CONTENTS

Constructive Church Discipline
Church Membership Committee Material
Personal Church Discipline
Corrective Church Discipline
Punitive Church Discipline
Local Church Discipline
Neglected Church Discipline
Foot Washing -- Church Ordinance or Church Discipline?

PART I

CONSTRUCTIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo. I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22).

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 20,21).

"And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:11-15, 22-24, 30).

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42).

The fundamental meaning of the word discipline is "to disciple." Discipline is a very vital part in leading believers into a life of discipleship. We have multitudes of those who have been saved but have never let Jesus become Lord of their lives. They are not really disciples of the Lord Jesus; self instead of the Lord has control in their lives. God never intended that His church should be a nursery, convalescent ward, rest home, delicatessen, "powder room," or house of entertainment. He purposed that it should be an armory where His soldiers are trained and disciplined for the battle. The Christian life is a constant warfare. Too many are POW, AWOL, or on furlough in the Lord's army.

To believe the New Testament is to believe in the saved being disciplined and trained for the Lord's service. And in subscribing to our church covenant (which is simply the Bible teaching on the matter in the form of a vow or promise), we have promised to do that which would discipline and train us for His glory. Let us note the following sections of the covenant:

"We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love: to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, an comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.

"We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tatting, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the same of, and use of, intoxicating drinks as a beverage; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

"We further engage to watch over one anther in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay."

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Lord Jesus, as the great Commander-in-Chief, gave these marching orders to His solders, before His return to the right hand of the Father. He calls, invites, and commands every believer to be a witness; He calls some to do the special work of being preachers and missionaries. Therefore, this great commission is for every person who is a child of God. The "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations" could also be stated, "As ye go therefore, teach all nations," or "As ye are therefore going, teach all nations." The emphasis is that we are to teach all nations while we are going, and all of us believers are always going somewhere. When we win folk to Christ we are then, according to these instructions, to baptize them "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." In the book of Acts we are told that the early Christians baptized in the Name of Jesus. This does not really contradict what we have just said, even though some have become confused over it. When the Word says in Acts that the Christians were baptized in the Name of Jesus it means the authority of Jesus, and that brings us right back to the great commission. After we lead folk to Christ and baptize them; then, we are to teach them all things whatsoever our Saviour has commanded. That is, we are to teach them the whole counsel of God. Ours is a day when men prefer a scanty diet from the Word, but the Saviour has commanded that we give the complete diet. And such a procedure is constructive church discipline.

This program, as set forth by our Lord, has never been modified or repealed. The first six centuries of the present era were characterized by great missionary zeal, when, at times, whole nations were brought to at least an outward profession of faith in Christ. But the next thousand years which Rome calls "the age of faith," but which instructed Christians rightly designate "the dark ages," were marked in great measure by an eclipse of true Gospel activity. With the coming of the Protestant Reformation came a new interest in missions, in which the Moravians were the pioneers. Later, within the last century and a half, there has followed a great awakening as to the responsibility of the church to evangelize at home and abroad. Today, there is no excuse either for lack of information or lack of zeal as to missionary activity. Some there are who deny that we of the church age are to act at all on this commission as given here, insisting that it was intended for a Jewish testimony in the coming era of the great tribulation. This is fanciful in the extreme. Far more important than any quibbling as to the exact character of this great commission is the truth of our responsibility to carry the story of redeeming love to all men everywhere.

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22).

Having been born again by the Word, we are called upon to walk in obedience to the faith as revealed in the Holy Scriptures; not simply hearing what is there written, but making that Word the man of our counsel. To do otherwise is but to be self-deceived, imagining that an intellectual acquaintance with the truths of the bible is all that is required.

It is easier to deceive yourself than to deceive other people. You may think you have fooled somebody else, when you have only pulled the wool over your own eyes. Many a pastor has found this out. He goes by the home or place of business and reminds his members of the church services. But on Sunday or Wednesday they are being missed. They begin to scratch their heads for an excuse and finally scratch up a lie. They do not deceive the pastor; they delude themselves. Or people may be present at church and take great satisfaction that they attend regularly. But it is not merely how often you are there, but what you do about the Word when it is preached. The story is told of a man whose watch was wrong, or he had the wrong kind of time. He arrived at the church just as the congregation had been dismissed and was pouring out of the house. In amazement, he asked, "Is the sermon done?" A Scotsman coming out replied, "Na, na, it's nae done; it has just been preached. We are going home to do it now." He had the right idea of the purpose of preaching. It is not a matter of hearing God's Word for enjoyment or to feel good because we feel so badly about our being reproved but that we might be doers of what He has commanded.

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 20, 21).

The saint of God needs to daily build himself up in his most holy faith. It is the revealed will of the Lord that is so called here. That faith has been once for all revealed. On it the believer rests. Assured that it forms a foundation impregnable to every attack by men or demons, he is now to build up himself upon it. This implies continual feeding upon the Word, that the soul may be nourished and the spirit edified. But linked up with this we have prayer in the Holy Spirit: not perfunctory saying of prayers, but spiritual communion with God, bringing to Him every need and every difficulty, assured that He waits in grace to meet the one and to dissolve the other. Praying in the Holy Spirit can only result from walking in the Spirit. For if there be not self judgment, prayer will be selfish. But when Christ is before the soul, and the heart is finding its delight in Him, the Holy Spirit will Himself indite those petitions that God delights to grant.

