The human body’s ability to reject a dangerous virus is a wonder of the Creator’s design. The Body of Christ also has an immune system to protect her from debilitating disease.
Sin always brings damage. Both individually and corporately, God’s people suffer the effects of sin. Israel had to be taught this hard lesson many times. New Testament assemblies are also at risk when there is no discipline in the matter of sin (1 Cor. 5:6).
The New Testament is not silent on the handling of sin in the local church. A careful study of the relevant instructions and examples should help equip us to deal with sin. Here are some of these principles.
1. What constitutes sin in the assembly? The Scriptures show it is disobedience. For example, Paul warns the Thessalonians about those who do not obey the Word (2 Thess. 3:14) and the Corinthians are warned about one who was disobedient in a matter of sexual immorality (1 Cor. 5:1).
2. There is a responsibility on the part of the assembly to take action against those who are guilty of sin. Again the above references include Paul’s instructions to the believers to separate themselves from the offenders.
3. There is a difference between persistence in disobedience and a “spiritual accident.” Paul makes this distinction in Galatians 6:1. He exhorts spiritual believers to restore any who are “overtaken in a fault”–those who have taken a wrong step and have been ambushed. This is a believer who has succumbed to temptation, not noticing the trap coming, very different from a Christian who wants both assembly fellowship and an ungodly lifestyle.
Church discipline requires discernment to determine the difference between a persistent and careless offender and those who need the careful hand of restoration. Much harm has been done when believers lacking wisdom have failed to take this distinction into account. The Lord Himself taught that private restoration is the first move, public discipline should be the last (Mt. 18:15-17).
4. Discipline in the assembly should always be based on facts and impartiality. Gossip, innuendo, unsubstantiated sources of information, have no place. Paul always named his sources (1 Cor. 1:11). Christians who pass on information to elders or others, prefacing their remarks with, “I don’t want you to repeat this,” or “You didn’t hear this from me,” are to be dealt with themselves. If a believer is not interested in substantiating the “story,” they either have false information and are guilty of gossip or have no interest in curing the problem. Substantiated facts are vital in handling sin in the assembly.
5. Discipline takes a variety of forms. For instance, there is self-discipline. We all have a duty to discipline ourselves. One meaning of the word is “training.” We discipline ourselves by attending meetings to be under the sound of the Word of God. Paul knew about self-discipline (1 Cor. 9:27), and instructed Timothy in this (1 Tim. 4:16). Then there is discipline in warning and teaching believers. An example of this is Paul’s instructions to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:6, 11) and to Titus (Titus 1:13). There is also a form of discipline which requires withdrawal from fellowship. This was the case in Thessalonica on a matter of doctrine (2 Thess. 3:14-15), or a matter of morality as in Corinth (1 Cor. 5:1-5).
6. An act of discipline should preserve the assembly from sin and recover the offender. Again, the Corinthian example demonstrates this (compare 1 Cor. 5:6-13 with 2 Cor. 7:2). Second Thessalonians 3:15 confirms the objective of judging matters of sin. The joy of restoration should extinguish the sorrow of excommunication.
7. Dealing with sin in the assembly brings self-examination on all of us. Smug self-righteousness has no place. There should be sorrow over the spiritual environment of the assembly that could allow a member of the fellowship to be comfortable in disobedience. Discipline requires great wisdom, prayer, and spiritual discernment. Any conversation about it should be at the throne of grace. Elders acting with God’s delegated authority are to be submitted to. It is serious and solemn business.
Let’s mind one another without being busybodies. Set a good example. Keep close to the Lord and His Word. Watch for dangers and act to prevent problems. It takes courage. It takes love. Paul says, “Watch and remember, that…I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace…” (Acts 20:31-32).