Foundations of Faith
THE CHURCH (VI)
“Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matt. 7:1). To many Christians and to many local churches, this is what the Bible says about church discipline, namely, that there should be none. Whatever this verse may mean (see The Race in this issue), there are many passages in the New Testament that clearly show God-given authority for discipline in the local church. For example, the apostle Paul passed judgment on the man in Corinth who was committing fornication, and urged the Corinthian Assembly to do the same (1 Cor. 5:3-5).
Dealing with Those Who Have Faults. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness” (Gal. 6:1). This particularly falls under the responsibilities of an overseer (see Nov98). However, the person most responsible for going to the erring one and pointing out his/her fault or sin is the one who is aware of the offense. The Lord might even use a child, like Samuel (1 Sam. 3:11-18), to point out the sin of an older person.
Dealing with the Unruly. “Warn those who are unruly” (1 Thess. 5:14). The “unruly” here are those believers who are neglecting their God-given responsibilities in the home, at work, or in the assembly. It includes those who are not working and are getting into other people’s business instead of trying to find a job, doing volunteer work, helping others, or serving the Lord (2 Thess. 3:11,12).
Dealing with Heretics. “A man who is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject [or avoid]” (Tit. 3:10; also Rom. 16:17). A heretic is not necessarily one who teaches wrong doctrine but one who tries to form a party or sect around a particular doctrine or issue or himself. The best way for everyone to deal with such a person is to avoid him as the verse in Titus tells us. Without any followers after his cause, he will either leave and go elsewhere or be quiet.
Dealing with a Person Who Continues in Sin. “If your brother sins against you, go, reprove him between you and him alone:if he hear you, you have gained your brother.” (Matt. 18:15, JND translation). This may be either a sin that has been committed personally against you, or one that you have witnessed or been told of. So far this is like Gal. 6:1. If your brother confesses his sin and stops doing it, your job is well done and you need not carry the matter further. Or if he gives evidence that he was misunderstood or falsely accused, the matter is over unless new evidence of his wrong-doing comes to light.
“But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto you as an heathen man and a publican” (Matt. 18:16,17). Here is the scriptural procedure if the sinning brother justifies his sinful deed or continues in his sin. It may not have been a huge sin-like adultery or stealing or being drunk (1 Cor. 5:11)-to begin with. But if it is not confessed, it raises a barrier between himself and the others in the church, as well as between himself and God. If the sin is continued, he is behaving like “a heathen man” and the local assembly has authority from God to put him out of fellowship (Matt. 18:18).
Dealing with an Elder Who Sins. “Against an elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses. Those who sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear” (1 Tim. 5:10,20). When an elder or overseer sins, the procedure given in Matt. 18:15-17 does not seem to apply. Because of the responsible position the sinner occupies in the local assembly, his sin calls for public rebuke. At the same time, if his sin is not confirmed by at least two or three witnesses, then the matter should be kept quiet until there is sufficient evidence.
Dealing with a Wicked Person. “Put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Cor. 5:13). There once was a man in the assembly at Corinth, Greece who was committing fornication. It was not an isolated act but a sin-pattern that was widely known in the community (1 Cor. 5:1). Due to the public nature of this sin, the steps of Matt. 18:15-17 were not applicable. Since the man remained unrepentant, the entire church was to excommunicate him or deny Christian fellowship to him.
Dealing with an Excommunicated Person. The purpose of putting wicked brothers or sisters out of fellowship is to help them to learn the seriousness of the sin with sincere hope and prayer for their repentance and restoration to the Lord (1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:20).
Preventive Discipline. Perhaps some of the problems that call for church discipline might be avoided if more care were taken in receiving brothers and sisters into fellowship in the first place. “Lay hands suddenly on no man” (1 Tim. 5:22) is a verse to consider in this regard. (See Assignment 15)
Running the Race
“JUDGE NOT”
We have just described several different kinds of judgments to be made by the church against sinners. So what does the verse mean that says, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matt. 7:1)?
Here are some suggestions as to what we should not judge:
1. The context of chapter 6 is earthly riches. The preceding verse says, “Take … no thought for the morrow” (6:34). The Christian who has (or thinks he has) forsaken all to follow Christ should not stand in judgment on the believer who still is wealthy.
2. We should not judge motives or outward appearances (John 7:24; 1 Cor. 13:7). Rather, we should try to give the most positive interpretation to a person’s action, unless there is clear-cut evidence of sin.
3. We should not judge the service of another Christian (1 Cor. 4:1-4), for example, thinking that my service for the Lord is more profitable than my brother’s service.
4. We should not engage in any of the reproving and correcting activities of Matt. 18:15-17, Gal. 6:1, etc., unless we are in a state of self-judgment before the Lord.
Assignment 15: Read 2 Corinthians 2. Write out a couple of verses that tell what happened to the brother who had been put out of fellowship, and how the assembly was to behave toward him.
Assignment 16: The following is a review quiz based on the 1998 issues of GROWING. Please refer back to the indicated issue when answering each question.
1. (Jan.) Give two definitions of “eternal life” and write out two verses that support these definitions.
2. (Feb.) Can you find verses in the Bible that speak of a true believer in Christ (a) losing his eternal life, (b) being separated from the love of God, and (c) having the seal of the Spirit removed?
3. (Mar.) Briefly explain the meaning of Heb. 6:4-6.
4. (Apr.) Give at least two reasons why it is so important for Christians to hold the doctrine of eternal security.
5. (May) Write down at least two biblical truths that are symbolized by water baptism.
6. (June) The Old Testament law says that we must not (a) murder, (b) steal, nor (c) take God’s name in vain. As Christians under grace how are we to respond to these three commandments?
7. (July) Write out a verse that shows how the Church, the body of Christ, is like a human body.
8. (Aug.) What important activity of the members of the body of Christ is emphasized in the August issue?
9. (Sept.) Describe at least three evidences that the local churches in New Testament days were united together.
10. (Oct.) Write out two verses that show that all believers in Christ are priests.
11. (Nov.) (a) Write out a verse that gives some qualifications of an overseer or bishop; (b) write out a verse in a different New Testament book that gives some qualifications of a deacon.
12. (Dec.) Write out some verses that show how to deal with a person who continues in his/her sin.