Years ago, the elders in the church where I ministered established a “Discipline Committee” to handle accusations of serious misconduct against church members. No one ever volunteered for the Discipline Committee! It was an unpleasant but sometimes necessary task.
Over time, the elders changed the name to the “Restoration Committee” for obvious reasons. The purpose was not to punish people but to restore those who had gone astray. That difference is important.
Church discipline may be the most neglected teaching in the church today. It is seldom practiced. No one likes to confront another believer who is living in sin, especially since we are very much aware of our own failures.
Church discipline is not only difficult; it can also bring legal risk when it is handled or publicized improperly. So it is like having your wisdom teeth removed. We delay it as long as possible.
But when the church never practices discipline, some members of the body may live in flagrant immorality, become known for deceptive business practices, treat others with contempt, or regularly use language that is an embarrassment to the kingdom of God without ever hearing a word of reprimand. The church loses credibility as a result.
The apostle Paul instructed the early church, “Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer” (2 Thessalonians 3:14–15).
Second Thessalonians 3 describes a later stage of corrective discipline. The earlier steps are outlined elsewhere in Scripture. The Bible gives a careful process:
- Approach the person privately and gently. A believer who is caught in serious sin should first be approached privately by a fellow believer, with the hope of restoration (Matthew 18:15; Galatians 6:1).
- Bring one or two others. If the person will not listen, one or two others should be included so the matter and the person’s response can be properly established (Matthew 18:16).
- Tell it to the church. If there is still no repentance, Jesus says the matter is to be brought before the church (Matthew 18:17). In today’s larger fellowships, it is more practical for the elders or governing board to investigate the facts, guide the process, and determine how the matter should be brought before the church.
- Isolate from fellowship if the person persists. A professing believer who disregards these efforts and continues in flagrant sin is to be removed from ordinary Christian fellowship. The apostle Paul advised, “Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:14; see also 1 Corinthians 5:1–2).
- Forgive and restore upon repentance. Once the person repents, they are to be forgiven, welcomed back, and restored to fellowship (2 Corinthians 2:6–8).
Oddly, the person who does the confronting is often criticized and made to feel ashamed. Close friends of the person being disciplined may charge, “Who are you to judge?” “Do you think you are blameless?” “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” Or they may say, “What a self-righteous hypocrite you are!”
Church leaders are even accused of “shooting the wounded.” But confronting the backslider is not shooting the wounded. It is trying to prevent a fatality. It is removing the bullet and disinfecting the wound. It is attempting to protect the integrity of the body of Christ.
Just as wise parents may say to a rebellious child, “I love you too much to let you behave this way,” compassionate church leaders do not allow flagrant, ungodly behavior to continue without correction.
Church discipline seeks the offender’s repentance and restoration, protects the church from sin’s corrupting influence, preserves its witness, and warns others of sin’s seriousness (1 Corinthians 5:5–8; Galatians 6:1; 1 Timothy 5:20). Paul instructed the Corinthian church not even to eat with a professing believer who persisted in flagrant sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5:11).
The backslider is not to be treated as an enemy but warned as a fellow believer. There should still be civility and compassion, but the church should not go on as though nothing is wrong. The church is not just a place of fellowship and love. It is also a place of truth and holiness.
That was the purpose of our Restoration Committee. The elders never spied on church members. They responded to troubling reports from concerned believers who had already confronted the person privately and then with one or two others, without success.
When the elders did the confronting, the minister was kept from becoming the lightning rod, and it was easier for him to continue shepherding those who repented. The leaders witnessed numerous positive results. Individuals repented, and the church developed a greater appreciation for the pursuit of holiness expected of God’s people.
Allegations involving abuse, violence, exploitation, or criminal conduct must also be reported to civil authorities when required. Church discipline must never replace victim protection, mandatory reporting, or lawful investigation.
Church scandals and the public sins of pastors do tremendous damage to the church and its witness. Church leaders must uphold biblical standards of integrity and accountability—not only to protect the body of Christ, but also to call those who have wandered back home.
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
