Church discipline
Historic orthodoxy
The church's loving correction of members and officers who persist in serious sin or false teaching, aimed at their repentance, the purity of the church, and the honour of Christ.
Also called: discipline of officers, Matthew 18 process, excommunication, excommunicated, formal discipline
What it means
Jesus gave His church a clear process. A brother who sins is first approached privately, then with one or two witnesses, and if he will not listen, the matter is told to the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be treated as one outside it. Paul tells the Corinthians to remove an unrepentant man from among them, "so that his spirit may be saved".
Discipline applies to officers too. Paul tells Timothy not to admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses, but to rebuke those who persist in sin before everyone, and to do so without partiality. A church where the pastor cannot be corrected has lost one of its chief protections.
Most discipline is quiet and formative: teaching, warning, and personal correction. Formal discipline is rare and grievous, and always aims at restoration. The historic Reformed confessions count it among the marks of a true church. The site asks whether a church has a process for members, elders, and staff, and whether it is actually used.
In Scripture
Jesus sets out private, then small-group, then church-wide correction of an unrepentant brother.
The gathered church removes the unrepentant so that his spirit may be saved.
The church is to judge those inside and purge the evil person from among them.
Charges against elders need witnesses; elders who persist in sin are rebuked publicly and without partiality.
After a first and second warning, a divisive person is to be rejected.
Discipline is painful at the time, but later yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 30.1; WCF 30.3; WCF 30.4; LBCF 1689 26.12; Belgic Confession 29
On this site: Church discipline
Related terms
Restoration after disciplineHistoric orthodoxy
The church's receiving back, with forgiveness and comfort, a person who repents after being corrected or disciplined.
Church membershipHistoric orthodoxy
The formal, mutual commitment by which a Christian joins a particular local church, submits to its elders, and takes responsibility for its other members.
ElderHistoric orthodoxy
A qualified man called by the church to shepherd, teach, and govern a congregation; the New Testament also calls the office overseer, bishop, or pastor.
Fencing the TableHistoric orthodoxy
The elders' guarding of the Lord's Supper, so that it is received by baptized believers in good standing in a true church, and not by the openly unrepentant or unbelieving.