Church discipline. Restoration in gentleness, love and honour

Discipline is not widely practiced in the church in the 21st century, at least not in the West. Where it is (has been) however, it is not and has not, always been practised Biblically. I have heard what to me are horror stories for example, of the way that people have been sent down from Bible school never to be allowed to return. The practice of discipline in the church is however thoroughly Biblical, even if it’s not always practised in a Biblical way. As a young child, and as a brand-new believer I was very sensitive to discipline. In childhood it only took a look for me to change. As a new believer, it only took a sense that I had grieved the Spirit, to send me scurrying back to His embrace. But not every child is like I was, nor every believer as I was as a new believer. And sometimes stronger discipline is necessary.

Since God’s primary goal in sending Jesus into the world was reconciliation (Ephesians 1:10), this goal should be ours too in the administration of any discipline. In particular, expulsion from the church should always be a last resort, and even then be done with a view to facilitate restoration. Paul admonishes the Corinthians to forgive, love and comfort the repentant man expelled from the church for sleeping with his stepmother, “lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow” (2 Corinthians 2:7,8). And approaching such a one in the first place needs to be done in gentleness, humility and respect for the person, even if not for the sin (Galatians 6:1; Philippians 2:3).Our goal should also be, to make our churches the sort of place where people would so want to be there that even the possibility of being temporarily put out of the fellowship of love, would be sufficient to bring change to a stubborn unrepentant heart.

In his book “Culture of Honor,” Danny Silk tells of dealing with an unmarried students at their school who had gotten pregnant during the summer vacation. Using a series of gently probing questions and the illustration that the effect of sin is like spilling a pail of paint all over the place, they brought the students to the full realization of the effects of their sin, and who had "paint" on them. Doing this in honour and without condemnation (Romans 8:1), the couple was thus able to truly repent, and as much as possible make amends first and foremost to their parents, to the leaders of the school, to their fellow students and finally to the first-year students who, at that point, didn’t even know them. They were of course, released for a season from leadership positions. But then when they were eventually restored, they were able to give testimony of God’s goodness and grace and unconditional acceptance.

Father, this is such a beautiful picture of your strength being made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we see strength in others, we can admire it, but likely think that we could never be like them. But when we see the beauty of openness, repentance and restoration, we can be encouraged, and not be afraid to come out of hiding. And I pray this morning Father, for all those who have been treated in hurtful ways by the church, whether at fault or not. And Lord, I ask that You foster in Your church such a tangible love that it would cause even the hardest or most fearful heart, to come running back to the love. And help us Lord to do our part to make the church a safe place, and a place where others would truly see Your love by our love, in Jesus Name Amen