There is something that I consider very difficult and hard to do. Yet this same something is vitally necessary to the spiritual growth and maturity of the church and should be considered one of the greatest responsibilities we are entrusted with as Servants of Jesus Christ.
The hardest greatest responsibility is church discipline. It is often misunderstood and creates rifts in the church and the communities in which we live, however that is generally a result of the way and intent with which it is carried out.
I firmly believe when people know you love them and genuinely have a heart to see them grow and become the Jesus Follower they were meant to be, church discipline becomes an opportunity rather than a policy point of argument that separates and divides the Body of Christ!
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Heb 12:6
There is an awful lot I’d like to say about this and I may add to this in future articles. I think part of the reason that church discipline is hardly ever heard or observed or talked about is because it is hardly ever implemented in the church. We live in the most turbulent and prophetically alive end times yet we ignore the most vital part of the relationship with Jesus, that of accountability and discipline.
Here are few thoughts…
- Guidelines for discipline within the church should be written! God wrote it down for us and we should write it down for the Body of Christ.
- Staff, Leaders, Teams, and Pastors, should know exactly what is expected of them by having a written statement that we will be held accountable and that biblical church discipline will be instituted with the goal of repentance and restoration.
- Church discipline should be preached and taught! The family of God must view discipline as edification not destruction. Hebrews 12:11
- Termination or removal from the Body of Christ may ultimately be the result of discipline however the process of repentance and restoration should have begun a very long time prior to such drastic measures. (this does not negate that a leader may be relieved temporarily from their duties during the process).
- It should always be carried out and followed through with a desire and readiness to forgive and love those repentant and restored hearts.
- Be careful to discipline for fact not fiction!
- Always remember our own sinful state! Galatians 6:1
Ultimately, if as leaders in the church we present this responsibility of accountability to the Body with a willingness to embrace its righteousness, our people will grow and mature in Jesus Christ!
