BIBLICAL BASIS FOR CHURCH DISCIPLINE (SUSPENSION, EXCOMMUNICATIONS, ETC)

I have recently been receiving many questions on why in our church, offending members are suspended or disciplined. Elder Atto Kum has graciously supplied some good answers to some of those questions in his recent post on our page. I wish to use this opportunity to support his write-up with this piece.

To discipline simply means to punish an individual for breaking the laws of a unit of society to which he belongs with the view of restoring him back to those laws.

The Bible teaches clearly that believers must live holy lives, because the God that we serve is a holy God. The church of God must also be kept holy and blameless for God. That is why believers who do not live in accordance with the word of God must be disciplined.

Purpose Of Church Discipline

1. To maintain standards of the church to a watching world. Matt 5:13-16; Acts 5:1-16; Rom 2:24

2. To keep sin from spreading throughout the church. Josh 7:3; 1Cor 5:6-7

3. To help the offending one to repent. 2Cor 2:6-8

4. To escape God's judgements upon habitually sinning saints through

i .Sickness 1Cor 11:30

ii. Physical death 1Cor 11:30

Who Should The Church Discipline?

1. Troublemakers, Prov 16:6; Rom 16:17

2. Those who do not discipline themselves. 1Thess 5:14; 2Thess 3:6,11

3. Those who disobey the great doctrines of the faith, 2Thess 3;14

4. Those who deny the great doctrines of the faith, 1Tim 6:3,5; 2Tim 2:16-18, Tit 3:10; 2John 1:10; Rev 2:14

5. The immoral. 1Cor 5:1-5

Types Of Discipline

Church discipline ranges from private admonishing, open rebuke, warnings, interdiction, suspension and excommunication, depending on the gravity of the offences committed.

Private admonishing - offending members can be talked to in private.

Warning - members can be warned in church or privately about certain things which may lead them into danger.

Open rebuke - in some situations, members may be rebuked openly after they have failed to follow advice and warnings.

Interdiction - members whose cases demand further investigation may be interdicted until the truth or otherwise is established. During that period, the person is relieved of all his responsibilities, but he is not suspended anyway.

Suspension - any church member who falls into open sin is suspended. In the Church of Pentecost, suspended members are not allowed to stand in front of the congregation to give testimony, sing, lead chorus, or dance, and in case of death, ministers do not conduct their memorial services.

Excommunication - the member is totally expelled from the church.

Right Attitude Towards Disciplined Members

We should not view them as enemies but as brothers who have made mistakes. (2Thess3:15)
We should approach them with sorrow but not to rejoice or tease them, 1Cor 5:12; 2Cor2:4
We should pray for them and encourage them so that they would not fall totally Gal 6:1-2
We should be ready to forgive and restore them as soon as they repent, 2Cor 2:7; 7:10-11

Right Attitude For Disciplined Members

Do not hate any church officers because of the roles they played in your suspension.
Accept discipline in good faith as David did. (2Sam12:13) Do not blame anybody.
Seek to repent genuinely by denouncing and renouncing your sins.
Ask God to forgive and cleanse you from your sins and to give you the courage to withstand the disgrace.
Attend church regularly.
Do not withdraw yourself from leaders and church programmes.

Know that when somebody is suspended or disciplined by the church in any way, it does not mean God has finished with him. If he genuinely repents, he can later be used greatly by God! Stay blessed.

PASTOR BOACHIE-ANSAH

+233 244 137880

boachieansah@gmail.com