A definite command follows: "Keep yourselves in the love of God." Mark, it is not, "Keep God loving you!" Such a thought is opposed to that glorious revelation of Him Whose nature is love. The cross has told to the full all He is; daily the believer is given to prove this loving kindness. Nor does the apostle exhort us to keep loving God. The divine nature in every believer rises up in love to Him Whose grace has saved him. But here we are told to keep ourselves in the love of God. It is as though I say to my son, "Keep in the sunshine." The sun shines whether we enjoy it or not, and so God's love abides unchanging. But we need to keep in the conscious enjoyment of it. Let nothing make the tried soul doubt that love. Circumstances cannot alter it. Difficulties cannot strain it, nor can our own failures. The soul needs to rely upon it, and there be borne in triumph above the conflict and the discouraging episodes incident to the life of faith. Then we have a fourth exhortation, carrying our hearts on to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are told to await His mercy unto eternal life. We have eternal life now, by faith in Him Who is Himself the life eternal. But we are going on to the scene where life shall reign, where everything will be suited to the life we have already communicated by the Spirit. This is the end of the way; so, the trusting soul looks up in hope and waits in patience for the return of the Lord.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. And grieve not the holy spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:11-15, 22-24, 30).

There are certain gifted men whom God has given to the church. "He Himself gave," and no other. He gave some apostles. There are no apostles today; they were in New Testament days only. The word "prophets" refers to those who "foretold" and "forth told." After the New Testament was complete, there were no more prophets; preachers today are not prophets. But they do have the gift of prophesying, telling forth the Word of God. The evangelists in the New Testament were traveling missionaries both at home and in foreign lands. The words "pastors" and "teachers" refer to the same individual. It is a reference to teaching shepherds. These men are given "for the perfecting of the saints." They are to specialize in equipping all the saints for "the work of the ministry," that is, for ministering work, in short, Christian service. This is in order that the Body of Christ, the Church, might be built up, by additions to its membership in lost souls being saved, and by the building up of individual saints. And then the whole idea will be this -- "the measure of the stature, that brings with it the full possession on one side of that which Christ has to impart -- the embodiment in us, the members, of the graces and qualities which are in Him the Head." He also purposes in this work to save us from the false doctrines and false teachers. This is a day in which so many of the various "isms, cisms, and spasms" would lead every child of god from the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit while referring to the old nature of the believer as the "old man" and the new nature of the believer as the "new man" exhorts us to leave the former manner of daily living for that which is new in Christ. This is constructive church discipline that is so very essential.

Saved folk are those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. He Who regenerated us, lives in our hearts. We are exhorted here not to grieve Him, and in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, we are exhorted not to quench Him. Christians grieve the Holy Spirit in doing what He forbids. Drinking intoxicants, smoking, lying, cheating, gossiping, slandering, committing adultery, etc., are examples of grieving the Holy Spirit. Christians quench the Holy Spirit in refusing to testify, tithe, read the Word, Pray, witness, visit, attend church, etc.

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42).

There was positive action in the lives of these New Testament saints. They went on continuously in the apostles' doctrine. A doctrine is a body of teaching on any given Bible subject. We live in a day when there is such gross ignorance on such Bible doctrines as: Heaven, Hell, Sin, Satan, Christ, The Holy Spirit, Regeneration, Inspiration, Separation, etc., that it is appalling. The members of the church in the early days emphasized fellowship, the Lord's Supper, and prayer. All of these are too often lacking, but they are indeed vital to the saints.

CARE IN RECEIVING MEMBERS

A very important measure in constructive church discipline is that of exercising care in receiving members into the church. The devil could tuck his horns behind his ears, walk down the aisle of the average church, ask for membership, and be received without one dissenting vote. In Acts 2:47 the Word reads "... And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." This could also be read, "And the Lord added to them daily such as were being saved." One who cannot honestly say that he (or she) has accepted Christ and been born again has no more business being a church member than a rattlesnake has being in a baby nursery. Every church should have a church membership committee, before which those who seek membership in the church are permitted to tell about being saved, and also, where they are made acquainted with the privileges and responsibilities that will be theirs in becoming a member of a local church of our Lord Jesus Christ. An extended course of training for young Christians should also be given after they are baptized and received into the membership of the church. To bring the person seeking membership in one of the local churches of our Lord Jesus Christ face to face with what church membership really means is for his good, the good of the church, and the glory of the Saviour. Many churches receive members, never telling them that they have a covenant. With too many of our day, church membership has degenerated into a trivial ceremony that has absolutely no place of value or lasting interest in their lives. Folk by the hundreds and thousands join the church yet never support it with their testimony, time, money, talents, presence, influence, labor, or prayers. Therefore, the purpose of constructive church discipline is to so change this sad state of affairs that being a church member will really have a vital meaning. Too many people have a relationship with some lodge, club, or society that is more vital than their church relationship. This will cease when we make church membership a matter of importance according to the teachings of our Lord.

