Bible Students

Based on “Handbook on Church Discipline” by Adams (chapters 5-8)

Church discipline should not be constantly used in its formal form. Informal discipline should be the norm, as the individual should be able to confront another individual on matters of sin without involving a formal process. Only when church discipline is ignored should anyone be removed from the church. Additionally, when someone offends another person, it is the responsibility of both parties, the offender and offended, to go to one another, regardless of what the other individual does. Each party should seek reconciliation, regardless of how the other party feels. Often, only the offended party knows there was an offense, and so has an obligation to go to the offending party. The offender should be confronted, and should ask in return for forgiveness. The offended should allow for an explanation and seek to forgive the person when they ask for it. Reconciliation is the goal, not righting a wrong by wronging the other individual. Christian humility should cause individuals to be loving and seek reconciliation. If reconciliation can be done apart from involving other people, no one else should be brought in. However, total confidentiality should also never be promised, in case it is necessary to bring someone in. Apologizing for an action and asking for forgiveness are very different from one another. Apologizing for something involves having the power, with the other individual expected to forgive the one apologizing. However, asking for forgiveness allows the other person to choose if they will forgive or not. Often, Christian relationships are severed due to no one attempting reconciliation. Love will cover a multitude of sins, so small offenses do not need to always be brought up. However, in general, most cases of church discipline should be informal and on the personal level. 

Only if the person refuses to listen and does not attempt to be reconciled should church discipline be elevated. The offended is obligated to consider the offender’s point, as well. The church to whom the offense is brought in terms of elevated discipline is not the whole church body, but the elders of the body. The whole church body can be told through the elders, who communicate it to the spiritual church, not the church building. 

In the case of someone being taken out of the church due to elevated church discipline, the congregation must view them as one belonging to the world. This is not a suggestion, but a command. The one who was removed from the congregation is to be seen as one who has refused to show repentance in the face of rebuke by the whole church, and is the same as one who does not believe in the Lord. The congregation must not have fellowship with them, and they must be removed from the Lord’s Table. Discipline must be done with care and prevision, not being overly rude or condemning, but bringing to attention the need for repentance in the individual, not in a sloppy manner resulting in a broken body of Christ. The very act of removing someone from the church is an act of grace, for by being removed they may find that they desire to return to the church, and repent of their ways in order to return.