biblical church membership. lesson 6 discipline -practicing church membership as a body-

Biblical Church Biblical Church MembershipMembership

Biblical Church Biblical Church MembershipMembershipLesson 6 Lesson 6

DisciplineDiscipline-practicing church -practicing church

membership as a body-membership as a body-

The History of The History of Church Discipline Church Discipline

in the SBCin the SBC

The Summary of Church Discipline, published by the Charleston

Association of Charleston, SC in 1774, includes these words in its

introductory paragraph:

“The constitution of churches is plainly supposed, Acts 2:47, Matt. 18:17, etc., and it is necessary, in order that the disciples of Christ may enjoy the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, which is a church ordinance, that they watch over one another, warn the unruly, and lay censures on disorderly and impenitent persons.” (Chapter I, Section 3)

The Summary further recognizes 3 general levels of discipline:

1. Rebuke, Admonition, Censure

2. Suspension

3. Excommunication

The general practice The general practice of southern of southern churches prior to churches prior to the Twentieth the Twentieth CenturyCentury

As described in As described in Wills, Gregory “Southern Baptists and Wills, Gregory “Southern Baptists and Church Discipline” in SBJT 4/4 (Winter 2000)Church Discipline” in SBJT 4/4 (Winter 2000)

To an antebellum Baptist, a church To an antebellum Baptist, a church without discipline had little claim to without discipline had little claim to be a church of Christ. be a church of Christ. (Wills, 5)(Wills, 5)

Days of Discipline- Public confession and

repentance or public rebuke- Churches would investigate

accusations of unrepentant sin.

- In 90% of cases, repentance would occur as a result of the church’s involvement.

Days of Discipline- In the remaining 10%, half

were formally cleared of any wrongdoing.

- In the remaining 5% of cases the church would impose either a public rebuke or actual excommunication.

““Excommunication was Excommunication was exclusion from the fellowship of exclusion from the fellowship of

the church. It withdrew the the church. It withdrew the privileges of membership. privileges of membership.

Excluded persons could not Excluded persons could not participate in the Lord’s Supper, participate in the Lord’s Supper,

could not vote in conference, could not vote in conference, and no longer bore the title and no longer bore the title ‘brother’ or ‘sister.’” ‘brother’ or ‘sister.’” (Wills, 6)(Wills, 6)

Days of Discipline- Excommunicated members

could be restored through active repentance and resumption of normal church attendance.

- About 1/3 of ex-communicants were so restored to full membership.

Days of Discipline- In Baptist churches, the

discipline process happened through majority vote.

- Though often fraught with disagreements, etc, no one questioned the process or principle itself, only the outcome.

““But Baptists persevered in church But Baptists persevered in church discipline because they believed that discipline because they believed that discipleship required it. Christ discipleship required it. Christ commanded his churches to exclude commanded his churches to exclude those who were immoral or who those who were immoral or who denied the doctrines of the gospel. denied the doctrines of the gospel. They could not in good conscience They could not in good conscience call themselves Christians while call themselves Christians while ignoring a clear command of Christ.” ignoring a clear command of Christ.” (Wills, 8)(Wills, 8)

“‘“‘Them that sin rebuke before all, Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.’ Thus will it that others also may fear.’ Thus will it serve as a check upon sin, and an serve as a check upon sin, and an incentive to holiness. It will further incentive to holiness. It will further benefit the church by increasing it[s] benefit the church by increasing it[s] spirituality.” spirituality.” (SC Pastor J.M. Chiles, 1856)(SC Pastor J.M. Chiles, 1856)

James P. BoyceJames P. BoyceFounding President of The Southern Baptist Founding President of The Southern Baptist

Theological SeminaryTheological Seminary

“Another reason to exercise church discipline is, that thus only can the church be led to perform the glorious work of evangelizing the world.”

