Why Not Church Discipline?

Church discipline is not a popular topic for most Christians. Why not? Do we really understand the purpose of church discipline? If we did, then we would thank God for this duty rather than cringing at its mention. I have come across several quotes that illustrate the importance and purpose of church discipline:

"As the saving doctrine of Christ is the soul of the church, so discipline forms the ligaments which connect the members together, and keep each in its
proper place. Whoever, therefore, desires either the abolition of all discipline, or obstruct its restoration, whether they act from design or inadvertency, they certainly promote the entire dissolution of the church." - Calvin

"Too often now when people join a church, they do so as consumers. If they like the product, they stay. If they do not, they leave. They can no more imagine a church disciplining them than they could a store that sells goods disciplining them. It is not the place of the seller to discipline the consumer. In our churches we have a consumer mentality." - Haddon Robinson

"Church discipline, even the final stage of excluding persistent sinners from church membership, is really just using our last resort in pleading with an erring brother or sister to forsake sin and return to the loving arms of the Lord who longs to forgive him or her." - Ronald Sider

The purpose of church discipline is to restore the wandering brother. We are all prone to wander, and the willingness of a fellow Christian or a church to make every effort to pull us back into the body of Christ is something to praised, not condemned or avoided. Discipline is an opportunity to show someone how much you love them. Just as a father is not properly loving his child when he refuses to discipline his child when the son or daughter disobeys, it is no different when a church refuses to discipline a wayward member. If I love my children, then I will discipline them when necessary. If a church loves its members, then it will discipline them when necessary.

Church discipline is a means of grace that the church should not dismiss simply because it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. Christ is our ultimate example of enduring the inconvenient and uncomfortable for the sake of those he loves; church discipline is one way to follow his example.

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If Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians was Published in Christianity Today

Everyone needs to head on over to The Sacred Sandwich and see what would happen if Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written and published today. The post is setup as a series of letters to the editor that would likely be penned if Christianity Today was to publish Galatians as a feature article for today. This spoof is hilarious, insightful, and convicting. Here is one of my favorites:

Dear Christianity Today:

In response to Paul D. Apostle’s article about the Galatian church in your January issue, I have to say how appalled I am by the unchristian tone of this hit piece. Why the negativity? Has he been to the Galatian church recently? I happen to know some of the people at that church, and they are the most loving, caring people I’ve ever met.

Phyllis Snodgrass;
Ann Arbor, MI

I have heard almost these exact comments so many times over the past several years. This post is such a great excercise in cultural assesment. Go read the entire post.

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ESV Study Bible Online for FREE (for the month of March)

Go HERE to view the entire ESV Study Bible online. This free trial is only for the month of March. Don't forget to browse all three sections: notes, articles, and maps/charts.

If you haven't checked out the ESV Study Bible, then you may not know what all the hype is about. However, if you have picked up a copy, then you are well aware of the reasons for all of the much deserved praise. This is by far the most in depth and useful Study Bible ever assembled (there just so much stuff in there). The additional articles would alone be worth the price.

Justin Taylor recently posted a great summation of the articles that can be found in this Bible. Check it out HERE.

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Gal. 2:11-14 (Hypocrisy, Confrontation, and Christian Freedom)

The pastor at the church I am attending is currently preaching through Galatians. We are currently in the second chapter. This week he preached through a not often quoted section, 2:11-14; nonetheless, there was a lot of insight and conviction to be found in this passage. To listen to his sermons, check out the church's website HERE, and click on the media tab. Here is his basic outline and a few key points:

1. WE MUST OPPOSE HYPOCRISY DIRECTLY (v.11)

• This is a biblical obligation, but must be done carefully and with love

2. SPIRITUAL FREEDOM MUST BE GUIDED BY SCRIPTURE, THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND LOVE (v.12)

• Freedom should always be considered within the context that it is being exercised
• Will it cause a brother to stumble?
• Will it hurt or misrepresent the Gospel?

3. ANYONE CAN FALL INTO HYPOCRISY (v.13)

• Barnabas and Peter both fell into this trap
• Peter (and probably Barnabas too) understood the doctrine of justification far better than us, and he still compromised on this occasion
• We are justified, but are BEING SANCTIFIED (in other words, we still mess up constantly)

4. WE MUST UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZE HYPOCRISY - IN OURSELVES AND OTHERS (v.14)

• We must pray for discernment to recognize hypocrisy and a willingness to repent of it
• We all have blind spots, which is why home groups are so crucial to our sanctification (we need to guard ourselves and others)
• One super secret trick for understanding and recognizing hypocrisy is to read and study the Bible (it is our guide to hypocrisy)

Related Passages: 1 Tim. 4:1-2; Acts 15:36-41; Lev. 11; James 5:19-20; Matt. 18; Gal. 6:1-2; Gal. 5:1, 13; 1 Cor. 8:1, 9-13; Matt. 23

What does Jesus think about hypocrisy? Read Matt. 23

• I am a hypocrite everyday whenever I understand what the Bible teaches about a certain thing, but I choose to do something different
• The only right response to hypocrisy is repentance

This sermon (like most gospel-centered, exegetical sermons) was ridiculously convicting. There is no doubt that I am a hypocrite everyday. My professed system of beliefs states that God is completely sovereign, my purpose is to glorify Him, and the Bible is my ultimate authority. Yet, my words and actions regularly communicate something to the contrary. This is the essence of being a hypocritical.

