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 V

PUNITIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE

"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one so not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (1 Corinthians 5:1-13).

"And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:17,18).

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Romans 16:17).

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

"A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself" (Titus 3:10-11).

"I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars" (Revelation 2:2).

"Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22).

Punitive church discipline means discipline with a penalty. In other studies we have talked about Constructive, Personal, and Corrective church discipline. Never would there be need for punitive church discipline, if God's people taught and practiced the constructive, personal, and corrective. But since God knew that some would not, He taught us the practice of punitive church discipline.

The whole purpose of church discipline is to train, develop, to disciple, to correct, to strengthen, and to build up. Yet, as a last resort, it is sometimes necessary to exercise punitive church discipline and withdraw fellowship from a member. In other words, we do not have church discipline to get rid of members, but sometimes, this becomes necessary when members refuse to do anything about their sins.

"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife" (1 Corinthians 5:1).

The city of Corinth was a cultural and intellectual center. It had a population of approximately 650,000. The goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of sexual lust, was worshipped in this city. In celebrating the rites of Aphrodite, the goddess of carnal love, the Corinthians gave themselves up to the most shameful licentiousness. It was so notorious that in all parts of Greek-speaking world, if men or women were found behaving in an unclean way, the worst that anybody could say of them was that they acted like Corinthians. Here we see that the sins, the shameful practices of the lost world, had crept into the church at Corinth. A man had taken his father's wife (his own stepmother) to be his wife. Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, referred to this as such fornication "as is not so much as named among the Gentiles." The words fornication and adultery are used synonymously and interchangeably in the New Testament. For unmarried people to engage in sex relations is to commit the sin of adultery or fornication. For married people to have sex relations other than with their own companions or to get a divorce and remarry (without Scriptural grounds) is to commit the sin of fornication or adultery. The only Scriptural grounds for divorce and remarriage is adultery or fornication, and then only the innocent has permission to remarry.

"And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you" (1 Corinthians 5:2).

Instead of the church seeking to rescue the sinning members or to remove them from membership (if they would not be rescued), she was puffed up in pride. They were proud of their liberal mindedness. It sounds like some of the bragging we hear in present day churches. Many have become too liberal minded to believe, preach, or practice the truths of a verbally inspired Bible. This church was proud of her accomplishments and did not hesitate to say so, while her Lord was grieved over gross sin that was being countenanced. Is it not true even until now? Some brag about being too liberal to have church discipline. Is it something about which to brag or over which to weep? Some churches brag about offerings, additions, large buildings, fine programs, wonderful denominations while their memberships include drunkards, liquor store operators, adulterers, adulteresses, gamblers, thieves, harlots, whoremongers, etc.

"For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Corinthians 5:3-5).

Under the compulsion of the Holy Spirit, Paul speaks boldly about his conclusions regarding this shameful adultery He is urging them to withdraw fellowship from the sinning brother. He clearly indicates that the brother has possibly committed the sin unto death and that God will kill him. A Christian cannot lose his salvation, but he can definitely sin so as to cause God to cut off the rest of his physical life. Look at these words in 1 John 5:16-17, "If any man see his brother sin a sin which not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness in sin: and there is a sin not unto death." And again, listen to these words from 1 Corinthians 11:26-30 "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."

"Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).

Once again, Paul condemns the glorying on the part of this church which should have been mourning over sins within the congregation. He reminds them that a little leaven will leaven the whole lump. To overlook gross sin that should be dealt with in the life of a church member is to make the whole congregation guilty before God. All sins are against god, and there are no little sins and big sins in His sight. Although, some sins affect society worse than others. Leaven is always used as a symbol of evil in the Scriptures. Here it is a symbol of wicked sex immorality. The church is urged to remove the leaven (the sinning brother) that they may be unleavened (free from the leaven of sexual immorality). And the church is challenged to do it because of Christ's sacrifice for us. To refuse to have church discipline is to dishonor the death of Christ for His church. God's church is to observe the Lord's Supper with unleavened bread and unfermented grape juice (because leavened bread and wine are both leavened substances that would make them symbolic of evil). And the leaven of immorality is to be purged from the church family that His supper may be observed with the leavened bread of sincerity and truth.

"I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of the world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat" (1 Corinthians 5:9-11).

Here the church is reminded of former commands to separation from fornicators, covetous folk, extortioners, and idolaters. Yes, it is made clear this does not mean we have to avoid all contact with such people in the world, and if it did, we would have to go out of the world to do it. "If any man that is called a brother" (a church member in other words) Is a fornicator, covetous, an extortioner, an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard with such a one we are not to eat. Jesus' teachings and practices made it clear this could not mean it is wrong to eat a meal with such people. But it is wrong for a church to keep such people in her membership and for God's people to eat with such folk at the Lord's table. It is interesting to see here that a railer, an extortioner, and a covetous person are classed with fornicators, drunkards, and idolaters. Some would not dare be mixed up in sex immorality, drink strong drink, or worship idols, but they are so covetous, so grasping for money, that they cheat their fellow-men and rob God of His tithes and offerings, and that is extortion. They use profanity, tell dirty jokes, lie, and gossip, and that is a railer.