ENLISTMENT OF MEMBERS IN ACTIVE SERVICE

Dr. William Russell Owen is accredited with the statement that of all the present day church members,

5% do not exist,
10% cannot be found,
20% never pray
25% never attend the services,
30% never read the Bible,
40% never give,
50% never attend Sunday night services,
60% never give to missions,
75% never accept any responsible position,
85% never go to prayer meeting,
90% never practice family worship, and
95% never win a soul to Christ

This brings us face to face with abominable sin which so often is never taken into account. We live in an age when sins of commission are often emphasized, but too often sins of omission have become respectable. Our sins of neglect of, indifference to, and no concern for the things which He wants us to perform, are just as ugly to Christ as sins which we commit in doing that which is prohibited. Some folk are doctrinally sound, but they are also sound asleep spiritually. Some others are so self righteous about the things they do not do that they never get around to doing anything for the Lord.

All the members of our church should be enlisted to pray, to win the lost, to give of their money, time, talents and influence to Him, to be loyal to the church and to attend and have a part in Bible studies, worship services, evangelistic serviced, the Lord's Supper, prayer meetings, visitation program, conferences, and all the special efforts of the church and her organizations. And the doing of these very things is a part of constructive church discipline. The teaching and preaching ministry of the church is another very definite part of constructive church discipline.

In this chapter, I have referred to the need of local churches having church membership committees. The West Side Baptist Church, Natchez, Mississippi, where I am serving as pastor, has had such a committee since 1943. I shall devote the next chapter to the work of this committee by simply giving you the material which the committee gives to all new members when they meet it, upon their applying for membership.

TEACHING NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH POLITY

It is very important that the saints be well acquainted with New Testament church polity in these days of grave departure from true Bible policies. God's people need to be taught the mode of baptism, who is eligible for baptism, what is alien baptism, that baptism is a church ordinance, who can baptize, and what is the purpose of baptism. So many facts concerning the observance of the Lord's Supper are obscure and grossly misunderstood; e.g.,

1. To observe the Lord's Supper Scripturally is called closed communion.

2. There is a specific reason why unleavened bread and grape juice are the elements used.

3. The Lord's Supper is a memorial and a prophecy.

4. The Lord's Supper is a church ordinance.

5. There are three prerequisites before the observance of the Lord's Supper.

6. The Bible never specifies the time to observe the Lord's Supper nor how often.

7. The Lord's Supper has so saving power.

God's people need to know the three ways to join a church and the three ways to cease to be a church member. The purpose and plan of ordinations is important. Believers need to understand that a New Testament Church is a theocracy -- that is, a government by the immediate dictation of God; hence, government by priests, ministers, and kings as representatives of God. And in the New Testament every believer is a priest, minister, and king unto God. No church is Scripturally at liberty to do what she pleases, but she is at liberty to do anything which the Holy Spirit leads her to do. The Bible method of financing God's work should be clearly understood by the church people. And the teaching of these and all other church policies another part of constructive church discipline.

TEACHING BIBLE DOCTRINE

Ignorance of the Bible and the substituting of man's ideas for God's teachings are very prevalent today. It is the privilege and duty of the church to teach her members what the Bible teaches about God, Christ, The Holy Spirit, Sin, Salvation, The Virgin Birth, The Inspired Scriptures, Sanctification, Adoption, The Lord's Day, The Resurrections, The Judgments, The Blood Atonement, Hell, Heaven, Death, Separation, Church Discipline, Soul Winning, The Church Ordinances, Church Government, Prayer, Divine Healing, Talking in Tongues, Eternal Security, The Second Coming, etc.

God expects and commands His children to learn these all important matters. He expects and commands His church ever, always, and eternally to be found teaching and preaching the Word. Fairy tales, human philosophy, pseudoscience, and current events do not bring salvation for the lost and instruction for Christians. It comes through the Word of God. And as we teach Bible doctrine, we are practicing constructive church discipline.

Conclusions

1. There is a false impression that church discipline merely means placing folk outside the church fellowship

2. Discipline is woven into the very warp and woof of New Testament teaching for the churches.

3. To reject church discipline is to display our ignorance of both its meaning and the teachings of the Bible.

4. Constructive church discipline is only one form of church discipline.

5. Many churches of our day are becoming lax and indifferent in the matter of constructive church discipline.

6. Ignorance of Bible doctrine and church polity is symptomatic of indifferent, lazy believers, or of shallow preaching and teaching, or both.

7. Liberal theology leads folk to doubt the Bible teaching on church discipline as well as other great truths. Neo-orthodoxy and neo-evangelicalism are the same traitors, as liberalism, in different coats.

8. At this point in time, though doubtless there are saved folk in the movement, the charismatics serve as a catalyst to bring strange groups into the modern day ecumenical movement, and it is the option of this author that the charismatic movement is the adhesive and cohesive that will seal the modern day ecumenical movement into the world church of the Book of the Revelation.

See New Testament Church Discipline Part II -- "Constructive Church Discipline"