CHRISTIAN ESSAYS

Church Discipline

By Richard Gunther

There is a distinct and clear circular line drawn around every Christian. This line is described in God’s Word, but not all Christians can see it, or stay within its boundaries. The line divides the world into two parts: the Christian world and the Secular World. It divides the world into two ways of seeing things: the Christian world view, and the Secular world view.

As an example of this division, recently (2003) Archbishop George Pell of Sydney, Australia, got himself into a dispute over homosexuals and their place in relation to the Church. He denied Holy Communion to all homosexuals who don’t accept church teaching on homosexuality. He said: “A Biblical approach to sexuality is essential for human well-being, and for the continuity of the human race.” This is what the Bible says, in different words, so all Mr Pell was doing was staying within the boundary of what God permitted within His Word.

Mr. Pell also sponsors AIDS hospices and shows compassion to those infected with deadly diseases. But many homosexuals are angry with his views and have opposed his appointment. They think he is unfairly discriminating against people who want to have alternative sexual choices. The homosexuals of course, want the church to throw away the rules and be ‘more tolerant’. But is God tolerant of homosexuality? No.

Another example is that of Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani of Lima, Peru. Eighteen months ago he announced that people who oppose church teaching on abortion would be denied communion. Of course he started a fierce and angry debate over his ruling from people who saw nothing wrong with abortion.

The pro-abortionists wanted the Cardinal to ignore the many Bible teachings about the preciousness of life, from conception through to birth. They wanted the church to ignore the clear rules and restrictions in the Bible.

And then there is the case of the Southern Baptist Convention which cut ties with churches that allowed homosexuals to be pastors. The Southern Baptists were vilified and labeled “narrow minded” and “bigoted”.

But the church is not a democracy. It was never instituted as a sort of forum where Christians can make, or change, or abolish rules. The church is an hierarchy, that is, it is set up in a similar way to the old British model: it has a King at the top, with his obedient advisors under him, and all the citizens in their charge under the king, all members equally expected to obey that King.

Whenever churches begin to portray themselves as democracies, they disintegrate as churches, and begin to change into something else. The world always tries to pressure Christians into a duplicitous position – that is, a little allegiance both ways, but Jesus never allowed for this duality. The Church is supposed to be the same yesterday, today and forever, as far as its rules go.

Suppose we applied the democratic model to non-Christian organizations? What would happen if people refused to attend all the required meetings of the Rotary Club? They would be expelled from the Club. What would happen if Brownies, Scouts or Guides turned up repeatedly without their uniforms? They would not be allowed to carry the name of the Club. In this way the world frequently upholds its own so-called intolerant views. It has rules for membership, and it expels or suspends all members who fail to keep those rules – so why should the church be any different?

The church has every right to set rules for its members, provided those rules are based on the Bible, and not Man’s opinion. If people want to join a church fellowship, and don’t like the rules, they are free to leave – just as people may leave any worldly club or organization they don’t agree with. Only cults and dictatorships force their members to stay. The Church is a loving family, where obedience to the rules springs from a willing heart.

The authority on which the churches stand should always be the Word of God. Whether we like it or not the churches must discipline their members when there is a good reason. When they fail to discipline, they don’t become more relevant to the world, they become less relevant, and also lose their moral authority. Many people in the world actually want the Church to speak with a clear voice about morals and standards – rather than cave in and join the liberals and New Agers. In a world blown about by opinions and debate, the Church is able to speak with a never-changing voice on many things – like a solid rock in a storm.

Discipline is essential in many areas of life – the home, at work, in the military, in clubs and organizations, in business, in sport. In all these areas, members must be brought into line with the rule book, whether it is actually written or spoken, otherwise the whole organization suffers. Discipline in the church guards the purity of the church, preserves the church by removing evil, and provides severe but loving correction for one who is in danger of slipping away.

The responsibility of all believers is to read and understand God’s rule book, and then to hold to those rules with unflinching courage. This sort of stand is usually involved with “righteousness”, or doing what is right. In practical terms, this equates with no swearing, no gossip, no drugs, no pornography, no lies, no stealing, no revenge, and so on. In positive terms this means clean living, good works, love, kindness, generosity and so on. If we want to be known as Christians, we must stay within the circle.

Perhaps the toughest part of being a Christian is avoiding the untenable and disgusting position of having one foot in and one foot out. Recently the media published the draft sequence of the human genome. Some dubbed the publication of this information as "the biggest news event in the past 50 years of science" and it certainly was an amazing achievement.