"For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from yourselves that wicked person" (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).

God will judge those out in the world, but He calls upon His children to do so regarding these matters in the local congregation. That is exactly what punitive church discipline is; look at this quotation, "Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." Some say that the Bible tells us not to judge, and it does tell us that there are some things we are not to judge -- motives! But the same Bible tells us that the church is to judge in these matters, and that fellowship should be withdrawn from certain members.

"And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:17-18).

In verses 15 and 16 of this same chapter, we are instructed as to how to seek to restore our brother, when difficulties between brethren have become a discipline matter. These verses show how the discipline matter must be dealt with in a punitive way by the church family, if the other efforts for restoration fail. The church is to withdraw fellowship from the member, and put him out of the membership of the church. He must not have shelter of the church for impurity. He must not continue as a member of a local congregation. This is punitive church discipline! This is what our Lord meant by the expression, "let him be unto thee as an heathen man and publican." Often the member is unsaved and needs Christ. Sometimes the member is away from Christ, saved but out of fellowship with the Lord and needs to come confessing his sins. But this does not mean that we are to cease our efforts to win them.

He shows in verse 18 that when the church exercises punitive discipline it is binding in Heaven as well as in the local congregation. Some folk who have been Scripturally disciplined may sarcastically say that they do not care about ever getting right with that church again. They will only get things right with God; so, they say. But Christ makes it clear here that you can not get right with Him until you get right with the church that disciplined you.

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Romans 16:17)

Here we have a clear warning against false teachers. They are definitely to be avoided. If they should be found inside the membership, they would have to be dealt with as discipline cases. And if restoration could not be effected, this would be another clear example of how punitive church discipline would have to be exercised.

"Now we command you brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

This is another passage in God's word which makes it emphatically clear that there are times when punitive church discipline must be used. It is a command; no choice is given! We must either believe it and teach it or disobey the infallible Word of God. There were brethren in the church at Thessalonica who needed to be dealt with by the exercise of punitive church discipline. And, as we have said before, that means the withdrawing of fellowship from a member; literally, it is taking one's membership in a local church away from him. The word "tradition" in this verse means doctrine or teaching.

"A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself" (Titus 3:10-11).

A heretic is one who refuses to accept true doctrine as revealed in the Bible, and prefers to choose for himself what he is to believe. Of course such action is sin: sin with which we must deal. The brother must be rejected -- that is removed from the fellowship. And such action is punitive discipline!

"I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars" (Revelation 2:2).

Our Lord Jesus commends the church at Ephesus for her works, labour, patience, and punitive church discipline. They would not countenance and fellowship evil nor accept false teachers and preachers. If churches today followed our Lord in this matter like the church at Ephesus did, a lot of these wolves in sheep's-clothing (preachers with liberal theology) would be discovered as well as members who live in gross sin.

"Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partakers of other men's sins: keep thyself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22).

The words "lay hands suddenly" have to do with restoring a sinning church member into the fellowship of the local church after punitive church discipline has been exercised. The laying of hands always signifies identification. The saint, upon forsaking his sin, is again identified with the local church. In verses 19, 20, and 21 of this same chapter, we are told about dealing with sin and exercising punitive church discipline. Then this 22nd verse deals with restoration. We are bidden to restrain by deliberate prudence the impulses of mere pity. A hasty restoration to church fellowship tempts the sinning brother who has been disciplined (in a punitive way) to suppose that his offense has not been so very serious after all, and smooths the way for a repetition of the sin. "Good natured easy men" cannot escape responsibility for the disastrous consequences of their lax administration of the law. They have a share in the sins of those they encourage to sin. That is the reason Paul said: "Neither be partaker of other men's sins." And for this very reason, the church sometimes finds it necessary to place on probation those seeking restoration to fellowship after being disciplined (in a punitive way). If the church is negligent here, she becomes a partaker of the offender's sins. The expression "keep thyself pure" could be read, "keep thyself upright and honorable."

God Commands Us to Exercise Punitive Church Discipline

Our Heavenly Father does not say that this is one method and that there are many more, even though some of our preachers and church folk talk that way. The liberal theologian, the neo-evangelical theologian, and the neo-orthodox theologian are trying to decide what part of the Bible is inspired. The non-denominationalist and inter-denominationlist are trying to decide what is important and what are the non-essentials. Some of our brethren join us in crying out that the Bible is verbally inspired, but when they come to the subject of punitive church discipline, they believe their own teaching concerning the infallible Word. God commands this form of church discipline; He leaves no choice to us, if we are to be faithful servants. We have no choice when we come to immersion as the only mode of baptism; Jesus commanded it! We have no choice but that the Lord's Supper is for the saved, baptized members of a local, New Testament Church; Jesus commanded it! And likewise we have no choice when it comes to punitive church discipline, Jesus commanded it! Some in their unfaithfulness may refuse to practice discipline, but only the ignorant or dishonest deny that God commanded it

Since God commands that we exercise punitive church discipline, He will call us to give an account of our stewardship in this matter. Surely our church families must be trained to have a Scriptural discipline program and that takes time. But it also takes time to bring our people to tithe, to be soul winners, and Bible students; therefore, we must be about the job to His glory.

