Biblical Church Discipline
1 Corinthians 5:11
Introduction
Parents provide all they can for the proper growth of their young and impressionable children. As parents already know, at times, the best action a parent can take to encourage proper growth, is to utilize discipline for the child. This helps the child to recognize and to avoid certain harmful behaviors.
As our perfect Father, God uses positive rewards for our growth and well-being. Sadly, we sometimes do not respond correctly to His guidance. Thus, God has also instituted discipline to help free us from actions and attitudes that are harmful to us (and others) and that do not honor Him.
By its very nature, sin carries its own harmful consequences. It is only by the grace and mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, that the harmful aspects of sin are postponed or cancelled.
Correction
Another way in which God disciplines believers who are controlled by a certain sin, is through other believers (the church). If, after other believers patiently try to help and to warn a believer concerning the sin, that believer will not agree with the Bible that a certain action is a sin, and will not seek forgiveness and deliverance from the sin, believers are to follow God's preset discipline. That is given in 1 Corinthians 5:11: "But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler - not even to eat with such a one." An unrepentant believer is to be denied fellowship with other believers. This shows that the person is also denied fellowship with the Lord Jesus (1 John 1:6-7) - for being unrepentant is not compatible with being a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus.
If unrepentant sin is permitted or ignored among believers, individuals in the group will be negatively affected and influenced, the name and honor of Jesus Christ will be slandered, and the unrepentant sinner will be harmed by the sin and its consequences.
Thus, after gentle and patient attempts at restoration to a godly life, for the purpose of
- protecting the purity of believers - their lives, fellowship, service, and worship;
- supporting the spiritual and physical well-being of the unrepentant believer;
- and reflecting the glory of the Holy God,
However, the dis-fellowshipped believer is not to be treated as an enemy, he is to be admonished as a brother (2 Thessalonians 3:15). This rebuke, of course, involves telling the believer of the need to repent of the sin. Thus, the person is to be treated kindly while being withheld from fellowship; but this kindness must always contain reminders and challenges for the person to turn from the sin and to turn back to the loving Lord Jesus who died for him/her.
Restoration
Certainly, it is sad that the unrepentant believer is deprived of fellowship with believers. However, the temporary period of deprivation of fellowship is necessary, since the stakes are so high: that the person's "... spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Corinthians 5:5). And, hopefully, the person will return to the Lord before "... the destruction of his flesh ..." (1 Corinthians 5:5).
[It is good news that the person who was dis-fellowshipped in 1 Corinthians 5 later repented and was restored to fellowship with the believers and received their love (2 Cor 2:5-8). Thanks to God, the purpose for the discipline was accomplished.]
If the unrepentant person is a believer, he will repent of the sin and return to the Lord. Because of the negative consequences of sin and the absence of fellowship with other believers, sooner is definitely better!
Application
To the reader: have you failed to love another person by ignoring their sin? If so, repent of your complacency and disobedience. With humbleness and prayer, go to the person and confront in gentleness and patience with the desire and commitment to help (Galatians 6:1:1).
Have others tried to warn you about a sin in which you are partaking? If so, acknowledge it is sin and ask God for forgiveness and deliverance (1 John 1:6-9). (And give thanks to God for the believers who showed their obedience to God and their care for you.)
[A person who has a continual affair with another person other than his/her spouse is committing a sin of sexual immorality. In the Bible, this kind of sin was often used as a symbol for the worship of other gods. Sexual immorality causes the deterioration of society, including the church, family relationships, parental and child relationships, and, of course, of husband and wife relationships.
The other sins listed in 1 Corinthians 5:11 -
- indulging in selfish desires or passions,
- worshipping false gods,
- destroying others with one's tongue,
- drunkenness,
- and acquiring things through dishonesty or deception
Are you controlled by a certain sin, but do not have the blessing of believers who care enough to confront you? Then listen to God's Word which is confronting you. First, make sure that you are born-again (John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 13:5). Then, agree with God that your action (or thought) is sin, turn from it, and trust God to deliver you from it (1 John 1:6-9).
"and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." 2 Corinthians 5:15
Supplication
Most merciful and mighty God, we give praise to You. We ask you to work in our lives so that we do not become deceived by specific sins. And if we are, deliver us from them. Change us so that our lives reflect your grace and glory. Make our lives an encouragement for others to reject sin and to accept Your will and ways as explained in Your Word.