Examples of Church Examples of Church Discipline from SBC Discipline from SBC HistoryHistory

As described in As described in Wills, Gregory “Southern Baptists and Wills, Gregory “Southern Baptists and Church Discipline” in SBJT 4/4 (Winter 2000)Church Discipline” in SBJT 4/4 (Winter 2000)

Case StudyCase StudySavannah First Baptist ChurchSavannah First Baptist Church

Georgia, 1806Georgia, 1806

Case StudyCase StudyPowelton Baptist ChurchPowelton Baptist Church

Georgia, 1817Georgia, 1817

Case StudyCase StudyColumbia First Baptist ChurchColumbia First Baptist Church

South Carolina, 1816South Carolina, 1816

What happened to What happened to cause the biblical cause the biblical practice of church practice of church discipline to decline?discipline to decline?

““By the 1930s discipline By the 1930s discipline was quite rare—most was quite rare—most

reported exclusions were reported exclusions were merely the cleaning of merely the cleaning of

church rolls of names of church rolls of names of members long inactive and members long inactive and

forgotten.” forgotten.” (Wills, 10)(Wills, 10)

““Church discipline Church discipline was common was common

among Baptists among Baptists until early this until early this

century, when it century, when it faded as people faded as people

abused the system abused the system to carry out to carry out vendettas.” vendettas.”

Timothy GeorgeTimothy GeorgeDean of Beeson Divinity School

1. External factors – the wider culture moved more and

more towards an autonomous individualism.

2. Internal factors – churches were more and more

influenced by theological liberalism, refusing to believe in Scriptural authority or moral absolutes.

“Our churches have practically no discipline. As to worldliness and minor offences, many of our churches do nothing. But what is far worse, our churches often allow the most serious moral transgressions to go unnoticed. . .What we dread today more than aught else is a disturbance in the “peace” of a church. . . .” (Editor, SC Baptist Courier, Z.T. Cody, 1921)

What the Bible Says What the Bible Says About Church About Church DisciplineDiscipline

If your brother sins, go and show him If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. CONFIRMED.

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. heaven.

Again I say to you, that if two of you Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst. (Matthew 18:15-there in their midst. (Matthew 18:15-17)17)

I have decided to deliver such a one I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (I in the day of the Lord Jesus. (I Corinthians 5:5)Corinthians 5:5)

For what have I to do with judging For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. (I Corinthians AMONG YOURSELVES. (I Corinthians 5:12-13)5:12-13)

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

If anyone does not obey our If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (II Thessalonians 3:14-15)brother. (II Thessalonians 3:14-15)

Do not receive an accusation against Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. (I Timothy 5:19-20)sinning. (I Timothy 5:19-20)

One of themselves, a prophet of their One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. For this reason testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith. (Titus may be sound in the faith. (Titus 1:12-13)1:12-13)

Reject a factious man after a first and Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:10-being self-condemned. (Titus 3:10-11)11)

My brethren, if any among you strays My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)5:19-20)

Anyone who goes too far and does Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a your house, and do not give him a greeting…. (II John 9-11)greeting…. (II John 9-11)

I know your deeds and your toil and I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false…. (Revelation found them to be false…. (Revelation 2:2)2:2)

But I have a few things against you, But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam…So you hold the teaching of Balaam…So you also have some who in the same way also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the make war against them with the sword of My mouth. (Revelation sword of My mouth. (Revelation 2:14-16)2:14-16)

But I have this against you, that you But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. (Revelation 2:20-23)to idols. (Revelation 2:20-23)

Getting Back to Getting Back to Church DisciplineChurch Discipline

R. Albert Mohler, Jr.R. Albert Mohler, Jr.President of The Southern Baptist Theological SeminaryPresident of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

““Without a recovery of Without a recovery of functional church functional church discipline—firmly discipline—firmly established upon the established upon the principles revealed in principles revealed in the Bible—the church the Bible—the church will continue its slide will continue its slide into moral dissolution into moral dissolution and relativism.” and relativism.”

We need to recognize We need to recognize the need for church the need for church discipline.discipline.

