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| A disciple is a learner, one who absorbs and then spreads the
teaching of his master. We usually think of the twelve disciples of
the Lord when we think of disciples in the context of Christianity.
The word "discipline", a derivative of the word
"disciple", also carries the idea of training or developing
through teaching. However, when discipline is applied it is usually in
response to sin in an individual's life. This discipline is done in
order to teach a member and bring him back into harmony with the
teachings of the Lord.
Discipline can take different avenues of approach to arrive at the same destination, which effects training or education of the one being disciplined. For example, when we discipline our children we might train one child in one manner, but that same action might not work with another child. The nature and disposition of the child, the lesson being taught, and even the character of the teacher all contribute to how discipline is imposed and how it is received. It must be noted here that there are specific methods laid down in the scripture to deal with some specific sins. It is easier not to discipline, but the consequences of that inaction are so severe that performing the discipline is well worth the often painful effort. The church at Corinth (to which Paul addressed the letters I and II Corinthians) is an example of a church that refused to apply discipline to its body. That church had become lax and complacent in their attitude toward sinning brothers and the results were being felt, not only in the life of the sinner, but throughout the congregation and the neighborhood. Men had not repented, the church was uncaring, and Paul states that it was common knowledge by all in the community that the church was in effect endorsing sin. The particular sin in question was one that even the heathen onlookers would not have participated in. So the effects of failing to discipline are long-reaching and serious. Monday Judge Not Lest Ye be Judged "Judge not lest ye be judged." -- How many times have you heard that, especially when you had just said something critical of someone's actions or character? Following is a list of scriptures that are often used by those who do not believe discipline by a church is an appropriate, scriptural approach to correcting the lives of members. Romans 14:13: Let us not therefore judge one another any more... Romans 14:4: Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?... Romans 2:1: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest... Matthew 7:1: Judge not, that ye be not judged. James 4:12: ...who art thou that judgest another? If the above Scriptures can be used to prove that one should not judge another person, what would the scriptures below suggest? 1 Cor 5:3: For I (Paul) verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already... 1 Cor 5:12: ...do you not judge them that are within? 1 Cor 5:11: ..not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater,..." (You must first decide if these individuals are guilty of these sins if you are to obey this commandment.) Titus 3:10: A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; (How do you know he is a heretic unless you have first judged him to be so?) 1 Cor 1:10: ...joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Which of the lists above must the church go by? The answer is that all the above scriptures are valid for a Christian's life. The point is that there are some members of the Lord's churches who are wicked and their sins needs to be pointed out and focused upon, not to embarrass or ridicule, but to teach and train so they might repent and return to the Lord's will. Judging is deciding. Whether it's deciding you want to buy a head of lettuce with firm, green leaves or a head with brown, withered leaves, or deciding whether green shoes or blue shoes go best with your outfit, you are judging. You are deciding if something fits, or if it's right, or if it's pretty, if it's too tall, or if it's too short. You will decide if a doctor is competent or if he is incompetent. We judge every day. However, in matters of righteousness or unrighteousness we are forbidden to draw our OWN conclusions. God has already decided this. If the church decides that a man is railer, it could not be based on what we thought a railer was, but based on only one thing -- what does God say a railer is? The truth of the matter is that we haven't the slightest idea of what is spiritually right or wrong apart from the Word of God. So when we decide something about an individual (and there are times that we must) then it is not our judgment but rather it is God's assessment of what is right and wrong. 1 Timothy 1:19-20 Holding ________, and a good _____________; which some having put away concerning _________ have made __________: Of whom is ___________ and ___________; whom I have ____________ unto Satan, that they may __________ not to ________. Galatians 6:1 ______________, if a man be _____________ in a ________, ye which are ___________, _____________ such an one in the spirit of ____________; considering ______________, lest thou also be ___________. Questions:
Discipline With Love When a member of the church is involved in sin the church is required to discipline that member. Sometimes this discipline may take the ultimate form of withdrawing church fellowship from that person. When this is done that member ceases to be a member of that church. He can no longer vote, take the Lord's Supper, or hold office. While this does not stop him from attending church services, it does end that close intimacy with the church that he formerly enjoyed. Withdrawing the fellowship also withdraws membership from a church, and this is a serious matter. Never should it be taken lightly either by the church or the one being disciplined. As serious as the matter is there are times when it is imperative to do so, since there is no alternative. 1 Cor. 5 makes it very clear that any brother known to be a guilty of the sins mentioned in verse 11 cannot be allowed to remain in the church. This is done for three reasons: First of all, this discipline is designed to bring the sinning person back into harmony with the Word of God. Carried out properly and accepted properly it will accomplish the goal God intended. Second, sin is symbolically called "leaven" in these verses of scripture and Paul goes on to say that "...a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump...". In other words, the sin of one man will permeate throughout the whole body, causing the whole body to be affected. Everyone is familiar with gangrene, which may begin on a hand or foot, and which, left unattended, will spread to the whole body. It is not uncommon for a gangrenous hand or foot to require amputation to keep it from spreading to the whole body and causing death. So can the sin of one person contaminate the entire church body and cause its eventual death. Third, those people without the body are looking in. If sin and immorality are left to run wild, what testimony would the church have in the community? How effectively could they reach their neighbors with the gospel? Sometimes the church will "bear with" an individual. Sometimes God's people have a hard time dealing with their sins and need the support and love of others. At those times the church must rally around those in distress and try to help. For example, if a member were having problems with gluttony, or perhaps using foul language, the church would uphold that individual in prayer and make an effort to offer direct help. An individual response to discipline may range from arrogance to a humble acceptance of the church's will. Some might act cold and indifferent, and still others just do not understand the consequences of the sin for which they are being called to account. The church takes each case individually, and, as directed by the Word of God and moved by the Spirit, seeks to "reprove, correct, or instruct" so that individual might be matured in righteousness and be furnished "...unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:15-16) 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All ____________ is given by ______________ of God, and is _________ for ___________, for __________, for _________, for ___________________ in _________________: That the man of God may be _________, throughly __________ unto all _________ works. 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have ______________ unto you not to keep ___________, if ______ man that is called a __________ be a __________, or _________, or an ______________, or a __________, or a ________________, or an ______________; with such an one no not to ________. Questions:
