Sermon Tone Analysis

THE DUTY OF FREEDOM:  RESCUING THE CAPTIVES!

(Galatians 6:1)

 

 

“/Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted/.”

In an article in the August 2006 /Christianity Today/, the introductory paragraph read, “The Protestant reformers named three ‘marks by which the true church is known’:  the preaching of the pure doctrine of the gospel, the pure administration of the ordinances, and the exercise of church discipline to correct faults.

Today, church discipline is feared as the mark of a false church, bringing to mind images of witch trials, scarlet letters, public humiliations, and excommunications.”

Despite the lack of popularity and the controversy surrounding the practice of church discipline in today’s politically correct church, it is vital to consider the matter for, at least, three reasons.

Church Discipline Is a New Testament Doctrine.

The New Testament is full of examples regarding the practice of church discipline.

Prominent texts dealing with the subject are:  Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; Titus 3:10; and 2 John 9-11.

Regarding the quintessential New Testament text on discipline, Matthew 18:15-17, Jeschke astutely wrote:  “The summons to go to an erring believer is not just a suggestion.

It is a command.

It is an imperative of the same order as the great commission of Matthew 28:19.”5

Church discipline warrants obedience because it is a command of God that is vital to evangelism and missions.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a /holy/ nation, a people for /God’s /own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (NASB).

Corrective discipline works hand in hand with evangelism and missions by encouraging holiness in the church.

Church discipline adorns the gospel with holiness!

Church Discipline Is a Neglected Doctrine.

Church discipline is important to consider because the command of Christ receives little regard in the modern day church.

The annals of church history bear rich testimony to the prominent place afforded to the practice of church discipline in the past.

Yet, today, looks of consternation greet all who would dare mention the expression.

In fact, church discipline is the equivalent of a spiritual curse word in most churches.

To speak of it is bad enough, but to actually propose practicing it is unthinkable.

*What accounts for the present neglect?*

At least,

factors, explain the neglect of discipline.

Neglect Results from Misinterpretations.

One factor that explains the short supply of corrective discipline today is misunderstandings regarding what the Bible teaches.

Some point to passages such as Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged,” and argue that corrective discipline is contrary to the example of Christ.

Mimicking the individualism of the American culture, some believers allege that Jesus is teaching that individuals ought to mind their own business.

Such an interpretation fails to do justice to the context of Matthew 7.  Jesus was not teaching against corrective discipline, but instructing His disciples in the right way to judge or discipline.

In fact, in Matthew 7:5, Jesus instructs believers to remove the log out of their own eye to see clearly how to help the erring believer.

Neglect Results from Misuse.

Another factor that explains the neglect of discipline is improper applications of discipline in the past.

In their book, /Healing the Wounded/:  /The Costly Love of Church Discipline/, John White and Ken Blue asserted, “Harsh and misguided church discipline in the past has made Christian leaders and older Christians back off.”6

Hence, the mistakes of the past serve as a ready argument for some to dismiss the practice altogether.

Rebutting such skewed logic, Jeschke contended, “We don’t abandon the institution of marriage simply because of bad notions of marriage or bad marriages.

Rather, we try to recover good views of marriage and good marriages.”7

Recovery of right notions and practices regarding corrective discipline, not neglect, brings honor to Christ.

Prior misuse of discipline does not free churches from their present responsibility of obeying the Lord.

Church Discipline Is a Necessary Doctrine.

A final reason for exploring the topic of church discipline is that it is essential to the welfare of the church.

Four main benefits spring forth from church discipline.

Discipline Is Necessary for Protection.

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and reminded the saints that when sin is not dealt with in the church it eventually “leavens the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6 NASB).

Writing in 2 Timothy 2:16-17, the apostle writes, “But avoid worldly /and /empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene . .

.”

Again in Hebrews 12:15, the Scripture teaches, “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”

Thomas Watson observed, “Sin is the Trojan horse out of which comes a whole army of troubles.”8

Each of the texts above emphasize that sin, left unchecked by corrective discipline, spoils the purity of the church.

And the latest statistics from Barna demonstrate that there is no shortage of sin in the church.

| *SOCIAL ISSUES* | *All Adults* | *Born-Again**Christians* | *Other Faiths* | *Atheists~/ Agnostics* |

| *Divorce* | 34% | 33% | NA | NA |

| *Gambling* | 61% | 45% | 69% | 75% |

| *Abortion* | 45% | 33% | 45% | 71% |

| *Sex Outside of Marriage* | 42% | 35% | 47% | 69% |

| *Viewing Pornography* | 38% | 28% | 49% | 70% |

| *Drunkenness* | 35% | 24% | 44% | 61% |

 

 

 

Discipline is necessary for the sake of the protection of the church!

Discipline Is Necessary for Prosperity.

Moses writes in Deuteronomy 5:29:  “Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!”

The principle advocated for Israel in Deuteronomy is an abiding truth for the church today.

Divine favor rests upon churches that seek to do all the Lord commands, including His command to practice church discipline.

Likewise, His disfavor rests upon churches that allow sin to go unchecked in the church.

Sin alienates believers from God and other saints thereby stunting spiritual growth in the church.

Walker noted:  

“He whose eyes are as a flame of fire, is represented as walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks, closely observant of the evil, as well as of the good.

He knows the works of all his churches; and while he assures such as ‘cannot bear them that are evil,’ of his gracious regard and protection, he declares his determination, on the other hand, to fight against such as tolerate iniquity, with the sword of his mouth.”9

God blesses churches that seek to put a check on evil and place a premium on obedience to His Word.

Discipline Is Necessary for Praise.

The godliness that the practice of corrective discipline insures brings praise to God.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:11-12:

“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Bringing others to glorify God is one asset that accrues from a proper exercise of church discipline.

Discipline Is Necessary for Progress.

The whole purpose of church discipline is to insure the offenders make progress in the faith.

Discipline is not punitive but reforming in nature.

The main aim is to rescue an erring brother or sister from a besetting sin so that he~/she might grow in grace.

Considering, then, that corrective discipline is a necessary command of the Lord that often receives little to no attention at present, it is important to consider how to recover the lost treasure of discipline.

In searching out how to restore the treasure, the structure provided by Galatians 6:1 will serve as the roadmap.

Paul writes, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not

be tempted.”

*Five truths described by Paul are critical to note in restoring wayward saints.*

THE STEWARDS OF DISCIPLINE

 

* *

        Part of the problem regarding the abandonment of church discipline is that no one seems to know who is responsible for exercising it.

Identifying, therefore, the responsible parties is important in the recovery effort.

Who is responsible?

Paul identifies the “/brethren/” as the stewards to carry out discipline in Galatians 6:1.

The term used by Paul in the present context is generic in nature and refers to all who belong to Christ.

In other words, the responsibility for church discipline falls upon every born-again believer, not some board or committee.

As saints concerned to do what the Lord commands, all believers are responsible to engage in recovering the wayward saints in the church.

Refusing to recover erring brothers or sisters in Christ is rebellion against God’s inviolable command!

Of course, churches guilty of neglect never call their refusal rebellion toward the Lord.

No, various excuses for not fulfilling the duty salves the conscience so that their refusal appears justified in their own eyes and the eyes of others.

*What are the common excuses that seek to justify the neglect of discipline?  *

 

Sentimentalism

        Churches excuse themselves from the duty of corrective discipline due to a soft or compassionate heart.

The repeated mantra is, “We love them too much to confront them.”

The truth is, however, that such an excuse belies a misguided love of man and what man thinks rather than a love of God and what He commands.

God loves mankind and knows what is best regarding their souls.

He commands discipline!