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Obamanomics Vs. Reaganomics

Peter Ferrara recently wrote an excellent article in the Wall Street Journal contrasting Reagan’s and Obama’s economic policies. If you are too lazy to read the entire article, then Matt Perman has a great summary. Here is one of the conclusions:

• What is the current result of Obama’s plan?

• This is why America seems so hopeless right now, and so depressed. We are stuck going in exactly the wrong direction on economic policy because of currently dominant ideological fashions.
  

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Do I Want to Want God?

Let us pray with A.W. Tozer:

O God, I have tasted Your goodness,

and it has both satisfied me

and made me thirsty for more.

I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace.

I am ashamed of my lack of desire.

O God, the Triune God,

I want to want You;

I long to be filled with longing;

I thirst to be made more thirsty still.

Show me Your glory, I pray,

so I may know You indeed.

Begin in mercy a new work of love within me…

Give me grace to rise and follow You up from

this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.

In Jesus' name. Amen

• A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

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Seminary or Not?

Matt Chandler has an excellent post on his thoughts regarding whether or not a pastor should seek a seminary degree. Check out the full post, but here are a couple of his statements:

The truth is I think most men need to go to seminary and scholarship is extremely important.

However,

There are those who have been to seminary who are about as ignorant concerning the things of God as a pagan.

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Michael Phelps and "The Weed"

Most of you have probably seen, or at least heard about, the picture of Olympic swimming superstar, Michael Phelps, puffing on a bong at a college party. There have been many mixed reactions from both the press and the Christian community. I think C. J. Mahaney's post, Michael Phelp's Bong, is the best commentary I have read on the situation:

This is what I find so striking: A man whose chest has been covered with gold medals, has achieved international fame, showered with awards, and blessed with an incomprehensible amount of money, still feels compelled to press his face to a bong.

It was Augustine who said that the soul is restless until it finds its rest in God. So true. Only God can satisfy the soul. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ provides forgiveness of sin, and therefore it is here in this gospel that we find rest for our restless souls.

Study the unflattering picture of Michael Phelps to be reminded of the deceitfulness of sin and the superficiality of fame and money. But also study the picture to be reminded of the message of Christ and him crucified for restless sinners like you, and me, and Michael Phelps.

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Christless Quotes

The absence of the Gospel from most churches is a topic that continues to both intrigue and infuriate me. Michael Horton's newest book continues to be the best source for discussion of this topic. Here are some quotes from Christless Christianity:

Aside from the packaging, there is nothing that cannot be found in most churches today that could not be satisfied by any number of secular programs and self-help groups.

In my view, we are living out our creed, but that creed is closer to the American Dream than it is to the Christian faith.

Just as you don’t really need Jesus Christ in order to have T-shirts and coffee mugs, it is unclear to me why he is necessary for most of the things I hear a lot of pastors and Christians talking about in church these days.

The church as people has many different callings, but the church as place (gathered publicly each week) has one calling: to deliver (and receive) Christ through preaching and sacrament.

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Recommending Fireproof

I know that I am late to the party; nonetheless, my wife and I finally watched Fireproof on DVD over the past couple of nights (one indicator that you are getting old is when it takes multiple nights to watch a 90 minute movie).

I was surprised by this movie on several fronts. The movie is inteligently written, competently produced, and well acted (mostly); its production values are on par with much of the content coming out of Hollywood. But, this wasn't the big surprise because I had already been made aware of the excellent quality. The aspect of this film that intrigued me the most was the presentation of the gospel.

This movie presents the gospel in a relevant and potent form. It doesn't water down man's depravity or his need for a savior, yet it doesn't come across as "preachy" or arrogant. The movie does assume the audience has some basic understanding of the gospel, but this is a fairly safe assumption in American culture. I was actually impressed and personally convicted by this film's gospel presentation. I am looking forward to future work from the men who created this movie (the same guys behind Facing the Giants and Flywheel). It is good to have an alternative movie watching experience from a Christian worldview. I highly recommend this film to everyone with eyes and ears.

(You may notice that I didn't mention the conviction this film brought regarding my marriage. This is due to the fact that I write am writing a blog post, not a book)

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