Discipline and the Lord's Supper Membership in the Lord's church is a tremendous blessing and an important responsibility. The church has been given the task of taking God's message to all the world. They alone were given the work of evangelizing the world (Matthew 28:19-20). It is through the church that God gets glory. Not only is that responsibility great, but the reward is also great. It is in the church one can find others like themselves. Support and help in the time of need is available. The church is where one assembles to worship the Lord. The church will some day be the bride of Christ! Within the church is where God expects his will to be carried out, which means that those not in a New Testament church are not in the will of the Lord. In a previous lesson on the Lord's Supper, it was explained why the supper is closed to all those outside the sphere of discipline of the local church. The reason is simple: those to whom the supper is open must first examine (judge) themselves. "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." 1 Cor. 11:28 Then this being done, they must be examined and judged by the church as well. If a sin is found, as described in 1 Cor 5, they must be disciplined. "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?" 1 Cor 5:12 A local church cannot exercise discipline over those who are not a part of its body. They have no such authority. One church cannot exclude the member of another church, any more than you have the right to discipline another person's child. When a Christian joins a particular church he becomes a part -- a very real and literal part -- of that body. That person is "absorbed" and incorporated into that group. It is imperative that a church's membership be "pure" in the eyes of the Lord. The church member has a great responsibility to obey the Lord, for not only do his actions affect his own life, but also affect those who share fellowship in that body. 1 Corinthians 11:27 Wherefore __________ shall eat this _________, and drink this _____________ of the Lord, ____________, shall be __________ of the body and blood of the __________. 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 For he that ____________ and __________ unworthily, eateth and drinketh __________ to himself, not __________ the Lord's body. For this __________ many are _________ and _________ among you, and many __________. Questions:
Thursday What Discipline Accomplishes "I thought the job of the church was to get them in, not put them out." "You don't love me or you wouldn't do that." "It's none of your business what I do." These are objections to discipline that are often voiced by people who have no real knowledge of what the church of Jesus Christ is all about. If there is sin within a church it threatens the very existence of that body! To allow it to go unchecked is not only in direct contradiction to the will of the Lord, but allows a cancer to eat away at the body which will eventually spread. Those who make the remark that you don't love them or you would not withdraw fellowship from them are unlearned in the Word of God. Love is the very reason that you do discipline them. Understanding the destructiveness of sin and knowing what it will do to a Christian's life, the church must respond to this crisis in love. How do you "break" a dog from chasing cars? You might tie them to the house, lock them inside, or even hold them when a car passes by. But suppose you took a small switch and dusted its backside when it chased the cars. The punishment might not feel good to the dog at the time, but it might very well save the animal's life. Love must be the motive for all discipline. The last argument "It is none of your business" is answered in this way: When you became a member of that local church you made it their business. You became a part of a body. They now have an obligation to you and to God in regard to you. You are now accountable to that group and to say otherwise demonstrates that one does not have a firm grip on what the church is. Paul commanded that the man at Corinth be turned over to Satan for the "destruction of the flesh". If a church exercises discipline correctly and the individual accepts discipline correctly it may very well save that individual's life. Being excluded from the church fellowship in no way affects one's salvation, but it does affect the relationship of that person to his fellow believers and to God. Hebrews 12:10-11 For they verily for a few days __________ us after their own ___________; but he for our ___________, that we might be ___________ of his ____________. Now no ___________ for the _________ seemeth to be _________, but ____________: nevertheless afterward it __________ the ___________ fruit of _____________ unto them which are ____________ thereby. Questions:
Motes, Beams, and Evil Surmising Because we are not God and can only look at a person's actions and not his heart, our judgment capabilities are limited. An individual or a church must beware of "evil surmisings" and "mote-plucking". It is a human characteristic to find fault with others while overlooking our own imperfections. Too, criticism sometimes follows quickly on the heels of a unfounded assumption about another person. Many times if we knew the situation or the circumstances we would be less harsh in our judgments. In fact, Jesus tells us to place ourselves in the other man's shoes before we act: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12 One must be on constant guard not to draw a false conclusion based on what looks to be perfectly logical evidence. "He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings," 1 Timothy 6:4 It is very easy to fall into habit of "perceiving" problems when there are no problems. This can lead to gossip and maligning of an innocent person's character. When you hear laughter as you walk by, do you suppose they are laughing at you? When you see someone exit a bar do you suppose they have been drinking? Even when all the evidence says one thing it may very well not be the truth. To guard against this problem we must let the truth speak to us -- not "evidence". Love "thinketh no evil" -- it always thinks the best. Until we are sure there is a sin being committed, we should be intent on defending the questionable actions of a brother or sister. If the evidence of sin seems overwhelming, we should be prepared to talk to the sinner privately and gain an understanding of the situation. Matthew 7:3-4 And why _____________ thou the _________ that is in thy ___________ eye, but ___________ not the _________ that is in thine own eye? Or how ________ thou say to thy _____________, Let me ________ out the __________ out of thine eye; and, behold, a __________ is in thine own eye? 1 Thess. 3:12 And the ________ make you to ______________ and ___________ in love one toward another, and toward all men, _______ as we do toward ________. Questions:
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