Punitive Church Discipline Is A Blessing to a Church and Her Members

This statement is shocking to some because they have always erroneously though of discipline as some terrible, hurtful practice. To exercise discipline is hard, but it is a real blessing. And, is it not true that the same is the case with discipline in our homes, schools, etc.? Yet, one shows ignorance if he tries to carry on a home or school without discipline. The same is true in our churches.

It is always a blessing to church people to have high standards -- to have much expected of them. Some who would turn the grace of God into lasciviousness always cry out against discipline and say that it is legalistic and that we are not under the law but under grace. However, punitive church discipline is really vitalistic instead of legalistic, when exercised as taught in the New Testament. And any teaching that excuses sin in the Christian life, because we are saved by grace, is sinful, devilish, and definitely unscriptural.

Again punitive church discipline is a blessing because of the testimony it gives a church. Hypocritical church members are offended by it, but even the unsaved admire the church who has Christ-like standards of living. To be a church member should mean something, but does it where there are no standards? If some churches would put just as much emphasis on church discipline -- clean living -- as they do on church suppers, they would have a mighty revival!

But should we be surprised that punitive discipline is a blessing. Our Lord taught it, and is He not the One Who knows best the needs of His local churches?

Punitive Church Discipline Helps to Lead Christians to Restoration from Sin

There are few, if any, real born again folk who will not come back for restoration to fellowship with the Lord and the church after they have had fellowship withdrawn from them as church members. Some may wait, but, if they have really been washed in the blood of Christ, it will be very difficult for them to stay away. And of course some were not saved to begin with, and no one should be surprised if they do not ask for restoration.

Not to discipline members when it is needed means to shelter them in their sin. To discipline them means to pull the mask off and help them to see that it is putrid and abominable and must not have respectability lent to it by the church. Sad to say, some people merely join the church to be counted respectable! Then, they live like the devil, but true punitive discipline will cancel these proceedings. And when genuinely saved folk get involved in discipline, they want to be dealt with like the Lord would have it done. Sometimes some object, but it is generally because of their lack of knowledge. We should not be surprised at this lack of knowledge, when many preachers do not have the courage to preach discipline much less practice it.

God has definitely shown us over and over again that only through punitive church discipline are we ever able to lead some people to confess and forsake their sins to His glory, the good of the church, and their good personally. Let those who will, deny it; that does not change the fact that it works. And it is simply a lie of Satan that says that the exercise of punitive church discipline only drives people further into sin. It may reveal a lot that we did not know, but it is only a high sounding excuse that attributes the sin to the discipline.

Probation Often Needs to Be Exercised in Restoring Members Who Have Been Disciplined in a Punitive Way

In our Scriptures for this chapter, we saw in 1 Timothy 5:22 that God warns against hasty restoration, when one had fellowship withdrawn. For the glory of Christ, the good of the church, and the good of the offender, it is often absolutely essential that there be a probationary period. This is not some hard, cold sly, or doubtful practice, as some sometimes erroneously charge. On the contrary, it is very helpful for all who are involved.

One who comes in genuine repentance never objects to probation. Some who look on their sin lightly and trivially have their pride hurt when asked to serve on probation. They are trying to get the church to lend respectability to their sin. You always sin in passing over sin lightly!

A probationary period is not always needful or advisable. Frequent offenses, ugly attitudes while being dealt with, efforts to join other churches without first clearing up discipline matters with one's own church, long waiting without repenting when being dealt with, etc., are things that practically always make a probationary period very important.

Proving one's self while on probation is always an honor and never a dishonor. Being on probation is not being policed or doubted, but it is being given an opportunity to prove one's genuineness.

Conclusion

1. There is a false impression abroad that the church should never put anybody out of her membership.

2. Punitive discipline is the last resort in church discipline.

3. To deny punitive church discipline is to deny the infallibility of the Bible.

4. The liberal theologian has the same right to deny some parts of the Bible as some so-called conservative theologian does to deny the teaching and principle of punitive church discipline.

5. In the average church today, it is simple to become a member, and no matter how you live you will still be a member.

6. Those who refuse to teach the truth about punitive church discipline are guilty of the same sin as those who substitute sprinkling for baptism.

7. One must be either ignorant or dishonest to deny that the Bible teaches punitive church discipline.

8. What a shock it would be to have the pastor and deacons recommend that fellowship be withdrawn from a member for drinking or adultery in the average Baptist Church today.

See New Testament Church Discipline Part VI -- "Punitive Church Discipline"