' to go to him. When we act, we may possibly save a soul from death (Jas. 5:19, 20). It is that important!

      But when we say or do nothing, what is he to believe? If someone else happens to point out his sin, he will wonder why we never said anything or why we never acted. He will think that we do not really care. And he might be right. It may be that he never realizes his sin and dies in that state; all the more reason to heed the words of the wise writer when he said, "Chasten your son while there is hope" (Prov. 19:18). If we delay or ignore discipline, one day it will be too late. Let us not ever let that be said about us as individuals, and certainly not as the local church.

      Consider these words, too: "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother" (Prov. 29:15). More than just the condition of the unfaithful brother and the remaining faithful ones should be considered in the case of necessary discipline; the name of our Lord should also be considered. You see, if we do nothing, those in the world will see this inconsistency and we will have given them cause to blaspheme the name of our Lord and profane His holy name; they will see hypocrisy in the church and will scoff at the call for righteousness and holiness; and they will reject the call to obedience because they will be turned off by what they see and we will, in part, be responsible.

    Friends and brethren, I will say it once again: If we care at all for this church, I hope we realize the need for occasional pruning [disciplinary actions], but I hope we also know it is for the good of the individual and for the good of the congregation. We cannot afford to sit idly by if pruning needs to be done - no matter how difficult it may be. Souls are at stake.                                     -- Steven Harper
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