In 2008…

SBC churches reported a total membership of:

16,266,920SBC churches also reported an average weekly attendance of:

6,148,868

The Convention passed the following:RESOLVED, That the messengers to RESOLVED, That the messengers to

the Southern Baptist Convention the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 10-11, 2008, urge churches to June 10-11, 2008, urge churches to maintain a regenerate membership maintain a regenerate membership by acknowledging the necessity of by acknowledging the necessity of spiritual regeneration and Christ’s spiritual regeneration and Christ’s lordship for all members; lordship for all members; and be it and be it furtherfurther

The Convention passed the following:RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our

churches to maintain accurate churches to maintain accurate membership rolls for the purpose of membership rolls for the purpose of fostering ministry and accountability fostering ministry and accountability among all members of the among all members of the congregation; congregation; and be it furtherand be it further

The Convention passed the following:RESOLVED, That we urge the RESOLVED, That we urge the

churches of the Southern Baptist churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to repent of the failure Convention to repent of the failure among us to live up to our professed among us to live up to our professed commitment to regenerate church commitment to regenerate church membership and any failure to obey membership and any failure to obey Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly correcting wayward church correcting wayward church members (Matthew 18:15-18); members (Matthew 18:15-18); and be and be it furtherit further

The Convention passed the following:RESOLVED, That we humbly RESOLVED, That we humbly

encourage denominational servants encourage denominational servants to support and encourage churches to support and encourage churches that seek to recover and implement that seek to recover and implement our Savior’s teachings on church our Savior’s teachings on church discipline, even if such efforts result discipline, even if such efforts result in the reduction in the number of in the reduction in the number of members that are reported in those members that are reported in those churches, churches, and be it finallyand be it finally

The Convention passed the following:RESOLVED, That we humbly urge the RESOLVED, That we humbly urge the

churches of the Southern Baptist churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and their pastors to Convention and their pastors to implement a plan to minister to, implement a plan to minister to, counsel, and restore wayward church counsel, and restore wayward church members based upon the commands members based upon the commands and principles given in Scripture and principles given in Scripture (Matthew 18:15-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-(Matthew 18:15-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).

We need to obey the We need to obey the Bible’s dictates on Bible’s dictates on church discipline.church discipline.

““I believe this is the most important I believe this is the most important subject that can engage the pulpit at subject that can engage the pulpit at this time. Until our churches purge this time. Until our churches purge out the old leaven, it will be utterly out the old leaven, it will be utterly vain to pray for conversion of souls. vain to pray for conversion of souls. . . . An organization which has no . . . An organization which has no corrective church discipline, corrective church discipline, whatever else it may be, is scarcely whatever else it may be, is scarcely fit to be called a church of Jesus fit to be called a church of Jesus Christ.” Christ.” (Southern Pastor, A.B. Woodfin, 1874)(Southern Pastor, A.B. Woodfin, 1874)


““The mandate of the The mandate of the church is to maintain church is to maintain true gospel doctrine and true gospel doctrine and order. A church lacking order. A church lacking these essential qualities these essential qualities is, biblically defined, not is, biblically defined, not a true church.”a true church.”


“…“…Fearing lawsuits and Fearing lawsuits and lacking courage, these lacking courage, these churches allow sin to go churches allow sin to go unconfronted, and unconfronted, and heresy to grow heresy to grow unchecked.”unchecked.”


“…“…Inevitably, the false Inevitably, the false unity they seek to unity they seek to preserve gives way to preserve gives way to the factions that the factions that inevitably follow the inevitably follow the gradual abandonment gradual abandonment of biblical Christianity.”of biblical Christianity.”

““It has been It has been remarked, that remarked, that when discipline when discipline leaves a church, leaves a church, Christ goes Christ goes with it.” with it.”

John Leadley DaggJohn Leadley DaggVirginian-born Pastor and Theologian Virginian-born Pastor and Theologian

Biblical Church Biblical Church MembershipMembership

biblical church membership. lesson 6 discipline -practicing church membership as a body-

Documents

church of christ

history of church discipline

examples of church discipline

church ordinance

discipline process

general levels of discipline

antebellum baptist

gregory southern baptists