When is church discipline appropriate?

Michael Spencer (aka Internet Monk) recently completed a 4-part discussion on church discipline. Here are excerpts.

Prevailing attitudes about church discipline within Evangelical churches:

Church discipline is a very bad thing.

Only crazy people and abusive churches do it.

Church discipline means embarrassing people by announcing their personal failures and issues publicly.

You’re mean and unloving to even discuss it.

The Gospel, Jesus and a loving God are all against it.

You’ll get sued and be on TV.

It will split your church.

People will just go to another church and become members there.

Growing churches don’t do it or even talk about it.

Churches that say they are doing it are cults.

Biblical, Jesus-shaped church discipline will:

Save lives.

Save marriages and families.

Stop abuse.

Magnify the Gospel.

Develop shepherds and leaders who love their people.

Provide many new opportunities for ministry.

Provide an outlet for the exercise of spiritual gifts.

Demonstrate the Christian virtues of love, mercy, grace and compassion.

Where church discipline might be needed if a church becomes compassionate toward those who are suffering rather seeing church discipline only as a punitive action to be used against those who are sinning (all mentioned below are baptized members of a church):

A) Alice and John are faithful members and workers in the children’s department of their church, but John is regularly verbally and emotionally abusive to Alice. His temper is frightening and his words are threatening. He has never “laid a hand” on Alice, but she is beginning to suffer from chronic depression as a result. Alice is afraid to seek help because of her fear that John’s abusiveness will escalate. She would like to tell one of her friends at church, but she is afraid she will be labeled a liar or mentally ill.

B) The Smith’s 23 year old son Billy has been living at home for two years. Unemployed, Billy is playing in a local band but not making enough money to live on his own. He sleeps till the early afternoon, then stays out till 3 or 4 in the morning. When he returns, he often brings girls for overnight. The Smith’s believe he is smoking weed, though not at home. They want him to leave, but are unsure of what others will think of tossing out their own son.

C) Karla shared her sexual history with one of the pastors at the church, and now some of that information has come back to her from another church member. Confidentiality was clearly violated. She went to the pastor and he denied any breach of confidentiality, but Karla has good information that several of the pastors have heard the same story. Karla’s reputation is seriously damaged at church and she is reluctant to continue going to church.

D) Alan has been behind in his bills for years. His wife is working two part time jobs to help the family. Alan has been spending a large portion of his paycheck on his favorite sports: golf and fishing trips. He bought a new truck the family could not afford. His wife believes Alan is irresponsible, but no conversation with Alan makes any difference. He tells her to not talk about family matters outside of the home.

E) Aaron bought tires from a dealership owned by another church member. The tires had major problems after only two weeks, and the church member said the problem was Aaron’s responsibility. Aaron feels he was ripped off and has complained to the BBB, but when he sees this member in church he feels very angry.

F) Ellen’s husband has begun going to Mormon classes. He doesn’t expect her to come, but Ellen is disturbed because of her marriage and their four children. What if her husband becomes a Mormon? Can the church help? Ellen is unsure of who to talk to or even if it is appropriate to do so. Isn’t a personal matter of faith the right of each person? How could the church help?

G) Grant was removed as an elder because he criticized the pastor’s plan to borrow money to buy property. He was told he “did not perform his duties as an elder in an acceptable way.” Grant feels that his questions were reasonable and appropriate. His dismissal didn’t follow the procedures in the by-laws, but was done “for exceptional reasons.” He doesn’t know who to talk to about what has happened.

Rockbridge Seminary students who have completed the online seminary course “The Theology and Practice of Fellowship” might be helped by reading the full posts in this 4-part series, including a discussion on the meaning and application of Matthew 18 (Part 2). 

Where Is Church Discipline When You Need It? (IMonk blog series)

Part 1: A Better Approach

Part 2: What Does Matthew 18 Teach?

Part 3: Who Needs It?

Part 4: Does Church Discipline Always Look Like Church Discipline? 

Taking Another Look At Liturgy

I don’t think I’m alone … taking a fresh look at spiritual practices used over the centuries that could enhance my worship of God. For the first time in my life, I walked the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday and found it very moving. 

Several days before, I was fascinated to read a discussion about liturgy among an Eastern Orthodox priest, an Anglican priest, a Southern Baptist pastor, a Roman Catholic, a United Methodist pastor, and a Lutheran pastor. 

Rockbridge Seminary students who have completed the online seminary courses ”Church History I/II,” “Practicing the Spiritual Disciplines,” or “The Theology and Practice of Worship” might find the discussion quite interesting. 

Read blog discussion on liturgy (hosted by Internet Monk)

You’ll Still Be a JAR of CLAY

God uses messed-up people to do his work.

Seminary will not magically change you from a jar of clay into something else. On the day you graduate, you will still be a jar of clay in need of a Savior’s grace just as much as the people you serve. Even so, God may choose to use you.

Here’s what Internet Monk writes this Holy Week: 

Evangelicals love a testimony of how screwed up I USED to be. They aren’t interested in how screwed up I am NOW. But the fact is, that we are screwed up. Then. Now. All the time in between and, it’s a safe bet to assume, the rest of the time we’re alive. But we will pay $400 to go hear a “Bible teacher” tell us how we are only a few verses, prayers and cds away from being a lot better. And we will sit quietly, or applaud loudly, when the story is retold. I’m really better now. I’m a good Christian. I’m not a mess anymore. I’m different from other people.

Please. Call this off. It’s making me sick. I mean that. It’s affecting me. I’m seeing, in my life and the lives of others, a commitment to lying about our condition that is absolutely pathological. Evangelicals called Bill Clinton a big-time liar about sex? Come on. How many nodding “good Christians” have so much garbage sitting in the middle of their lives that the odor makes it impossible to breathe without gagging? How many of us are addicted to food, porn and shopping? How many of us are depressed, angry, unforgiving and just plain mean? How many of us are a walking, talking course on basic hypocrisy, because we just can’t look at ourselves in the mirror and admit what we a collection of brokenness we’ve become WHILE we called ourselves “good Christians” who want to “witness” to others. I’m choking just writing this.

Rockbridge Seminary students who have completed the online seminary courses “Recovery Ministry” and “Personal Counseling Skills” may be helped by reading the entire blog: iMonk 101: When I Am Weak: Why we must embrace our brokenness and never be good Christians.