Church Discipline: Brethren Value 4

One of the hardest and most painful things the Brethren have to do is to discipline members for sin. Following Jesus' principal of keeping the church pure, the Brethren were very strict. While we may think this chased many away, it actually brought people to the church because of the standards and the love they had for one another.

Church discipline, in our culture today, takes such a negative connotation. Churches talk about being a “no judgement” zone. There is no “churchianity” and everyone, whether they are saved, not saved, questioning, or just not interested, are welcomed and celebrated.

The issue and need for discipline, as Brethern are concerned, flows from the reality of our Pietism. To live in a perpetual life of sin, bears with it consequences. Sin corrupts anything and everything. Someone who wants to never be held accountable, live however they wish, but still be engaged with the church will cause corruption from the inside.

It is from a heart of either restoring the sinner to a place of a fruitful walk, or protecting the flock of God from the evil that is being practiced. Church discipline becomes a necessity, and the Brethren, while not desiring to weild that sword quickly, also did not hide from brandishing it. No matter if the individual was a leader or a member, all were under the weight of the discipline if needed.

This did several things: 1) Protected the church body from false teachings and life. 2) Sent a strong message that sin would not be tolerated. 3) Sent a clear warning for others who were thinking of following into sin. 4) Probably the most desired outcome, to restore the individual.

How discipline was handled was strongly centered on the New Testament. As such, everything, even being removed, or excommunicated was acceptable. The individual was not part of the daily life of the church, and not allowed to be engaged in the church social functions. They were cut off.

Family could talk with with them to try and get them to return and confess, but the individual must do that personally. Does this sound harsh? According to Brethren Historian, Donald Durnbaugh, while it did seem hard, many still came and join the Brethren BECAUSE they also knew this was done out of love and care. Even in the midst of discipline, the Brethren were known for their love for each other.

Today, churches no longer have high standards. If a church does discipline someone, they leave, angry, and go to another church where they are “welcomed and loved”. These other churches do nothing to help the individual grow but solidifies them in their sin. Love does not ignore sin but desires truth and holiness.

Brethren, at least in some circles, still practice church discipline. The world now has changed and church fellowship and life means little. However, the church, regardless of society, should still desire truth and holiness. Discipline is not used quickly and ignorantly, but it is used. The church will lose members, but the end goal of purity and holiness is achieved. If someone really wants to show love, then truth must be forefront.

We recognize how the church is to view the unrepentant Brother, how they are to be handled, and how they are to be restored, based in Scripture. We do not rejoice in judgment but when a Brother is restored. Through even the hardest point of discipline, our love should be present and seen.

It is a sad day for the life of a church when the church moves from putting holiness and righteousness first, and is more concerned about offending someone and hurting their feelings. To love someone is to sometimes tell the truth which will hurt. If God has patience with us, should we not have patience with discipline with others?

The Bible gives us the steps of church discipline. A question asked of me by my mentor was, “How soon do we move from step one of discipline to step two?” Of course the answer is, it is not there. “Then, do not be so quick to jump from one step to the next. Allow the Holy Spirit to work.”

The lesson is clear, discipline is ordained by God, worked out through the body of Christ, and made stronger by the Holy Spirit. Where the church does cast judgment on a sinning brother, with two or three, Jesus is in the midst of that judgment.

This means judgment is handled by mature believers in an orderly way. The judges must handle discipline with the desire of being led by the Spirit. They must not be hypocritical, but filled with a passion for truth and a desire for restoration to be the end goal. Anyone who does not have this heart, spirit, desire and love, is not the right one to be in the judgment seat.

Lastly, discipline should not be jumped to quickly. Sometimes a Brother who sins is not necessarily living a perpetual state of sin. They may need to be talked with, walked with, prayed with, and encouraged. Not full discipline.

Again, this must be done for restoration with love. Not vengence and desiring to remove someone that is not liked. Purity in the church and individual is the end goal. Our goal, as a body of Christ, is to walk together, in agreement and unity, toward holiness and righteousness.